Towards a common understanding of ‘emerging farmer’ in a South African context using data from a survey of three district municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province

The objective of this study was to improve our understanding of the diversity among emerging smallholders using various commonly used indicators. These were reviewed and applied to a sample of 379 emerging smallholders situated in three major smallholding districts within the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It was found that the typical emerging farmer has the following profile: He is black, situated in a former homeland and is 58 years old. The typical farmer cultivates field crops as a secondary source of food and income, but keeps livestock as primary and secondary sources of income. The average emerging smallholder mostly grows maize for own consumption given a crop commercialisation index (CCI) of 0.66 and sells a greater portion of his cabbage and potatoes given CCIs of 0.73 and 0.83 respectively. The average emerging farmer earns a net income of R26 600 per year, but there is an income inequality, since the most successful farmer earns 26.7 times the average income. This translates to a Ghini coefficient of 0.48, which is high by international standards, but low compared to the South African average of 63.1. When speaking to fellow farmers, it was found that 78% of them feel constrained by farming in a homeland, but only 72% would be willing to move from their homeland, with most (45%) saying that they would only do so if they were provided with sufficient government support.Keywords: Eastern Cape Province, Emerging farmer, Surve

Superovulatory response in Boer goats pre-treated with a GnRH agonist outside the natural breeding season

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ovarian response and embryo recovery rates in Boer goat does superovulated with pFSH following a pre-treatment with a GnRH agonist (GnRHa) outside the natural breeding season. Oestrus was synchronised in 22 does with CIDR\'s for 17 days, and these were superovulated with a total dose of 200 mg pFSH/doe administered i.m. in seven dosages, at 12 h intervals, starting 48 h prior to CIDR removal (the first dose being 50 mg and all others 30 mg each). Half of the does (n = 11; treatment group) received GnRHa (Lucrin®) for seven days, starting on day 7 of CIDR insertion, while the other half (n = 11; control group) received no GnRHa. Cervical inseminations with fresh undiluted semen were performed 36 h and 48 h following CIDR removal and the embryos surgically flushed six days after the second AI. The oestrous response, onset- and duration of the induced oestrous period did not differ significantly between groups. There were also no significant differences between pFSH (21.3 ± 5.9) and pFSH/GnRHa (16.1 ± 7.0) treatments, with respect to the mean ovulation rate per donor. However, the mean total number of structures recovered (unfertilised ova and embryos) per doe flushed and the fertilisation rates (%) were significantly lower in the pFSH/GnRHa treated does (12.7 ± 6.0; 11.5 ± 5.3; 81.6 ± 32.2%, respectively), compared to the control group (17.5 ± 4.5; 16.5 ± 6.1; 92.6 ± 19.6%, respectively). In addition, the mean number and percentage of transferable embryos were also significantly lower in the pFSH/GnRHa treated does (4.3 ± 4.0 and 32.7 ± 36.9%), compared to the control does (13.1 ± 5.3 and 75.2 ± 26.8%, respectively). However, no significant differences were recorded in the mean total number of unfertilised ova/doe between groups. The pFSH/GnRHa treatment resulted in a higher number of degenerated embryos per donor (6.9 ± 4.5) compared to the control (3.2 ± 4.2). The pre-treatment with a GnRHa to the pFSH superovulation protocol outside their natural breeding season seemed to be detrimental to embryo production and quality in Boer goats, and is not warranted. Keywords: Boer goats; superovulation; oestrous synchronisation; pFSH; GnRH agonist; embryo; MOET South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 36 (5) 2006: pp.30-3

Development of a high-throughput microsatellite typing approach for forensic and population genetic analysis of wild and domestic African Bovini

Conservation management and forensic traceability of African buffalo and cattle rely on the timely provision of unbiased and accurate genetic information. An approach in which 17 cattle microsatellite markers are co-electrophoresed, following amplification in three core multiplex reactions was established for this purpose. Mean allelic richness per locus was 8.24 and 6.47, for buffalo and Bonsmara cattle, respectively, whilst an unbiased match probability of 6.5x×10-17 and 1.03 × 10-16 was obtained for each. These results confirm the usefulness of this rapid, cost-effective typing approach for forensic, paternity and fine-scale genetic analyses of wild and domestic African Bovini tribe member

Development of a high-throughput microsatellite typing approach for forensic and population genetic analysis of wild and domestic African Bovini.

Conservation management and forensic traceability of African buffalo and cattle rely on the timely provision of unbiased and accurate genetic information. An approach in which 17 cattle microsatellitemarkers are co-electrophoresed, following amplification in three core multiplex reactions was established for this purpose. Mean allelic richness per locus was 8.24 and 6.47, for buffalo and Bonsmara cattle, respectively, whilst an unbiased match probability of 6.5x10-17 and 1.03 x 10-16 wasobtained for each. These results confirm the usefulness of this rapid, cost-effective typing approach for forensic, paternity and fine-scale genetic analyses of wild and domestic African Bovini tribe members

Effects of wine and grape polyphenols on blood pressure, endothelial function and sympathetic nervous system activity in treated hypertensive subjects

In a randomized double-blind crossover trial, the effect of 8 week supplementation with grape and wine polyphenols on functional and structural vascular parameters and autonomic activity was evaluated in 40 essential hypertensive patients treated with diuretic monotherapy. Ambulatory blood pressure, brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) and pulse-wave velocity (PWV) were measured at baseline and after each 8-week intervention. Forearm resistance artery endothelial function and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) response to mental stress and cold-pressor test were measured in two separate sub-groups. No statistically significant differences were found across time or between groups in either blood pressure, FMD, PWV, or resistance artery endothelial function. The MSNA response to the two stressors was non-significantly attenuated after grape-wine polyphenol supplementation. These results do not support the hypothesis that daily consumption of a high dose of grape and wine polyphenols lowers blood pressure or affects vascular function in patients already on antihypertensive medication. © 2016 Elsevier Lt

Measuring quality outcomes across hospital systems: Using a claims data model for risk adjustment of mortality rates

Healthcare delivery systems around the world are designing care through value-based models where value is defined as a function of quality of care outcomes and cost. Mortality is a sentinel outcome measure of quality of care, of fundamental importance to patients and providers. Discovery Health (DH), an administrative funder of healthcare in South Africa (SA), uses service claims data of client medical schemes to examine standardised mortality rates (SMRs) at condition level across hospital systems for the purpose of healthcare system improvement. To accurately examine and contrast variation in condition-level SMRs across acute hospital systems, this outcome metric needs to be risk-adjusted for patient characteristics that make mortality more, or less, likely to occur. This article describes and evaluates the validity of risk-adjustment methods applied to service claims data to accurately determine SMRs across hospital systems. While service claims data may have limitations regarding case risk adjustment, it is important that we do not lose the important opportunity to use claims data as a reliable proxy to comment on the quality of care within healthcare systems. This methodology is robust in its demonstration of variation of performance on mortality outcomes across hospital systems. For the measurement period January 2014 - December 2016, the average risk-adjusted SMRs across hospital systems where DH members were hospitalised for acute myocardial infarction, stroke, pneumonia and coronary artery bypass graft procedures were 9.7%, 8.0%, 5.3% and 3.2%, respectively. This exercise of transparently examining variation in SMRs at hospital system level is the first of its kind in SA’s private sector. Our methodological exercise is used to establish a local pattern of variation of SMRs in the private sector as the base off which to scrutinise reasons for variation and off which to build quality of care improvement strategies. High-performing healthcare systems must seek out opportunities for learning and continuous improvement such as those offered by examining important quality of care outcome measures across hospitals

DECREASE IN NUMBERS OF THE EASTERN ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN EUDYPTES CHRYSOCOME FILHOLI AT MARION ISLAND, 1994/95–2002/03

The number of eastern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome filholi breeding at subantarctic Marion Island decreased from about 173 000 pairs in 1994/95 to about 67 000 pairs in 2001/02. During 1994/95–2002/03 pairs fledged on average 0.40 chicks per year, an amount thought insufficient to balance mortality of breeding adults, and there was a decrease in the mass at arrival at breeding colonies of both males and females. Except in 1997/98, the mass of chicks at fledging was less than that recorded at two other localities. These factors suggest an inadequate supply of food for rockhopper penguins at Marion Island. Decreases of rockhopper penguins at several other localities also have been attributed to inadequate food. Rockhopper penguins at Marion Island continued to feed mainly on crustaceans during chick rearing. There was a marked increase in the contribution of fish to the diet in 1999/00 that coincided with an increase in mass at arrival at colonies of both males and females. Trends in numbers of pairs breeding in different sections of Marion Island were not always consistent, indicating the need for island-wide monitoring to establish the overall trend. Afr. J. mar. Sci. 25: 487–49

POPULATION AND BREEDING OF THE GENTOO PENGUIN PYGOSCELIS PAPUA AT MARION ISLAND, 1994/95–2002/03

The numbers of gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua breeding at subantarctic Marion Island fell by 40&#37 from 1994/95 to 2002/03, from 1 352 pairs to 806 pairs. Apart from a slight increase in 1998/99, there was a steady decrease in numbers breeding between 1995/96 and 2000/01, when the population stabilized. There is indication that in some years not all breeders nested and that some birds relocated to another colony after disturbance. From first clutches, pairs on average fledged between 0.01 chicks in 1997/98 and 0.58 chicks in 2002/03 (mean 0.38 &#177 0.21). In 1994/95, replacement clutches increased the overall production of fledged chicks by 11&#37. Based on demographic parameters measured at other localities, the production of chicks at Marion Island was inadequate to maintain the population during the period 1995/96–2000/01. Consistency in trends in breeding success at five colonies suggests that factors operating at a mesoscale, rather than those specific to particular colonies, often influenced breeding success. Laying was later than normal in 1997/98, when there was almost total breeding failure with large losses of eggs and small chicks to returning Subantarctic skuas Catharacta antarctica. Future research on this Near Threatened species at Marion Island must take full account of its susceptibility to human disturbance.Afr. J. mar. Sci. 25: 463–47

Implementation of the safe system approach in South Africa : overview of the Limpopo road safety programme

Papers presented virtually at the 41st International Southern African Transport Conference on 10-13 July 2044In line with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 road safety has been prioritized as a key public health priority. Aligned with South African national development goals (NDP 2030) and the fact that the South Africa Government recognizes road safety and the consequences of the road safety scourge as public health and socio-economic development challenge across South Africa, and across communities. In 2018 a South African mining community and health assessment determined that road safety needs to be a key health and safety priority. In support a baseline Limpopo Province road safety analysis conducted in 2021 indicted the need to cater for the most vulnerable in society (and with that broader than the usual vulnerable road user, but also aimed at socioeconomic vulnerability) which puts road safety in the mainstream of development activities and the road safety agenda will need to aspire to achieving more. In response to address the road safety problems in the province, a targeted programme was developed. The Limpopo Road Safety Programme is premised on the Safe Systems Approach which at the heart of both the First and the Second United Nations Decade of Action and Global Road Safety Plans, as well as the National Road Safety Strategy 2030. The Limpopo Road Safety Programme aim to implement road safety actions and interventions in a targeted manner. The Limpopo Road Safety programme is a three-year initiative developed and implemented by the Impact Catalyst and is set to through public and private partnerships support communities in reducing the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents (Sustainable Development Goal 3.6). This commitment is deliberately ambitious and aligned to improve people’s lives. The programme is rooted in successful public and private partnerships and the coordination of targeted interventions and actions aimed at reducing the carnage on Limpopo roads. This research paper provides an overview of the the Limpopo Road Safety programme which through the execution of thirteen targeted Safe System projects aims to improve road safety in the Limpopo Province by strengthening the various pillars of the Safe System Approach in support of road safety improvements

POPULATION, BREEDING, DIET AND CONSERVATION OF THE CROZET SHAG PHALACROCORAX [ATRICEPS] MELANOGENIS AT MARION ISLAND, 1994/95–2002/03

The number of Crozet shags or cormorants Phalacrocorax [atriceps] melanogenis breeding at subantarctic Marion Island decreased by 68&#37 from 841 pairs in 1994/95 to 272 pairs in 2002/03. The mean number of pairs at colonies also decreased and was significantly related to the overall number of birds breeding in any given season. The decreases coincided with a period of warming and reduced precipitation at Marion Island and with a decrease in the number of gentoo penguins Pygoscelis papua breeding there. Both these seabird species forage inshore and there is considerable overlap in their diets. Nototheniid fish and the decapod Nauticaris marionis continued to be important in the diet of Crozet shags, but a change in dominance among nototheniid prey suggests availability of prey to shags changed after the mid 1980s. Crozet shags breed for the first time when aged three years. It is probable that about 25&#37 of the mature population did not breed in 1997/98, coincident with a strong El Niño Southern Oscillation event. In four seasons, breeding pairs on average fledged 0.30 chicks from first clutches, an amount thought inadequate to sustain the population. Crozet shags at the Prince Edward Islands should now be regarded as Endangered. Placing breeding colonies in the most highly protected zone on Marion Island, considering the establishment of an ex situ population and undertaking a genetic study of the specific status of the Crozet shag are recommended conservation measures.Afr. J. mar. Sci. 25: 537–54