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Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture

The objective of the current study was to compare tick loads, growth, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nguni, Bonsmara and Angus steers raised on natural pasture. A total of 30, 7-month old steers each of Bonsmara and Angus, and 40 Nguni steers were kept at the University of Fort Hare Farm till slaughter at 18 months. Monthly weights of the steers were recorded. Carcasses were electrically stimulated. The m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was sampled for the measurement of meat colour, pH, drip loss, sarcomere length (SL), water holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, myofibrillar fragmentation length (MFL), Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), fatty acid profiles and sensory characteristics of the steers. Urine samples were collected at the slaughter line for the determination of stress hormone concentrations. The Nguni had the lowest tick load (P 0.05) among all the breeds, except that Nguni meat was darker (L*) (P 0.05) concentrations while the Nguni had the lowest (P > 0.05) concentrations of stress hormones. There were significant (P 0.05). Cholesterol levels among the breeds were similar (P > 0.05). The Nguni had the best (P < 0.05) sensory characteristics, such as flavour and tenderness. It can be concluded that while the Nguni is a small framed breed, its meat quality is similar to that of Bonsmara and Angus and has the best meat taste when raised on natural pasture

Animal welfare in multipurpose cattle production Systems and its implications on beef quality

Animal welfare and its influence on beef production are major considerations in many developed countries. In the developing world, where food insecurity and poverty are prevalent, the welfare of animals receives low priority due to factors such as traditional customs and beliefs, lack of knowledge in animal handling and sub standard handling facilities. This is worsened by the fact that cattle are used for several purposes, such as meat production, milk production, draught power and traditional ceremonies. Research on animal welfare and how it relates to animal production have been done in the developed world. The objective of this study is to discuss indicators of animal welfare assessment, their impact on meat quality and applications to improve beef production in developing countries

Behavioural responses of four goat genotypes to successive handling at the farm

The objective of the current study is to compare the behavioural responses of Xhosa lob-eared, Nguni and Boer goats and their crosses to blood collection and rectal palpation. A total of 48, six- month old castrated male indigenous goats of the Xhosa lob-eared, Nguni and Boer goats and their crosses were kept at the University of Fort Hare Farm, South Africa for eight weeks. The goats were randomly assigned to four pen groups with each pen having three goats of the same breed among the 12 goats in each pen. Immediately after blood and faecal collection, behavioural measurements through vocalization scoring (VS), pen scoring (PS), crush scoring (CS), flight speed (FS) and flight time (FT) were recorded for each goat every forth-night for 8 weeks. The Nguni was the most temperamental (p &lt; 0.05) and the Boer goats were the most calm. There were significant increases in the behavioural scores of the four breeds during the successive weeks of handling. It can be concluded that the Boer goats had the calmest temperament, followed by the crossbreds, and lastly the Xhosa the Nguni were the most combative.Key words: Indigenous goats, crush score, flight speed, pen score, temperament, welfare

Relationship between saliva and blood cortisol in handled cows

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations in beef cattle that were subjected to handling prior to sampling. Methods Twenty-one Nguni cows of three age categories; 5 to 7 yr (n = 7), 8 to 10 yr (n = 6), and 11 to 13 yr (n = 8) were handled for five consecutive weeks. In the pen, a human avoidance test was performed and cattle responses to restraint in the chute and crush were observed. In addition, rectal temperature readings were taken and, faecal samples were collected and analysed for glucocorticoid metabolites. Through the handling and restraint process, excretory and vocalisation behaviour, as a sign of stress were observed and recorded. Thereafter, six cows were randomly selected and subjected to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. Blood and saliva samples were extracted to determine cortisol concentrations. Results Repeated handling affected (p0.05) across the time of sampling. A low and insignificant correlation (r = 0.0131, p>0.05) between plasma and saliva cortisol was therefore observed. Conclusion We conclude that if beef cows are subjected to handling prior to sampling, a weak relationship exists between plasma and salivary cortisol levels

Nutrient Composition and Fatty Acid Profiles of Oven-dried and Freeze-dried Earthworm Eisenia foetida

Abstract Background: Eisenia foetida are used as a feed source. However, information on nutrient composition and fatty acid profiles of earthworm E.foetida is limited, making it complex to include them into feed formulation. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the nutritive value of freeze-dried and oven-dried earthworms, E. foetida. Design: The earthworms were oven-or freeze-dried, then analysed for nutrient composition (protein, fat, moisture and minerals) according to AOAC method and fatty acids using gas chromatography. Results: Protein content was higher in freeze-dried earthworms while fat content of earthworms was not influenced by drying methods used. Most minerals (macro and micro) of E. foetida were significantly different except for calcium (P &lt; 0.05) with freeze-dried E. foetida having the predominant minerals than oven-dried earthworms. Most of essential fatty acids were significantly higher in oven-dried E. foetida than in freeze-dried earthworms. No significant differences (P &gt; 0.05) were observed on Margaric, Vaccenic, Arachidic, Tricosanoic, omega-3, SFA, MUFA, n-3, PUFA: SFA and PUFA/MUFA between oven-dried and freeze-dried samples. Conclusions: The study revealed that freeze-dried E. foetida can serve as a better source of nutrients than oven-dried earthworms whereas fatty acids were better in oven-dried E. foetida than freeze-dried E. foetida. These results indicated that the effects of drying methods on E. foetida nutritive value were different. Keywords: chemical composition, drying methods, Eisenia foetida, fatty acids Cite This Article: Busisiwe Gunya, Patrick Julius Masika, Arno Hugo, and Voster Muchenje, &quot;Nutrient Composition and Fatty Acid Profiles of Oven-dried and Freeze-dried Earthworm Eisenia foetid

Superovulation response and embryo quality recovered following flushing Nguni heifers and cows

The aims of the study were to compare super ovulatory response, fertilization rate and evaluate embryo quality recovered from super ovulated Nguni stud cows and heifers. Nguni cows (n = 15) and heifers (n = 10) aged 4-6 and 2 years, respectively, were used as embryo donors. Embryo donors were synchronized for estrus before superovulation. For superovulation donors were administered with 350 mg of FSH (Folltropin®-V) divided into 2 injections daily 12 h apart for 4.5 days on a decreasing dosage. Semen was collected from two Nguni bulls (bull 1 and 2) using an Electro Ejaculator (EE) and semen characteristics (volume, motility, viability, concentration and morphology) were recorded and motility parameters were assessed by computer aided sperm analysis before Artificial Insemination (AI). Donor cows and heifers were inseminated randomly with semen straws from either bull 1 or bull 2. Embryos were flushed 7 days after AI using a nonsurgical technique and were evaluated under microscope for quality. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and linear or quadratic relationships were used to determine effects of semen traits on fertilization rate and embryo quality. No significant differences were observed on the super ovulatory response rate of Nguni cows and heifers (P>0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were recorded on fertilization rate between cows (67.5%) and heifers (63.5%) (P>0.05). Embryo quality between Nguni cows (code 1, 2.5±1.00; code 2, 1.3±0.59) and heifers (code 1, 0.8±0.41; code 2, 1.0±0.36) was similar. There was no significant difference between bull 1 (93.7%) and bull 2 (90.5%) on total sperm motility rate (P>0.05). The Super ovulatory response, fertilization rate and embryo quality between Nguni cows and heifers was similar.The Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and Govan Mbeki Research Development Centre (GMRDC).http://thescipub.com/journals/ajavsam2022Animal and Wildlife Science