Environmental and genetic factors affecting faecal worm egg counts in Merinos divergently selected for reproduction

Infestation with gastrointestinal nematodes is probably among the most pervasive problems in small-stock production worldwide. Faecal worm egg count (FWEC) has been reported as an indirect measure of parasite resistance in livestock production. Environmental and genetic factors of FWEC were assessed, using data from Merino sheep that were selected divergently for reproductive performance at Elsenburg Research Farm. Data consisted of animals born in 1995 - 1996, 1999, and 2001 - 2013. Two datasets were considered: 1869 FWEC records of animals born in the years provided above, and 851 records of the divergently selected lines and the reciprocal cross between them, born in 2003 - 2008. Rectal faecal sample grabs were obtained from individual animals after drenching had been withheld for approximately 6 to 10 weeks, generally in April. Nematode eggs in these samples were counted using the McMaster technique, with a sensitivity of 100 eggs/g wet faeces. The fixed effect of birth year x sex interaction was significant, with rams showing higher mean values for FWEC than ewes in most years, but these results were not consistent. FWEC showed significant but low heritability, estimates ranging from 0.06 for untransformed data to 0.10 for log-transformed data, suggesting that selection for low FWEC could be slow. There was no hybrid vigour and compelling evidence of genetic change in log-transformed FWEC in either line, suggesting a negligible genetic correlation between FWEC and reproduction. In this experiment, the researchers studied animals that had been exposed to parasite challenge in autumn. Therefore, the results of this study cannot be applied directly to a situation in which faecal samples were collected in other seasons. Future work is needed to determine the effect of season on the heritability of parasite resistance in South African conditions.Keywords: Breeding values, gastrointestinal nematodes, genetic parameters, heritability, resistanc

PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS GOAT MEAT AND MILK CONSUMPTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

The increasing demand by the teeming human population on animal agriculture for their daily animal protein intake requires every livestock, including goat products, to be on the menu list. Dismally, consumer acceptance and consumption of any product hugely rest on their behavioural attitudes. This study aimed to assess consumer perception of goat milk and meat in some areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on socio-demographic and economic characteristics and perceptions about goat meat and milk consumption. Also, information about consumer attitudes, their familiarity towards goat products and their awareness of the nutritional qualities of the animal’s product were gathered. Data from the 386 consumers selected randomly in Amathole and Buffalo city municipalities were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Consumption of animal products was affirmed by 95.5% of the respondents. Respondents’ knowledge of goat milk breeds and their willingness to consume the product were 28.6% and 41.7%, respectively. Apart from the goaty odour (29.1%), about 55.8% of the respondents had no specific reason for not consuming goat milk. Many respondents (68.3%) consumed goat meat and had no specific reason for this high consumption pattern other than seeing it as just any other meat (42.2%). Most respondents did not know the specific nutritional benefits of consuming goat milk (42.7%) and meat (70.4%). There was a significant and positive association (P<0.05) between the age of respondents, whether they knew about goat milk, consumption of goat milk and the nutritional benefits. There was a significant association (P<0.05) between the educational level of the respondents and goat milk knowledge and their willingness to consume goat milk. The study findings indicate that a larger proportion of the respondents consumed goat meat and milk. However, there is potential for increasing the percentage of consumers for these products through education about their health benefits

PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS GOAT MEAT AND MILK CONSUMPTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

The increasing demand by the teeming human population on animal agriculture for their daily animal protein intake requires every livestock, including goat products, to be on the menu list. Dismally, consumer acceptance and consumption of any product hugely rest on their behavioural attitudes. This study aimed to assess consumer perception of goat milk and meat in some areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Structured questionnaires were used to gather information on socio-demographic and economic characteristics and perceptions about goat meat and milk consumption. Also, information about consumer attitudes, their familiarity towards goat products and their awareness of the nutritional qualities of the animal’s product were gathered. Data from the 386 consumers selected randomly in Amathole and Buffalo city municipalities were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Consumption of animal products was affirmed by 95.5% of the respondents. Respondents’ knowledge of goat milk breeds and their willingness to consume the product were 28.6% and 41.7%, respectively. Apart from the goaty odour (29.1%), about 55.8% of the respondents had no specific reason for not consuming goat milk. Many respondents (68.3%) consumed goat meat and had no specific reason for this high consumption pattern other than seeing it as just any other meat (42.2%). Most respondents did not know the specific nutritional benefits of consuming goat milk (42.7%) and meat (70.4%). There was a significant and positive association (P<0.05) between the age of respondents, whether they knew about goat milk, consumption of goat milk and the nutritional benefits. There was a significant association (P<0.05) between the educational level of the respondents and goat milk knowledge and their willingness to consume goat milk. The study findings indicate that a larger proportion of the respondents consumed goat meat and milk. However, there is potential for increasing the percentage of consumers for these products through education about their health benefits

Environmental and genetic factors affecting faecal worm egg counts in Merinos divergently selected for reproduction

CITATION: Mpetile, Z., Cloete, S. W. P., Kruger, A. C. M. & Dzama, K. 2015. Environmental and genetic factors affecting faecal worm egg counts in Merinos divergently selected for reproduction. South African Journal of Animal Science, 45(5):510-520, doi:10.4314/sajas.v45i5.8.The original publication is available at http://www.sasas.co.za/journalsInfestation with gastrointestinal nematodes is probably among the most pervasive problems in small-stock production worldwide. Faecal worm egg count (FWEC) has been reported as an indirect measure of parasite resistance in livestock production. Environmental and genetic factors of FWEC were assessed, using data from Merino sheep that were selected divergently for reproductive performance at Elsenburg Research Farm. Data consisted of animals born in 1995 - 1996, 1999, and 2001 - 2013. Two datasets were considered: 1869 FWEC records of animals born in the years provided above, and 851 records of the divergently selected lines and the reciprocal cross between them, born in 2003 - 2008. Rectal faecal sample grabs were obtained from individual animals after drenching had been withheld for approximately 6 to 10 weeks, generally in April. Nematode eggs in these samples were counted using the McMaster technique, with a sensitivity of 100 eggs/g wet faeces. The fixed effect of birth year x sex interaction was significant, with rams showing higher mean values for FWEC than ewes in most years, but these results were not consistent. FWEC showed significant but low heritability, estimates ranging from 0.06 for untransformed data to 0.10 for log-transformed data, suggesting that selection for low FWEC could be slow. There was no hybrid vigour and compelling evidence of genetic change in log-transformed FWEC in either line, suggesting a negligible genetic correlation between FWEC and reproduction. In this experiment, the researchers studied animals that had been exposed to parasite challenge in autumn. Therefore, the results of this study cannot be applied directly to a situation in which faecal samples were collected in other seasons. Future work is needed to determine the effect of season on the heritability of parasite resistance in South African conditions.http://www.sasas.co.za/environmental-and-genetic-factors-affecting-faecal-worm-egg-counts-merinos-divergently-selectedPublisher's versio