The objective of the study was to determine, through deep learning, the predictability of milk yield from a cow's side-view, rear-view image, or a combination of the two. The data size of 1 238 image pairs (the side-view and rear-view images) from 743 Holstein cows in their first or second parity, and their corresponding first-lactation, 305-day milk yield values were used to train and test Deep Learning models. The data were first split into the training and testing data at a ratio of 80:20, respectively. The training data were augmented four times, then again divided into training and validation data at the ratio of 4:1, respectively. Three principal analyses were done, the prediction of milk yield using rear-view images, using side-view images, and using a merge of the side-view and rear-view images. In all three analyses, poor predictions were observed, i.e., R² values ranging from 0.30 to 0.38, the mean absolute error ranging from 1112.9 kgs to 1148.3 kgs, the root mean square error values ranging from 1401.2 kg to 1480.5 kg, and the mean absolute error percentages ranging from 17.0 to 17.6%. Hypothesis tests were done to check whether there was any difference between these three prediction models. There was no significant difference in performance between the prediction models. It was concluded that predicting the 305-day milk yield of Holstein cows using either view had the same level of accuracy, and no additional benefits were derived from using both the rear and side views.

The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of the dietary inclusion of liquid-fermented potato hash with or without exogenous enzyme on fermentation characteristics and carcass characteristics of pigs. Forty-two crossbred, male pigs (Large White × Landrace) aged 55 d with an average body weight of 25.5 ± 3 kg (mean ± standard deviation) were selected. Six pigs were randomly allocated to seven experimental dietary treatments. The dietary treatments included dry standard feed; liquid-fermented standard feed; liquid-fermented potato hash, 200 g/kg (as fed), with and without exogenous enzymes; and liquid-fermented potato hash, 400 g/kg (as fed), with and without exogenous enzymes. The back-slopping fermentation approach was followed to prepare experimental diets. Diets were formulated to provide 14 MJ/kg digestible energy (DE), 180 g crude protein (CP)/kg and 11.6 g lysine /kg. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Enterobacteriaceae, yeast, moulds, and Escherichia coli in the liquid-fermented diet with or without potato hash were influenced by the addition of enzymes. An effect of diet and enzymes was observed on lactic acid and water-soluble carbohydrates. The low and high liquid-fermented potato hash diets without enzymes had a higher pH than the low and high liquid-fermented potato hash diets with enzymes after 8 and 24 hr. Fermented potato hash with or without enzymes led to high drip loss and lean percentage. Carcass traits improved in pigs fed less liquid-fermented potato hash with or without enzymes.

The study investigated the quality and production of village chickens in wet and dry environments. Three hundred households were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Both external and internal characteristics were measured in 4 000 eggs using visual observation and laboratory analyses. The main source of income for the households in both environments was government grants. Village chickens were largely kept for eggs, meat, income, leisure, and rituals. The proportion of households selling eggs was low (less than 3%). Village chicken productivity was constrained by feed shortages, high disease prevalence, theft, slow growth, predation, and lack of access to the market. Feed availability varied seasonally. The dry environment produced 30% more eggs, which was an anomaly. Egg weights were larger (49.8 g) in wet than dry environments (39.6 g). It was concluded that egg quality and production were affected by feed availability. To improve egg production and quality, the environment should be improved using inputs such as feeding programs and housing.

To promote the sustainable production of local pigs, their dietary protein requirements need to be determined. Meat production from these pigs when fed on appropriate diets, coupled with their adaptability to climatic extremes and disease and parasite challenges, could be of huge benefit to the pork industry. The objective of the study was to determine the carcass traits, primary pork cuts, and internal organ weights of pigs fed decreasing dietary protein levels. Thirty, slow-growing, Windsnyer male pigs were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments in a complete randomized design. There were five replications for each of the six treatments. Dietary crude protein levels in the six experimental diets were 193, 174, 154, 135, 116, and 97 g/kg, respectively. The diets were formulated to contain similar net energy levels of ~9.5 MJ/kg. Lysine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan levels were the same for all diets. A two week adaptation was followed by an 8w feeding phase. At slaughter, pigs had an average weight of ~39.13±0.85 kg. Pigs were humanely slaughtered at the end of feeding period to determine carcass characteristics, primary pork cuts, and internal organ size. A negative linear relationship was observed between protein levels and cooler shrink. There was a positive linear relationship between protein level and dressing percentage, cooler shrink, and shoulder fat. There was a quadratic relationship between dietary protein level and shoulder fat, ham diameter, P2(3) backfat depth, and kidney weight. The thickness of dorsal fat at the last rib, the thickness of back fat, and the width of back fat at P2(2) increased linearly as protein level decreased. The reduction in dietary protein level had an influence on carcass traits, primal pork cuts, and internal organs in slow-growing Windsnyer pigs. A reduction in dietary protein level below 116 g/kg compromised ham diameter, P2(3) width of back fat thickness, shoulder fat, and kidney weight.

Nguni goats are thought not to respond to dietary protein supplementation. The objective of the study was to determine the interaction of protein supplementation and ecotype on growth performance and carcass traits of Nongoma, Msinga and Cedara Nguni goat ecotypes. Thirty-six five-month-old castrated males were randomly allotted to a 3 χ 3 factorial design experiment and provided 0, 150 and 300 g protein concentrate per day. There was an interaction of ecotype and protein supplementation on average daily gain (ADG). The ADG of the Nongoma and Cedara goats increased with protein supplementation, but the Msinga ecotype was not affected by the treatments. Goats of the Cedara ecotype weighed 34.4 kg when provided 300 g of supplement, whereas the Nongoma ecotype weighed 26.5 kg at slaughter when unsupplemented. The dressing percentage did not differ with the level of protein supplementation or ecotype. From the fifth quarter, the skin was affected by ecotype, gut fill by protein supplementation and the weight of the head by both factors. The Cedara ecotype had a heavier fifth quarter at 300 g supplementation. There was no interaction of protein supplementation and ecotype on dissectible fat. Intestine and visceral fats were affected by protein supplementation, whereas stomach fat was affected by ecotype.

Protein requirements for slow-growing pigs have not been defined. The study was designed to determine the relationship between the level of dietary protein and nitrogen balance in slow-growing Windsnyer pigs. Thirty Windsnyer pigs with an initial bodyweight of 34.7 (SD = 0.85) kg were randomly assigned to six experimental diets containing 193, 174, 154, 135, 117, and 97 g/kg of crude protein (CP). Pigs were penned individually. There were five pigs in each diet. The faecal nitrogen output (NFO) showed a decreasing quadratic relationship with protein level. A linear relationship between protein level and urinary nitrogen excretion was observed (P =0.0001). The total nitrogen excreted showed a significant quadratic relationship to decreasing levels of CP in the diets (P =0.0001). The apparent digestibility of nitrogen had a linear relationship with dietary CP level (P =0.0005). A quadratic relationship between dietary protein level and N utilization was observed (P =0.0001). The optimum protein level for total nitrogen excreted, nitrogen utilization and biological value of feed protein were attained at 135 g/kg protein level. The efficiency of nitrogen utilization supports the low protein diet. The present results suggest reducing the dietary protein level for Windsnyer pigs to decrease amount of excreted N that is deposited into the environment.

ABSTRACT The current study was conducted to investigate the influence of provitamin A biofortified maize (PABM) diet, sex and age of birds on the haematological and serum biochemistry parameters of indigenous chickens. A total of ninety-six 13 week old male and female Ovambo chickens were reared and fed on either white maize (WM) a low vitamin A diet or a PABM based diet for eight weeks. Each diet was replicated four times. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte concentration (RBC), leucocytes concentration (WBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured. Albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB), total proteins (TP), triglycerides (TRI), cholesterol (CHOLES), uric acid (UA) and creatinine (CREAT) concentrations were assessed. The activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) alkaline phosphate (ALP) and aspartate transaminanse (AST) were also assayed. The PABM diet increased (p<0.05) PCV and WBC of female birds. All mean values for the haematological parameters regardless of the age, sex and diets were within the normal range. Age had an effect (p<0.05) on ALT, TP, GLOB, TRI and UA. Sex of the birds significantly influenced the TP, GLOB, ALB, CREAT and TRI levels. There was significant interaction of diet and age of bird on ALP, ALT, and GLOB concentrations. The cholesterol level in 18 weeks old male birds fed on the WM diet was above the normal range. In conclusion, feeding PABM diet to female and male indigenous chickens will not negatively impact on the health status of indigenous chickens.

South African communal farmers possess indigenous breeds and resources required for organic beefproduction. However, the market off-take rate from communal farms is 5-10%, compared to 25% on commercial farms, despite the fact that 40% of cattle are found on communal lands. The objective of the study was to investigate the possibility of organic beef production on South African communal farms, using Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) conducted with communal cattle farmers in UMgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal. The findings revealed that socio-cultural factors are the primary reasons for keeping cattle, with cash generation being a secondary importance. Despite the lack of external support, communal farmers value their communal production systems and produce which are labelled 'organic' by default. These farmers perceive this system as wholesome; results in mature and tasty meat with several domestic and medicinal benefits compared to conventional cattle production systems, hence, its products should be sold at a premium. Socio-behavioural factors, such as isolation, inferiority and lack of institutional support, market access and market information pertaining to the marketing of organic beef are the reasons why communal farmers are not actively participating in the South African formal beef market. It can be concluded that facilitating product differentiation and the involvement of communal farmers as stakeholders in the South African formal beef market through civic engagement has the potential to increase off-take rates from communal farms, rather than the bottom-up and top-down management strategies.

The study investigated information needs of communal cattle farmers located on conservation and transfrontier areas in the Northern part of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. For triangulation of findings, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and 241 structured questionnaires were used. During focus group discussions, key findings showed that cattle management and handling as well as veterinary information are the most needed information by farmers from both study sites. Odds ratio estimates showed that older males (odds ratios 1.906 and 1.488) and literate farmers with tertiary education required more information on cattle management (odds ratio 5.878). Both study areas had common information needs on veterinary matters, conservation of cattle feeds, cattle management and handling as well as stock theft and depredation. This excludes alien invasive species which were reported to be a challenge by dominating communal grazing lands, hence reducing forage on conservation areas. A comprehensive action plan addressing information needs for cattle farmers located in the conservation and transfrontier areas by relevant stakeholders is crucial to minimise substantial economic losses caused by cattle diseases.

The use of leguminous leaf meal as feed ingredients for pigs needs to be intensified and improved. Leguminous trees and shrubs are valuable sources of protein, amino acids, and dietary fibre for pigs. Leguminous leaf meals are abundant in the tropical regions and their use as alternate protein-rich feed ingredients for pigs is promising. In tropics, climate change and vegetation management practices have certainly increased the availability of shrub legumes compared to grasses. There is, therefore, a need to resort on harnessing abundant and cheap feed resources to cope with environmental changes and rise of feed prices. Leguminous leaf meals are invaluable feed ingredients for pigs because of their relatively high crude protein and they are highly available. The leguminous leaves also thrive in, and tolerate, adverse climatic and soil conditions. However, their utilisation is limited by presence of polyphenolic compounds, particularly condensed tannins that inhibit their efficient use by pigs. Other challenges for the utilisation of legume-based leaf meal diets are the presence of thorns and high fibre content. If leguminous leaf meals are included in the diet beyond optimum levels, polyphenolic compounds can suppress appetite, promote feed refusal, reduce digestibility, and can induce toxicity in pigs. This warrants investigation on the use of tannin-binding agents (TBA) to improve nutrient utilisation of leguminous leaf meal-containing diets fed to pigs. The inclusion level of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in livestock diets has a huge potential to neutralise negative effects of undesirable polyphenolic compounds. Therefore, the current review aimed to assess the potential of PEG to inactivate tannin and amount of PEG to include for optimum pig performance.

The response of Windsnyer pigs to diets containing varying levels of potato hash silage in nutritionally related blood biochemistry, carcass traits and primal pork was estimated. Thirty-six growing clinically healthy male Windsnyer pigs with an initial weight of 36 kg ± 4.89 (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) were randomly assigned to six experimental diets containing 0, 80, 160, 240, 320, and 400 potato hash silage g/kg dry matter (DM). Experimental diets were derived from mixing a summit diet containing no potato hash silage and a dilution diet containing 400 g potato hash silage/kg in various proportions. Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to diets and water. There was no relationship between inclusion levels of potato hash silage and albumin: globulin ratio, total protein, and uric acid. As inclusion levels of potato hash silage varied, there was a positive linear relationship between silage and albumin concentration. Globulin concentration had a positive quadratic relationship with the inclusion of potato hash silage. Inclusion levels of potato hash silage resulted in a positive quadratic relationship in alkaline phosphatase. There was a negative linear response in warm carcass weight and cold carcass weight to inclusion levels of silage. A negative linear response was observed in dressing percentage. Different inclusion levels of potato hash silage caused a positive quadratic relationship in cooler shrink. There were negative linear relationships between inclusion of potato hash silage with shoulder fat, carcass length and backfat thickness. There was a negative linear relationship between eye muscle area and inclusion level of ensiled potato hash. There was a positive quadratic relationship between hindquarter length (HQL) and inclusion levels of silage. The observed linear relationship between hindquarter circumference (HQC) and inclusion levels of potato hash silage was negative. There is a need to predict the optimum inclusion level of potato hash silage without compromising the healthiness and carcass yield of pigs.

ABSTRACT Free-range chicken production has significantly increased in recent years and it often entails exposing birds to cyclic environmental conditions. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of bird strain and sex, and rearing system on the physiological responses of Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK), Ovambo (OV) and Naked Neck (NN) chickens reared in a hot environment. Body weight (BW), rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) were determined weekly for 4 weeks, in 3 slow-growing chicken strains under cyclic environmental conditions. A total of 288, 20-week old Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK), Ovambo (OV) and Naked Neck (NN) chickens were separated by sex and allocated to extensive and intensive rearing systems. Ambient temperature and relative humidity (RH) were used to compute a temperature humidity index (THI). A Proc MIXED model was used to analyze fixed effects and a linear regression model was fitted to test the relationship between THI and response parameters. All factors studied influenced (p<0.05) BW while none affected (p>0.05) RT. Higher BW (p<0.05) were obtained with OV in both rearing systems. Sex influenced (p=0.0021) HR but not RR (p>0.05). Week and rearing system affected (p>0.05) RR. THI showed significant correlation with RR and HR. THI was higher in intensive than extensive rearing. Physiological responses of PK, OV and NN are comparable under similar rearing conditions.

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to determine the interaction of types of maize (Provitamin A-biofortified maize (PABM) versus white maize) and strain of laying birds (Amberlink and Hyline) on nutritional quality of eggs. Twenty-one of each of Amberlink and Hyline laying hens were fed on three diets for 30 days. Birds were distributed in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement constituting three diets (0, 50 or 100 % of PABM) and two strains (Amberlink & Hyline). There was a diet × strain interaction on egg shell weight, average daily feed intake, egg production, egg weight and egg shell thickness. Eggs produced by layers under 100 % PABM had lighter eggshell weight and lower eggshell percentage. In contrast, eggs produced by layers under 50 % PABM diet had signi-ficantly higher eggshell percentage, heavier egg shell weight and thicker eggshell. As the level of PABM increased, the yellow and red hue (Hunter a* and b* values) significantly increased while the lightness values (Hunter L* values) decreased. As the level of PABM in the ration increased, the vitamin A content of the egg yolk also significantly increased. Assimilation of vitamin A from feed to egg yolk in Amberlink and Hyline hens was similar. Hence, egg enrichment with vitamin A can be achieved by using PABM in layers ration. The use of high level of PABM had a negative effect on the eggshell quality traits.

The objective of the study was to assess the physico-chemical pork quality attributes and fatty acid profiles of indigenous Windsnyer (WS) and Large White (LW) gilts. Twelve gilts of each breed were fed similar commercial diets from weaning until slaughter at the age of 21 weeks. The m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum was sampled. Differences in muscle pH values obtained 24 hours post mortem (pH24) were not significant in pork from the WS or LW gilts. Pork lightness 24 hours post mortem (L*24) was significantly lower in WS gilts than in LW gilts. Muscle saturated fatty acids (SFA) were higher in WS gilts than LW gilts. Fat of LW gilts had higher polyunsaturated (PUFA), n-6 fatty acids, n-3 fatty acids and PUFA: SFA ratio than WS gilts. The study showed preferential attributes of pork from LW gilts than from WS gilts. The accrued information could benefit the food industry by assisting researchers and nutritionists to interpret the quality of pork from different pig genotypes for health-conscious consumers. Furthermore, it aids in determining the concern about pork as a cardiovascular risk factor and acts as a planning tool for public-health programmes.

The use of agricultural by-products has become the central focus in reducing feed costs in pig production. However, there is a need to determine how the gastrointestinal tract of pigs responds when subjected to fibrous ingredients. The objective of the study was to predict villi height and apparent villi surface area from physicochemical measurements of maize cob-based diets. Eighteen growing male pigs (initial bodyweight 14.3 ± 1.20 kg) were used in the experiment. The pigs were penned individually and subjected to diets containing 0 g, 80 g, 160 g, 240 g, 320 g, and 400 g maize cob meal/kg diet. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Using stepwise regression, bulk density (BD) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were the best predictor variables influencing villi height (VH) and apparent villi surface area (AVSA). VH produced quadratic and linear responses with BD and NDF, respectively. The equations are VH = 211.3(BD)² - 591.0(BD) + 442.4; and VH = 0.03(NDF) + 22.8. Conversely, AVSA produced quadratic and linear responses with NDF and BD, respectively. The equations are AVSA = 0.00036(NDF)² - 0.012(NDF) +7.25 and AVSA = - 47.12(BD) + 45.03. In conclusion, the BD and NDF of a feed could be used to predict VH and AVSA of growing pigs fed maize cobs.