Meat quality of Nguni steers supplemented with Acacia karroo leaf-meal

The effect of varying levels of purified condensed tannins on performance, blood profile, meat quality and methane emission in male Bapedi sheep fed grass hay and pellet-based diet

This study determined the effect of purified condensed tannin inclusion levels in a diet on production, haematological indices, blood biochemical components, meat quality and methane emission by yearling indigenous male Bapedi sheep on a grass hay and sheep pellet-based diet in a 28-day trial. The diets contained similar (P > 0.05) nutrients but with different (P < 0.05) purified condensed tannin supplementation levels. A complete randomized design was used. Twenty-four yearling male Bapedi sheep were assigned to four dietary treatments having different purified condensed tannin levels of 0 (GH₈₀P₂₀PCT₀), 30 (GH₈₀P₂₀PCT₃₀), 40 (GH₈₀P₂₀PCT₄₀) and 50 (GH₈₀P₂₀PCT₅₀) g/kg DM. A quadratic type of equation was also used to determine condensed tannin supplementation levels for optimal performance and methane emission reduction by sheep. Supplementing diets with purified condensed tannins did not affect (P > 0.05) diet intake, digestibility and live weight gain of male Bapedi sheep. Supplementing diets with purified condensed tannins did not affect (P > 0.05) blood components of male Bapedi sheep. Inclusion of condensed tannins in the diets did not affect (P > 0.05) Bapedi sheep meat pH and sensory attributes. However, supplementing diets with purified condensed tannins decreased (P < 0.05) methane emission by 51 to 60%. A 49.08 g supplementation level with purified condensed tannins per kg DM diet was calculated, with the use of quadratic equations, to result in the lowest methane emission by male Bapedi sheep. The meat of male Bapedi rams on diets containing 30, 40 or 50 g of purified condensed tannins per kg DM contained higher (P < 0.05) antioxidant activities than those from rams fed a diet without purified condensed tannins. These results indicate that purified condensed tannin supplementation levels of 0, 30, 40 or 50 g/kg DM diet had no adverse effects on growth performance, blood profiles and meat sensory attributes of male Bapedi sheep. However, supplementation levels of 30, 40 or 50 g of purified condensed tannins per kg DM diet reduced methane emission by 51 to 60%, and increased sheep meat antioxidant activity values. Supplementing diets with purified condensed tannins has the potential to reduce methane production and emission by sheep. However, long-term studies are recommended to ascertain the present findings.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizers Improve Growth and Leaf Nutrient Composition of Moringa oleifera

Establishing the appropriate agronomic practices like fertilizer application is important for maximizing yield and improving nutritional quality of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaves. The objective of the presented study was to determine the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rates on plant growth performance and leaf nutrient composition of moringa. The experiment was a 4 × 3 factorial, with four nitrogen levels (100, 200, 300, and 400 kg ha−1) and three levels of phosphorus (40, 80 and 120 kg ha−1). The experiment was laid out as randomized complete block design (RCBD), treatments were replicated four times. Twelve weeks after planting, the moringa trees treated with 100 kg N ha−1 and 80 kg P ha−1 were significantly taller by 46.8% than trees supplied with 400 kg N ha−1 and 120 kg P ha−1. Similarly, trees that received 100 kg N ha−1 and 80 kg P ha−1, and those treated with 200 kg N ha−1 and 80 kg P ha−1 had significantly greater stem diameter (&gt;36%) compared to moringa trees that received 400 kg N ha−1 and 40 kg P ha−1. Crude protein was significantly higher by 26.3% in the 400 kg N ha−1 and 120 kg P ha−1 treatment combination than that of the 100 kg N ha−1 and 40 kg P ha−1 treatment combinations. Moringa trees that received 100 kg N ha−1 and 40 kg P ha−1 had the highest neutral detergent fiber content (30.71%), while the trees that received 400 kg N ha−1 and 120 kg P ha−1 had the lower neutral detergent fiber content of 22.77%. Based on the study, the combination of 100 kg N ha−1 and 80 kg P ha−1 can be recommended for maximum yield and nutritional content of moringa leaves.

Livelihood, Food and Nutrition Security in Southern Africa: What Role Do Indigenous Cattle Genetic Resources Play?

Of the 345 million people in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), 30.6% are severely food insecure, 8% malnourished and 50% live with less than US $1 per day, respectively. Livelihood, food and nutrition security have, therefore, become key priorities for the SADC region in response to these complex challenges. Given that 70% of the SADC population directly rely on agriculture for food, nutrition and income, sustained agricultural productivity may play an important role in achieving livelihood, food and nutrition security in the region. Being an important part of the agri-food system of marginalised communities in the region, cattle have great potential to contribute to the goal of reducing food and nutrition insecurity. The region has a population size of about 64 million cattle of which 75% of the population is kept under the smallholder farming systems, and primarily composed of indigenous tropical breeds. Most indigenous cattle breeds are, however, either undergoing rapid genetic dilution or at risk of extinction. At the same time, their environments, production and marketing systems are experiencing high rates of change in time and space. More importantly, indigenous cattle breeds in the region are undervalued. This makes it uncertain that future systems will have the adapted cattle breeds required for optimal livelihoods, food and nutrition security. To this end, the promotion of sustainable use of indigenous cattle for livelihood, food and nutrition security in the SADC region is strongly recommended.

Effect of Acacia karroo Supplementation on Growth, Ultimate pH, Colour and Cooking Losses of Meat from Indigenous Xhosa Lop-eared Goats

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of Acacia karroo supplementation on growth, ultimate pH, colour and cooking losses of meat from indigenous Xhosa lop-eared goats. Eighteen castrated 4-month-old kids were used in the study until slaughter. The kids were subdivided in two treatment groups A. karroo supplemented (AK) and non-supplemented (NS). The supplemented goats were given 200 g per head per d of fresh A. karroo leaves. The kids were slaughtered on d 60 and sample cuttings for meat quality assessment were taken from the Longistimus dorsi muscle. The supplemented kids had higher (p<0.05) growth rates than the non-supplemented ones. The meat from the A. karroo supplemented goats had lower (p<0.05) ultimate pH and cooking loss than the meat from the non-supplemented goats. Acacia karroo supplemented goats produced higher (p<0.05) b* (yellowness) value, but supplementation had no significant effect on L* (lightness) and a* (redness) of the meat. Therefore, A. karroo supplementation improved growth performance and the quality of meat from goats.