Globally, the utilization of alternative protein sources in livestock feed has been extensively d... more Globally, the utilization of alternative protein sources in livestock feed has been extensively deliberated and established to be the best novel approach. Extensive research indicated that insects provide good opportunities as a sustainable, high quality, and low-cost component of animal feed. The use of insects in animal diet sounds to be the prospective opportunity leading to sustainability of animal feeds and meet the intensifying worldwide plea for livestock products. The value of these protein sources has, however, increased due to limited production, competition between humans and animals. The use of insects for feeding farmed animals represents a promising alternative because of the nutritional properties of insects and the possible environmental benefits, given the sustainability of this type of farming. Yet little has been documented about the nutrient composition of various insect meals, the impact of insect meal in the animal feed industry, safety, and attitude and willin...
Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in... more Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. It is used for food, medication and industrial purposes. The objective of the study was to assess the nutritional value of Moringa leaves of the South African ecotype. Proximate and Van Soest methods were used to determine the nutritional value of Moringa leaves. The dried leaves had crude protein levels of 30.3% and 19 amino acids. The dried leaves had the following mineral contents: calcium (3.65%), phoshorus (0.3%), magnesium (0.5%), potassium (1.5%), sodium (0.164%), sulphur (0.63%), zinc (13.03 mg/kg), copper (8.25%), manganese (86.8 mg/kg), iron (490 mg/kg) and selenium (363 mg/kg). 17 fatty acids were observed with α-Linolenic acid (44.57%) having the highest value followed by heneicosanoic (14.41%), g-linolenic (0.20%) palmiteic (0.17%) and capric acid (0.07%). Vitamin E had the highest concentration of 77 mg/100 g than beta-carotene, which had 18.5 mg/100 g in the dried leaves. The fiber content was neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (11.4%), acid detergent fibre (ADF) (8.49%), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (1.8%) and (acid detergent cellulose (ADC) (4.01%). The condensed tannins had a value of 3.2%, while total polyphenols were 2.02%. The values of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamin profiles reflect a desirable nutritional balance.
Domestic and international crops and livestock trade remain fragile among Zimbabwean smallholder ... more Domestic and international crops and livestock trade remain fragile among Zimbabwean smallholder farmers. Commercial crop-livestock integration in climate change vulnerable areas is low and sparsely documented. Practice, knowledge, and attitude indicators influencing participation of smallholder farmers in crop-livestock integrated platforms as a hedge against climate change-induced risks and uncertainties were assessed. A survey with 240 farmers in Insiza district, Matabeleland province, Zimbabwe was conducted. A modified knowledge, attitude, and perception framework was used to analyze data from six wards supported by World Vision through supplementary livelihood programs on crop-livestock integration. Conventional crop-livestock (63%), mixed crops-livestock (25%), and traditional grains-livestock (12%) options were dominant. There was a thin presence of stakeholders with a limited number of local buyers, contracting companies, and agro-dealers who participate on these platforms. ...
ii Declaration I, Sipho Moyo hereby declare that, besides the assistance received that has been r... more ii Declaration I, Sipho Moyo hereby declare that, besides the assistance received that has been reported in the acknowledgements and in the text; this dissertation represents my original work conducted under the supervision of Dr P.J Masika. No part of the dissertation has been presented for any other degree at any other University.
... glossy green but turn purplish black when ripe (Henderson, 2001). The essential oil of L. cam... more ... glossy green but turn purplish black when ripe (Henderson, 2001). The essential oil of L. camara is reported to have insecticidal properties on insects (Abdel-Hady et al., 2005). Figure 1.3: Lantana camara plant Ptaeroxylon obliquum ...
Alternative Practices Used by Resource-limited Farmers to Control Fleas in Free-Range Chickens in... more Alternative Practices Used by Resource-limited Farmers to Control Fleas in Free-Range Chickens in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
The study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary graded levels of Imbrasia belina at 0%, 4%, 8% ... more The study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary graded levels of Imbrasia belina at 0%, 4%, 8% and 12% of broiler diets on meat quality and sensory attributes. A total of 360 one-day-old broiler chicks, were fed graded I. belina diets and slaughtered on day 35. Body weight (BW), Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were recorded. Breast muscles were evaluated for ultimate pH, meat colour (L à (lightness), a à (redness), b à (yellowness), tenderness, cooking loss. Forty consumer panellists evaluated sensory attributes. On day 28, the ADG in birds fed IB4 (88.06 g) and control (80.09 g) were statistically similar. On day 28 and 35 FI of broiler chickens fed control (147.47 g; 178.45 g) was the highest. The highest values for L à were observed in IB1, but not significantly different (p > .05) from IB3 and IB4. For redness, a à values were highest in IB3 and lowest in IB1. Lightness, yellowness, pH24 and Hue showed a quadratic response to increasing levels of IB meal. The shear force values were highest in IB1 (11.27), but not significantly different (p > .05) from IB3 (9.97) and IB4 (9.85). However, the tenderness scores were observed to be highest from IB3 (7.00). The highest acceptability scores of the breast meat were from IB2 (7.65). In conclusion, adding graded levels of I. belina meal up to 12% into diets of broilers had a positive effect on growth performance, meat quality and sensory attributes. HIGHLIGHTS Dietary inclusion levels of I. belina meal increased body weight gains in dietary treatment groups. The shear force in all dietary treatment groups decreased compared to the control. The tenderness of breast meat was found to be significantly influenced by the dietary treatment ARTICLE HISTORY
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal viral disease of cattle prevalent in farms bordering w... more Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal viral disease of cattle prevalent in farms bordering wildlife conservancies and national parks where cattle and wildebeests cohabit. The behaviour of the diseases and its related contribution to cattle mortalities has been poorly studied in the smallholder sector. A study was therefore conducted to established trends of occurrence and contribution to animal losses in 97 smallholder farms and eight commercial farms bordering Rhodes Matopos National Park (RMNP). A structured questionnaire and secondary records were used to gather the data in the smallholder and commercial farms, respectively. In the smallholder sector, cattle farmers from three villages were chosen as respondents in a survey to provide information on the impact and extent of losses in their cattle herds. Epidemiological data from January 2006 to April 2014 was extracted from farm records from two Matopos Research Institute farms. A seasonal pattern in MCF occurrence was observed. Most cattle mortalities were recorded during summer (February to May), with highest mortalities recorded from March to April. Sporadic cases were however recorded in October and November in year 2007, 2010, and 2012. The study further revealed that MCF caused 71 and 21 % of cattle mortalities in the commercial and smallholder sector, respectively. Deferred grazing of wildebeest hotspots by restriction of cattle movement during summer or November to April period avoids wildebeest-cattle contact. This can alleviate cattle mortalities due to MCF.
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of supplementing Moringa oleifera leaves (... more The objective of the study was to determine the effect of supplementing Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) on growth performance, carcass and non-carcass characteristics of crossbred Xhosa lop-eared goats. A total of 24 castrated goats aged 8 months, with a mean initial weight of 15.1± 2.3 kg, were randomly divided into three diet groups with eight goats in each. The duration of the trial was 60 days. All goats received a basal diet of grass hay (GH) ad libitum and wheat bran (200 g/day each). The MOL and sunflower cake (SC) groups were fed additional 200 g of dried M. oleifera leaves and 170 g of SC, respectively. The third group (GH) did not receive any additional ration. The crude protein of MOL (23.75%) and SC (23.27%) were higher (P<0.05) than that of the GH diet (14.08%). The attained average daily weight gain for goats fed MOL, SC and GH were 103.3, 101.3 and 43.3 g, respectively (P<0.05). Higher (P<0.05) feed intakes observed were in SC (491.5 g) and MOL (490.75 g) compared with GH (404.5 g). The hot carcass weight was higher (P<0.05) for SC (10.48 kg) and MOL (10.34 kg) than for the GH group (8.59 kg). The dressing percentage in SC (55.8%) and MOL (55.1%) were higher (P< 0.05) than that of the GH (52.9%). The growth performance and carcass characteristics of SC and MOL goats were not different. Feeding MOL or SC improved the growth performance and carcass characteristics of goats in an almost similar way, which indicates that M. oleifera could be used as an alternative protein supplement in goats.
A survey to document tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers in the control of catt... more A survey to document tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers in the control of cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was conducted by interviewing 59 cattle farmers using structured questionnaires and general conversation. Information collected was on external parasites of cattle, their effects and their control methods. Ticks were reported to be a major problem causing diseases like anaplasmosis (89.8%), babesiosis (55.9%) and ehrlichiosis (16.9%), as well as wounds that predispose to screwworm infestation, tick worry and teat damage to cows troubling farmers in their farming enterprises. The main tick control methods were; acaricides provided by government, however 94.9% of the farmers interviewed were of the opinion that the dip wash is not effective in killing the ticks. As a result, farmers complement the government dipping service with their own initiatives like spraying with conventional acaricides (22%), household disinfectants such as Jeyes fluid (18.6%), used engine oil (10.2%), chickens (5.1%), manual removal (5.1%), and pouricides (1.7%). In addition, some farmers also use plants (6.8%), mainly the leaf of Aloe ferox and the bark of Ptaeroxylon obliquum. The study revealed ticks to be a major problem in the study area.
Ticks feed on blood, are vectors of tickborne diseases and cause considerable skin damage to live... more Ticks feed on blood, are vectors of tickborne diseases and cause considerable skin damage to livestock. They are commonly controlled using commercial acaricides, which are expensive to the rural farmers, causing them to resort to alternative tick control methods. The objective of this study was to assess the acaricidal properties and safety of some materials (Ptaeroxylon obliquum, Aloe ferox, Lantana camara, Tagetes minuta, Used engine oil and Jeyes fluid, used by rural farmers to control cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 52 cattle were divided into 13 experimental groups with 4 cattle in each. Jeyes fluid at 76.8% concentration and Used engine oil had an efficacy that was almost similar to that of the positive control Ektoban® (Cymiazol 17.5 and cypermethrin 2.5%). Extracts of L. camara at 40% concentration had an efficacy of 57% while A. ferox, P. obliquum and T. minuta were not effective. The test materials had no irritation effect on rats. The study revealed that the materials rural farmers use as acaricides vary in their efficacy in controlling ticks.
The objective of this study was to determine the physico-chemical characteristics and consumer se... more The objective of this study was to determine the physico-chemical characteristics and consumer sensory scores of chevon from crossbred Xhosa lop-eared goats supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOL). Twenty-four goats, aged 8 months, were divided into three groups with eight goats in each. All three groups were fed a basal diet of grass hay (GH) ad libitum and wheat bran at 200 g/head/day. In addition to the basal diet, the MOL and sunflower seed cake (SC) groups were fed 200 g dried M. oleifera leaf meal and 170 g sunflower seed cake, which contained 238 g and 233 g crude protein/kg, respectively, with GH having 141 g. Diet influenced chevon colour. Chevon from MOL-and SC-fed goats had higher values for lightness (L*) 24 h post mortem. The redness (a*) values of chevon 24 hours post mortem were significantly higher in MOL supplemented goats. Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values of chevon from SC (30.1 N) and MOL (29.8 N) were lower than those for meat from GH diet (32.6 N). Chevon from goats fed GH diet had significantly higher cooking losses (29.5%) than that from the MOL (25.4%) and SC (25.6%) fed groups. Diet influenced the consumer sensory scores of chevon from goats supplemented with MOL, which had higher first bite, aroma, flavour and juiciness scores. Supplementing crossbred Xhosa lop-eared goats with an MOL diet produced chevon with the highest physico-chemical characteristics and consumer sensory scores.
ABSTRACT The study investigated antioxidant potency of Moringa oleifera leaves in different in vi... more ABSTRACT The study investigated antioxidant potency of Moringa oleifera leaves in different in vitro systems using standard phytochemical methods. The antioxidative effect on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were investigated in goats supplemented with M. oleifera (MOL) or sunflower seed cake (SC). The acetone extract had higher concentrations of total flavonoids (295.01 ± 1.89 QE/g) followed by flavonols (132.74 ± 0.83 QE/g), phenolics (120.33 ± 0.76 TE/g) and then proanthocyanidins (32.59 ± 0.50 CE/g) than the aqueous extract. The reducing power of both solvent extracts showed strong antioxidant activity in a concentration dependent manner. The acetone extract depicted higher percentage inhibition against DPPH, ABTS and nitric oxide radicals which were comparable with reference standard antioxidants (vitamin C and BHT). MOL increased the antioxidant activity of GSH (186%), SOD (97.8%) and catalase (0.177%). Lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by MOL. The present study suggests that M. oleifera could be a potential source of compounds with strong antioxidant potential.
Elephantorrhiza elephantina root extract has been used as a traditional remedy for a wide range o... more Elephantorrhiza elephantina root extract has been used as a traditional remedy for a wide range of ailments both in humans and livestock. As part of the safety assessment of the extract, acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity tests were conducted by the oral route in rats. Male and female rats were divided into four groups consisting of five rats each and given doses of 200-1600 mg/kg bwt, 200-800 mg/kg bwt and 50-400 mg/kg bwt in acute (1 day), sub-acute (14 days) and chronic toxicity (35 days), respectively. During the experiment, no deaths were observed in any groups and there were no remarkable changes in general appearance, as well as in food and water consumption. Significant (P < 0.05) changes were however noted in body weights, haematological and serum biochemical parameters between the control and treated groups. Histopathological changes were also noted in kidneys, lungs, liver and spleen of rats receiving high doses. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that the plant has some potential toxicity at certain dose levels; therefore caution has to be taken when using E. elephantina for medicinal purposes.
Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were ... more Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were conducted to determine the antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera extracts using in vitro antimicrobial screening methods. The acetone extract of M. oleifera leaves at a concentration of 5 mg/ml showed antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloace, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus kristinae. M. kristinae was the most susceptible as its growth was inhibited at 0.5 mg/ml. On the other hand, M. oleifera acetone extract did not exhibit any inhibition on Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus pumilus, Klebsiela pneumonia, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The acetone extract was bactericidal on E. coli and M. kristinae. It was also bacteriostatic on S. aureus, E. cloace and P. vulgaris. However, the water extract showed no activity at the highest concentration (5 mg/ml) tested. Furthermore, both the acetone and aqueous extracts did not exhibit any antifungal activity against the fungal species of Candida albicans, Pennicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger even at the highest concentration of 10 mg/ml. The ability of acetone extract to inhibit the growth of some strains of bacteria is an indication of its antibacterial potential which may be employed in the management of microbial infections.
Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were ... more Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were conducted to determine the antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera extracts using in vitro antimicrobial screening methods. The acetone extract of M. oleifera leaves at a concentration of 5 mg/ml showed antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloace, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus kristinae. M. kristinae was the most susceptible as its growth was inhibited at 0.5 mg/ml. On the other hand, M. oleifera acetone extract did not exhibit any inhibition on Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus pumilus, Klebsiela pneumonia, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The acetone extract was bactericidal on E. coli and M. kristinae. It was also bacteriostatic on S. aureus, E. cloace and P. vulgaris. However, the water extract showed no activity at the highest concentration (5 mg/ml) tested. Furthermore, both the acetone and aqueous extracts did not exhibit any antifungal activity against the fungal species of Candida albicans, Pennicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger even at the highest concentration of 10 mg/ml. The ability of acetone extract to inhibit the growth of some strains of bacteria is an indication of its antibacterial potential which may be employed in the management of microbial infections.
Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in... more Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. It is used for food, medication and industrial purposes. The objective of the study was to assess the nutritional value of Moringa leaves of the South African ecotype. Proximate and Van Soest methods were used to determine the nutritional value of Moringa leaves. The dried leaves had crude protein levels of 30.3% and 19 amino acids. The dried leaves had the following mineral contents: calcium (3.65%), phoshorus (0.3%), magnesium (0.5%), potassium (1.5%), sodium (0.164%), sulphur (0.63%), zinc (13.03 mg/kg), copper (8.25%), manganese (86.8 mg/kg), iron (490 mg/kg) and selenium (363 mg/kg). 17 fatty acids were observed with α-Linolenic acid (44.57%) having the highest value followed by heneicosanoic (14.41%), g-linolenic (0.20%) palmiteic (0.17%) and capric acid (0.07%). Vitamin E had the highest concentration of 77 mg/100 g than beta-carotene, which had 18.5 mg/100 g in the dried leaves. The fiber content was neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (11.4%), acid detergent fibre (ADF) (8.49%), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (1.8%) and (acid detergent cellulose (ADC) (4.01%). The condensed tannins had a value of 3.2%, while total polyphenols were 2.02%. The values of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamin profiles reflect a desirable nutritional balance.
Key words: South African, supplemental food, nutritional value, Moringa oleifera.
Globally, the utilization of alternative protein sources in livestock feed has been extensively d... more Globally, the utilization of alternative protein sources in livestock feed has been extensively deliberated and established to be the best novel approach. Extensive research indicated that insects provide good opportunities as a sustainable, high quality, and low-cost component of animal feed. The use of insects in animal diet sounds to be the prospective opportunity leading to sustainability of animal feeds and meet the intensifying worldwide plea for livestock products. The value of these protein sources has, however, increased due to limited production, competition between humans and animals. The use of insects for feeding farmed animals represents a promising alternative because of the nutritional properties of insects and the possible environmental benefits, given the sustainability of this type of farming. Yet little has been documented about the nutrient composition of various insect meals, the impact of insect meal in the animal feed industry, safety, and attitude and willin...
Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in... more Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. It is used for food, medication and industrial purposes. The objective of the study was to assess the nutritional value of Moringa leaves of the South African ecotype. Proximate and Van Soest methods were used to determine the nutritional value of Moringa leaves. The dried leaves had crude protein levels of 30.3% and 19 amino acids. The dried leaves had the following mineral contents: calcium (3.65%), phoshorus (0.3%), magnesium (0.5%), potassium (1.5%), sodium (0.164%), sulphur (0.63%), zinc (13.03 mg/kg), copper (8.25%), manganese (86.8 mg/kg), iron (490 mg/kg) and selenium (363 mg/kg). 17 fatty acids were observed with α-Linolenic acid (44.57%) having the highest value followed by heneicosanoic (14.41%), g-linolenic (0.20%) palmiteic (0.17%) and capric acid (0.07%). Vitamin E had the highest concentration of 77 mg/100 g than beta-carotene, which had 18.5 mg/100 g in the dried leaves. The fiber content was neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (11.4%), acid detergent fibre (ADF) (8.49%), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (1.8%) and (acid detergent cellulose (ADC) (4.01%). The condensed tannins had a value of 3.2%, while total polyphenols were 2.02%. The values of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamin profiles reflect a desirable nutritional balance.
Domestic and international crops and livestock trade remain fragile among Zimbabwean smallholder ... more Domestic and international crops and livestock trade remain fragile among Zimbabwean smallholder farmers. Commercial crop-livestock integration in climate change vulnerable areas is low and sparsely documented. Practice, knowledge, and attitude indicators influencing participation of smallholder farmers in crop-livestock integrated platforms as a hedge against climate change-induced risks and uncertainties were assessed. A survey with 240 farmers in Insiza district, Matabeleland province, Zimbabwe was conducted. A modified knowledge, attitude, and perception framework was used to analyze data from six wards supported by World Vision through supplementary livelihood programs on crop-livestock integration. Conventional crop-livestock (63%), mixed crops-livestock (25%), and traditional grains-livestock (12%) options were dominant. There was a thin presence of stakeholders with a limited number of local buyers, contracting companies, and agro-dealers who participate on these platforms. ...
ii Declaration I, Sipho Moyo hereby declare that, besides the assistance received that has been r... more ii Declaration I, Sipho Moyo hereby declare that, besides the assistance received that has been reported in the acknowledgements and in the text; this dissertation represents my original work conducted under the supervision of Dr P.J Masika. No part of the dissertation has been presented for any other degree at any other University.
... glossy green but turn purplish black when ripe (Henderson, 2001). The essential oil of L. cam... more ... glossy green but turn purplish black when ripe (Henderson, 2001). The essential oil of L. camara is reported to have insecticidal properties on insects (Abdel-Hady et al., 2005). Figure 1.3: Lantana camara plant Ptaeroxylon obliquum ...
Alternative Practices Used by Resource-limited Farmers to Control Fleas in Free-Range Chickens in... more Alternative Practices Used by Resource-limited Farmers to Control Fleas in Free-Range Chickens in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
The study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary graded levels of Imbrasia belina at 0%, 4%, 8% ... more The study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary graded levels of Imbrasia belina at 0%, 4%, 8% and 12% of broiler diets on meat quality and sensory attributes. A total of 360 one-day-old broiler chicks, were fed graded I. belina diets and slaughtered on day 35. Body weight (BW), Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed Intake (FI) and Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) were recorded. Breast muscles were evaluated for ultimate pH, meat colour (L à (lightness), a à (redness), b à (yellowness), tenderness, cooking loss. Forty consumer panellists evaluated sensory attributes. On day 28, the ADG in birds fed IB4 (88.06 g) and control (80.09 g) were statistically similar. On day 28 and 35 FI of broiler chickens fed control (147.47 g; 178.45 g) was the highest. The highest values for L à were observed in IB1, but not significantly different (p > .05) from IB3 and IB4. For redness, a à values were highest in IB3 and lowest in IB1. Lightness, yellowness, pH24 and Hue showed a quadratic response to increasing levels of IB meal. The shear force values were highest in IB1 (11.27), but not significantly different (p > .05) from IB3 (9.97) and IB4 (9.85). However, the tenderness scores were observed to be highest from IB3 (7.00). The highest acceptability scores of the breast meat were from IB2 (7.65). In conclusion, adding graded levels of I. belina meal up to 12% into diets of broilers had a positive effect on growth performance, meat quality and sensory attributes. HIGHLIGHTS Dietary inclusion levels of I. belina meal increased body weight gains in dietary treatment groups. The shear force in all dietary treatment groups decreased compared to the control. The tenderness of breast meat was found to be significantly influenced by the dietary treatment ARTICLE HISTORY
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal viral disease of cattle prevalent in farms bordering w... more Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal viral disease of cattle prevalent in farms bordering wildlife conservancies and national parks where cattle and wildebeests cohabit. The behaviour of the diseases and its related contribution to cattle mortalities has been poorly studied in the smallholder sector. A study was therefore conducted to established trends of occurrence and contribution to animal losses in 97 smallholder farms and eight commercial farms bordering Rhodes Matopos National Park (RMNP). A structured questionnaire and secondary records were used to gather the data in the smallholder and commercial farms, respectively. In the smallholder sector, cattle farmers from three villages were chosen as respondents in a survey to provide information on the impact and extent of losses in their cattle herds. Epidemiological data from January 2006 to April 2014 was extracted from farm records from two Matopos Research Institute farms. A seasonal pattern in MCF occurrence was observed. Most cattle mortalities were recorded during summer (February to May), with highest mortalities recorded from March to April. Sporadic cases were however recorded in October and November in year 2007, 2010, and 2012. The study further revealed that MCF caused 71 and 21 % of cattle mortalities in the commercial and smallholder sector, respectively. Deferred grazing of wildebeest hotspots by restriction of cattle movement during summer or November to April period avoids wildebeest-cattle contact. This can alleviate cattle mortalities due to MCF.
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of supplementing Moringa oleifera leaves (... more The objective of the study was to determine the effect of supplementing Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) on growth performance, carcass and non-carcass characteristics of crossbred Xhosa lop-eared goats. A total of 24 castrated goats aged 8 months, with a mean initial weight of 15.1± 2.3 kg, were randomly divided into three diet groups with eight goats in each. The duration of the trial was 60 days. All goats received a basal diet of grass hay (GH) ad libitum and wheat bran (200 g/day each). The MOL and sunflower cake (SC) groups were fed additional 200 g of dried M. oleifera leaves and 170 g of SC, respectively. The third group (GH) did not receive any additional ration. The crude protein of MOL (23.75%) and SC (23.27%) were higher (P<0.05) than that of the GH diet (14.08%). The attained average daily weight gain for goats fed MOL, SC and GH were 103.3, 101.3 and 43.3 g, respectively (P<0.05). Higher (P<0.05) feed intakes observed were in SC (491.5 g) and MOL (490.75 g) compared with GH (404.5 g). The hot carcass weight was higher (P<0.05) for SC (10.48 kg) and MOL (10.34 kg) than for the GH group (8.59 kg). The dressing percentage in SC (55.8%) and MOL (55.1%) were higher (P< 0.05) than that of the GH (52.9%). The growth performance and carcass characteristics of SC and MOL goats were not different. Feeding MOL or SC improved the growth performance and carcass characteristics of goats in an almost similar way, which indicates that M. oleifera could be used as an alternative protein supplement in goats.
A survey to document tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers in the control of catt... more A survey to document tick control methods used by resource-limited farmers in the control of cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was conducted by interviewing 59 cattle farmers using structured questionnaires and general conversation. Information collected was on external parasites of cattle, their effects and their control methods. Ticks were reported to be a major problem causing diseases like anaplasmosis (89.8%), babesiosis (55.9%) and ehrlichiosis (16.9%), as well as wounds that predispose to screwworm infestation, tick worry and teat damage to cows troubling farmers in their farming enterprises. The main tick control methods were; acaricides provided by government, however 94.9% of the farmers interviewed were of the opinion that the dip wash is not effective in killing the ticks. As a result, farmers complement the government dipping service with their own initiatives like spraying with conventional acaricides (22%), household disinfectants such as Jeyes fluid (18.6%), used engine oil (10.2%), chickens (5.1%), manual removal (5.1%), and pouricides (1.7%). In addition, some farmers also use plants (6.8%), mainly the leaf of Aloe ferox and the bark of Ptaeroxylon obliquum. The study revealed ticks to be a major problem in the study area.
Ticks feed on blood, are vectors of tickborne diseases and cause considerable skin damage to live... more Ticks feed on blood, are vectors of tickborne diseases and cause considerable skin damage to livestock. They are commonly controlled using commercial acaricides, which are expensive to the rural farmers, causing them to resort to alternative tick control methods. The objective of this study was to assess the acaricidal properties and safety of some materials (Ptaeroxylon obliquum, Aloe ferox, Lantana camara, Tagetes minuta, Used engine oil and Jeyes fluid, used by rural farmers to control cattle ticks in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A total of 52 cattle were divided into 13 experimental groups with 4 cattle in each. Jeyes fluid at 76.8% concentration and Used engine oil had an efficacy that was almost similar to that of the positive control Ektoban® (Cymiazol 17.5 and cypermethrin 2.5%). Extracts of L. camara at 40% concentration had an efficacy of 57% while A. ferox, P. obliquum and T. minuta were not effective. The test materials had no irritation effect on rats. The study revealed that the materials rural farmers use as acaricides vary in their efficacy in controlling ticks.
The objective of this study was to determine the physico-chemical characteristics and consumer se... more The objective of this study was to determine the physico-chemical characteristics and consumer sensory scores of chevon from crossbred Xhosa lop-eared goats supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOL). Twenty-four goats, aged 8 months, were divided into three groups with eight goats in each. All three groups were fed a basal diet of grass hay (GH) ad libitum and wheat bran at 200 g/head/day. In addition to the basal diet, the MOL and sunflower seed cake (SC) groups were fed 200 g dried M. oleifera leaf meal and 170 g sunflower seed cake, which contained 238 g and 233 g crude protein/kg, respectively, with GH having 141 g. Diet influenced chevon colour. Chevon from MOL-and SC-fed goats had higher values for lightness (L*) 24 h post mortem. The redness (a*) values of chevon 24 hours post mortem were significantly higher in MOL supplemented goats. Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values of chevon from SC (30.1 N) and MOL (29.8 N) were lower than those for meat from GH diet (32.6 N). Chevon from goats fed GH diet had significantly higher cooking losses (29.5%) than that from the MOL (25.4%) and SC (25.6%) fed groups. Diet influenced the consumer sensory scores of chevon from goats supplemented with MOL, which had higher first bite, aroma, flavour and juiciness scores. Supplementing crossbred Xhosa lop-eared goats with an MOL diet produced chevon with the highest physico-chemical characteristics and consumer sensory scores.
ABSTRACT The study investigated antioxidant potency of Moringa oleifera leaves in different in vi... more ABSTRACT The study investigated antioxidant potency of Moringa oleifera leaves in different in vitro systems using standard phytochemical methods. The antioxidative effect on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were investigated in goats supplemented with M. oleifera (MOL) or sunflower seed cake (SC). The acetone extract had higher concentrations of total flavonoids (295.01 ± 1.89 QE/g) followed by flavonols (132.74 ± 0.83 QE/g), phenolics (120.33 ± 0.76 TE/g) and then proanthocyanidins (32.59 ± 0.50 CE/g) than the aqueous extract. The reducing power of both solvent extracts showed strong antioxidant activity in a concentration dependent manner. The acetone extract depicted higher percentage inhibition against DPPH, ABTS and nitric oxide radicals which were comparable with reference standard antioxidants (vitamin C and BHT). MOL increased the antioxidant activity of GSH (186%), SOD (97.8%) and catalase (0.177%). Lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced by MOL. The present study suggests that M. oleifera could be a potential source of compounds with strong antioxidant potential.
Elephantorrhiza elephantina root extract has been used as a traditional remedy for a wide range o... more Elephantorrhiza elephantina root extract has been used as a traditional remedy for a wide range of ailments both in humans and livestock. As part of the safety assessment of the extract, acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity tests were conducted by the oral route in rats. Male and female rats were divided into four groups consisting of five rats each and given doses of 200-1600 mg/kg bwt, 200-800 mg/kg bwt and 50-400 mg/kg bwt in acute (1 day), sub-acute (14 days) and chronic toxicity (35 days), respectively. During the experiment, no deaths were observed in any groups and there were no remarkable changes in general appearance, as well as in food and water consumption. Significant (P < 0.05) changes were however noted in body weights, haematological and serum biochemical parameters between the control and treated groups. Histopathological changes were also noted in kidneys, lungs, liver and spleen of rats receiving high doses. Based on these findings, it can be inferred that the plant has some potential toxicity at certain dose levels; therefore caution has to be taken when using E. elephantina for medicinal purposes.
Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were ... more Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were conducted to determine the antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera extracts using in vitro antimicrobial screening methods. The acetone extract of M. oleifera leaves at a concentration of 5 mg/ml showed antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloace, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus kristinae. M. kristinae was the most susceptible as its growth was inhibited at 0.5 mg/ml. On the other hand, M. oleifera acetone extract did not exhibit any inhibition on Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus pumilus, Klebsiela pneumonia, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The acetone extract was bactericidal on E. coli and M. kristinae. It was also bacteriostatic on S. aureus, E. cloace and P. vulgaris. However, the water extract showed no activity at the highest concentration (5 mg/ml) tested. Furthermore, both the acetone and aqueous extracts did not exhibit any antifungal activity against the fungal species of Candida albicans, Pennicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger even at the highest concentration of 10 mg/ml. The ability of acetone extract to inhibit the growth of some strains of bacteria is an indication of its antibacterial potential which may be employed in the management of microbial infections.
Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were ... more Plants have been reported to contain important preventative and curative compounds. Studies were conducted to determine the antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera extracts using in vitro antimicrobial screening methods. The acetone extract of M. oleifera leaves at a concentration of 5 mg/ml showed antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloace, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus kristinae. M. kristinae was the most susceptible as its growth was inhibited at 0.5 mg/ml. On the other hand, M. oleifera acetone extract did not exhibit any inhibition on Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus pumilus, Klebsiela pneumonia, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The acetone extract was bactericidal on E. coli and M. kristinae. It was also bacteriostatic on S. aureus, E. cloace and P. vulgaris. However, the water extract showed no activity at the highest concentration (5 mg/ml) tested. Furthermore, both the acetone and aqueous extracts did not exhibit any antifungal activity against the fungal species of Candida albicans, Pennicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger even at the highest concentration of 10 mg/ml. The ability of acetone extract to inhibit the growth of some strains of bacteria is an indication of its antibacterial potential which may be employed in the management of microbial infections.
Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in... more Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. It is used for food, medication and industrial purposes. The objective of the study was to assess the nutritional value of Moringa leaves of the South African ecotype. Proximate and Van Soest methods were used to determine the nutritional value of Moringa leaves. The dried leaves had crude protein levels of 30.3% and 19 amino acids. The dried leaves had the following mineral contents: calcium (3.65%), phoshorus (0.3%), magnesium (0.5%), potassium (1.5%), sodium (0.164%), sulphur (0.63%), zinc (13.03 mg/kg), copper (8.25%), manganese (86.8 mg/kg), iron (490 mg/kg) and selenium (363 mg/kg). 17 fatty acids were observed with α-Linolenic acid (44.57%) having the highest value followed by heneicosanoic (14.41%), g-linolenic (0.20%) palmiteic (0.17%) and capric acid (0.07%). Vitamin E had the highest concentration of 77 mg/100 g than beta-carotene, which had 18.5 mg/100 g in the dried leaves. The fiber content was neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (11.4%), acid detergent fibre (ADF) (8.49%), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (1.8%) and (acid detergent cellulose (ADC) (4.01%). The condensed tannins had a value of 3.2%, while total polyphenols were 2.02%. The values of amino acids, fatty acids, minerals and vitamin profiles reflect a desirable nutritional balance.
Key words: South African, supplemental food, nutritional value, Moringa oleifera.
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Key words: South African, supplemental food, nutritional value, Moringa oleifera.
Key words: South African, supplemental food, nutritional value, Moringa oleifera.