Volume 8, Issue 2 (2012)

The effect of blocking angularis oculi and facial veins on daily water intake in euhydrate and dehydrated Tswana goats under field conditions during summer

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The effect of blocking angularis oculi and facial veins on daily water intake in euhydrate and dehydrated Tswana goats under field conditions during summer Kamau, J.M. The aim of this study was to assess the importance of selective brain cooling (SBC) in the water economy of Tswana goats by blocking angularis oculi and facial veins in euhydrate and dehydrated goats under outdoor conditions in Botswana during summer. Eighteen male goats were assigned randomly to three treatments of six animals each: nonoperated controls (NOC), blocked facial veins (BFV) and blocked angularis oculi veins (BAOV) groups. Daily water intake (DWI) was determined for 65 days in all animals to establish a baseline water intake. The goats were then dehydrated for 24, 48 and 72 hrs. Ambient temperature (Ta) was recorded hourly at the experimental site. DWI data on days with mean ambient temperatures (Tas) of 28, 29 and 31oC were analysed. DWI increase with increasing Tas. At Tas of 28 and 31oC, BAOV and BFV groups had higher DWI than NOC group. No differences were observed after the goats were dehydrated for 24 hours. However, BAOV and BFV groups had higher DWI than NOC group after 48 hours of dehydration with BAOV group consuming 7 % more water than the other two groups. The 2-way interaction between DWI and Ta as well as hours of dehydration tended to be significant at P < 0.075 and P < 0.0650 respectively. It is concluded that SBC contributes to the water economy of goats by saving on DWI. This saving is particularly important during short term dehydration periods. Short Communication

Does Botswana need a Society for Animal Scientists?#

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Does Botswana need a Society for Animal Scientists?# Madibela, O.R. Botswana’s agriculture contributes about 2.0% to GDP and involves about 130 800 traditional farmers (Statistics Botswana 2012). Of these, animal agriculture contributes almost 100% of the income generated by agriculture. In a study by Thirtle et al. (2000) it appears that return to investment in arable research was negative but positive for livestock. Interestedly Barnes et al. (2008) found high rate of return for small traditional production system (35 cattle, 4 goats) but high national income per unit land for cattle post system while the commercial sector registered negative economic values. Thus, livestock farming has the potential to help create wealth, improve farmers’ livelihoods and reduce poverty especially for rural farmers. Editorial

Effects of substituting rice flour as fillers for wheat flour at varying levels in beef sausage production.

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Effects of substituting rice flour as fillers for wheat flour at varying levels in beef sausage production. Sanwo, K. A.; Makanju, M. O.; Iposu, S. O.; Adegbite, J. A. To derive optimum benefits from agricultural products is to add value to these products. In the meat industry, sausage making is a well known process of adding value to what could otherwise be considered low quality meats and wheat flour is a commonly used ingredient. In the present study the effects of substituting wheat flour with rice flour in beef sausage was evaluated. Proportions of rice flour in each of the five batches of beef sausage mixture were as follows: Control (Batch 1; 0% rice); Batch 2 (5% rice); Batch 3 (10% rice); Batch 4 (15% rice); Batch 5 (20% rice). Cooking and refrigerated weight losses, nutrient composition and sensory characteristics of the sausages were determined. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance in a completely randomized design. Treatment effect (P < 0.05) was observed for percentage cooking weight loss and was lowest (1%) in Batch 5 and highest (2%) in the Control. There was difference (P < 0.05) in percentage refrigeration weight loss and was found to be highest (5.8%) in Control and lowest (3.2%) in Batch 4. All parameters of sensory evaluation were significantly (P < 0.05) different between batches except for saltiness and overall flavour. Batch 4 was most preferred for colour. Tenderness decreased as the level of rice inclusion increased. Batch 4 had the highest score for overall acceptability when compared with the Control of which panellists were indifferent about its acceptability. Proximate composition of the sausages showed that Batch 5 had the highest crude protein, ash and ether extract of 12.4, 4.2 and 2.4 %, respectively. Therefore, beef sausages can be produced using rice flour as flour replacement at 15% inclusion as this favours the product’s resistance to diffusion, thus maintaining storage stability. However 20% inclusion favours enhanced nutrient composition. Journal article

Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium infection in bovine calves in Southern Botswana.

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Rotavirus and Cryptosporidium infection in bovine calves in Southern Botswana. Sharma, S.P.; Busang., M. A cross-sectional study on prevalences of Rotavirus (RV) and Cryptosporidium parvum infections was carried out in dairy and beef calves in 31 farms over a 2-year period. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was to determine RV and C. parvum antigens in faecal samples. Cryptosporidial oocysts were detected in faecal smears stained by Modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) technique. In dairy and beef animals, RV infections determined by EIA were 38.4% and 22.1% and C. parvum infection were 28.8% and 15.8%, respectively. MZN staining technique detected Cryptosporidium oocysts in 24.5% and 9.2% of the dairy and beef calves’ samples, respectively. At herd level, at least one beef and dairy calf were positive for RV and C. parvum infection in 11 and 10 beef herds out of 18 (61.1% and 55.6%), respectively, and 12 of 13 dairy herds (92.3%) examined. Dairy calves were found to be equally susceptible to RV and C. parvum infections whether reared under semi-intensive or intensive managements, but differences in infections were significant (P <0.01) among beef calves raised under semi-intensive versus extensive husbandry system. Forty-five calves (41 dairy and 4 beef) had combined RV and C. parvum infections. Younger dairy and beef calves aged 4 weeks and diarrheic animals showed significantly higher (P < 0.01) C. parvum infection than older ( 4 - 12 weeks) and non-diarrheic calves, but RV infection were not significantly different (P > 0.05) in these two age groups. Sex of the calf was not associated with shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts and RV infections. Based on the above results, husbandry advice was given to farmers and adoption of good management practices and immunization of animals resulted in reduction in clinical cases of neonatal diarrhea and mortality rates among dairy calves. Greater understanding of Cryptosporidium species and molecular-based prevalence studies, good hygienic practices on farms and use of RV vaccine in pregnant animals will result in reducing infections. Livestock handlers need to be educated on zoonotic implications of Cryptosporidium, the possibilities of interspecies transmission abilities of Rotaviruses, and the importance of these pathogens in young animals. Journal article