http://hdl.handle.net/10386/2795 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:34:15 GMT 2026-04-12T13:34:15Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4695 Partial replacement of maize meal with high-tannin sorghum meal affects finishing and methane emissions of Pedi goats Mavasa, N.O.; Ng’ambi, J.W.; Chitura, T. This study was conducted to determine the effect of replacing maize meal with Sorghum vulgare meal, a high-tannin sorghum meal, in fattening diets on bodyweight and methane emissions by yearling male Pedi goats. A total of 12 yearling male Pedi goats with an average initial live weight of 14 ± 1 kg were randomly assigned to a complete randomized design with four treatments, which were formulated such that 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of the maize meal was replaced with Sorghum vulgare meal. The experiment was conducted over 28 days, with 21 days adaptation, followed by seven days for sample collection. Replacing maize meal with sorghum did not produce detectable (P >0.05) effects on bodyweight and live weight gain. The various replacement levels of sorghum meal had no detectable effects on the blood cell profile of Pedi goats either. However, they reduced methane emission and improved feed conversion ratio (P <0.05), which allowed for an approximation of the feed required by growing goats. These findings may assist farmers in selecting and utilizing the right feeds to maximize profitability in the small-stock farming sector Journal article published in South African Journal of Animal Science 2022, 52 (No. 1) Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4695 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4694 Response of methane emission and growth performance of yearling male boer goats to an inclusion of Acacia karroo (sweet thorn) in Avena sativa (common oat) hay based diet Mathobela, R. M.; Ng’ambi, J. W.; Brown, D.; Chitura, T. This study determined the response of methane emission and growth performance of yearling male Boer goats fed a basal diet of Avena sativa hay supplemented with Acacia karroo (sweet thorn) leaf meal. Twelve yearling male Boer goats with initial mean live weights of 23 ± 2 kg were used in a 21-day experiment. The goats were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, each containing sweet thorn leaf meal at 10, 15, 20 and 30% with Avena sativa hay as a basal diet. The data collected was subjected to analysis of covariance and analysis of variance in a completely randomized design using Statistical Analysis Software. Differences were separated at 5% level of probability. Sweet thorn leaf meal inclusion level had no effect (p > 0.05) on diet intake, methane emission, live weight changes and digestibility. Feed conversion ratio improved linearly with increased Sweet thorn leaf meal inclusion level. The low tannin contents in sweet thorn leaves indicate that these leaves can be safe to use as a source of protein in animal nutrition if used sparingly. Although, sweet thorn leaf meal reduced methane emission, the optimal dose was not determined. Further validation is required to determine sweet thorn inclusion levels for optimal methane production and emission by goats Journal article published in APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 20(2): 1139-1151. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4694 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4693 Immune and growth response of indigenous pedi goats vaccinated with blanthrax to an inclusion of Moringa oleifera (Drumstick Tree) in Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel Grass) hay-based diet Gumede, Lungile; Tyasi, Thobela L.; Chitura, Teedzai; Mbatha, Khanyisile R. The study aimed to ascertain the immunomodulatory effects of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves supplemented to the diets of wether BaPedi goats following vaccination with blanthrax vaccine. Twelve clinically healthy BaPedi goats with an average body weight of 19 ± 1.47 kg and an average age of 11±0.26 months were randomly selected from the flock at the University of Limpopo experimental farm. The experiment was conducted in three phases which are adaption, vaccination and moringa inclusion over 42 days. At the end of the first week of the trial, all the experimental goats were vaccinated with 2 millilitres of blanthrax vaccine per goat via the subcutaneous route. Three experimental diets were formulated by replacing a conventional supplement of Lucerne with M. oleifera. The inclusion levels varied from 0% to 50%. Data on the growth and haematological parameters of the animals used in the study were analysed using a general linear model (GLM) procedure in a completely randomized design. The results indicated that only platelet counts, monocyte counts and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) showed significant differences (p<0.05) amongst the 11 blood profiles observed in this study. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in body weight gain (BWG), growth rate (GR) and metabolic weight gain (MWG). No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed for feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Results of the present study suggest that M. oleifera leaves can be used as a feed supplement at 20% and 50% inclusion levels without having any adverse effects on blood parameters and growth performance. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences March 2022 | Volume 10 | Issue 3 | Page 573 - 581 Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4693 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4692 Application of the famacha© system for the evaluation of haemonchosis in small ruminants reared in a communal system of the Molemole Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa Senoamadi, Mashakgene Isaac; Tyasi, Thobela Louis; Chitura, Teedzai The present study was conducted to determine the occurrence of clinical haemonchosis and methods of controlling Haemonchus contortus and other internal parasites in a communal farming system of Limpopo province, South Africa. Twenty-six sheep and one-hundred and sixty-three goats were evaluated for clinical haemonchosis using the FAMACHA© diagnostic system. Information on the methods of control used by the smallholder farmers was gathered through a questionnaire-based survey that was carried out by interviewing forty-seven Small ruminants farmers (both males and females) of mixed ages. The average FAMACHA© score for the goats was three while for sheep the average score was 2.62. Ninety-eight goats (60%) had a FAMACHA© score of three and above while fourteen sheep (52.4%) had a FAMACHA© score of three and above. There was a high occurrence of haemonchosis in goats compared to sheep (p<0.05). Differences in occurrence between age groups, sex and physiological status were found to not be statistically significant in both small ruminants (p>0.05). The methods of internal parasite control used by the smallholder farmers in the study area were commercial anthelmintic drugs (38.3%), ethno-veterinary based methods (12%) while 46.8% did not control gastrointestinal parasites. It can be concluded that clinical haemonchosis presents a potential challenge in the study area due to a low adoption rate of internal parasite control measures among the farmers interviewed. Journal article published in Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences May 2022 | Volume 10 | Issue 5 | Page 1101 Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10386/4692 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z