Merida Smuts - Previously Roets

Scientific Roots (PTY) Ltd · AgriBioTech

This study investigates the role of goats in the myths and folklore of various Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) cultures. Images in artefacts, and metaphors or direct reference to goats in texts (the primary sources in this study) from the geographic area of Mesopotamia, Sumer, Akkad, Anatolia and Ancient Iran (Elam) were studied. Secondary sources provi...

The National Commercialisation of Indigenous Goats Project currently entails the establishment of goat production and processing units at various locations around South Africa. Raw products will be drawn from goats that are owned by currently non-commercialised goat farmers in the regions surrounding each project. The primary markets for the produc...

Yearling meat goat doelings, 25 Boer×Spanish (BS) and 25 Spanish (S) (27 and 21kg initial BW, respectively; S.E.=0.6), were used in a 16-week experiment (four 28-day periods) to determine effects on growth of length of nutrient restriction and level of concentrate supplementation during realimentation. Doelings consumed prairie hay (6.2% CP, 70% ND...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and quantity of cashmere produced by Boer goats in South Africa. No significant differences were found between reproductive status and qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cashmere produced by Boer goats. Both fibre production and fibre diameter did not differ between two to three year ol...

Seasonal effects on semen quality of Gorno Altai cashmere goats and South African indigenous goats were studied in this experiment. A definite breeding season for the two breeds was determined. Semen quality parameters that were quantified include semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, percentage live sperm, dead sperm and scrotal circu...

The aim of this study was to evaluate two techniques, Optical Fibre Diameter Analysis (OFDA) and Video Image Analysis (VIA) that were used to measure fibre diameter of cashmere and guard hair produced by South African indigenous goats. The fibre measured by the OFDA technique was less fine than that measured by the VIA technique. The findings of th...

Angora does (56; 43 ± 0.7 kg initial body weight (BW)) consuming low quality forage, with single- or twin-kid litters, were used in a 120-day experiment (15 8-day periods) to determine effects of frequency of supplementation with soyabean meal (SBM) on performance in late gestation (92 ± 18 days in gestation initially) and early lactation. Prairie...

This experiment was designed to investigate whether circulating mimosine imposes limitations on absorption of amino acids and minerals from the gastrointestinal tract of Alpine goats. Circulating mimosine, portal blood and plasma flow rate, and concentrations and net absorption of amino acids and minerals were measured 60 h before (PRE) and 24 h af...

Most prediction equations of feedlot performance cover average daily gains (ADG) below 1.5 kg/d. The question is whether these equations would be accurate for higher ADG. Medium-to-large-framed weanling and yearling steer calves were fed individually using a transponder-electronic gate system in three feedlot trials and fed in groups in two trials....

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether differences in retention time (RT) of digesta in the rumen are associated with individual differences in wool growth rate between Merino rams. Fifty-eight rams were offered a pelleted diet at ad libitum and restricted levels. Digesta RT in the rumen was estimated from fecal excretion plots usi...

This experiment was designed to investigate whether circulating mimosine imposes limitations on absorption of amino acids and minerals from the gastrointestinal tract of Alpine goats. Circulating mimosine, portal blood and plasma flow rate, and concentrations and net absorption of amino acids and minerals were measured 60 h before (PRE) and 24 h af...

The aim of this experiment was to determine whether there is any physiological basis for concerns that selection for fleece mass may decrease fitness by increasing the partitioning of nutrients to wool at the expense of other body functions. Forty-five Merino rams (24 months old) were given food at an ad libitum and a maintenance level of nutrition...

Sixteen Alpine wethers (average BW 35 +/- 2 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of continuous 48-h intravenous infusions of saline (CON), mimosine (MIM; 200 mg.kg.75.d-1), 2-hydroxy-3(1H)-pyridine (2,3-DHP; 200 mg.kg.75.d-1, or MIM+2,3-DHP (100 mg of MIM plus 100 mg of 2,3-DHP-kg.75.d-1) on hepatic function and selected blood metabolite and circul...

Non-ammonia nitrogen (NAN) passage to the small intestine and disappearance of NAN in that organ have been studied in multi-cannulated sheep on pasture or fed indoors. Forages under investigation included a number of subtropical grasses, foggages and hay, temperate grasses, lucerne (Medicago sativa), triticale (Triticale X Secale), oven-dried ryegr...