ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of using two different enzyme substrates on the performance of broilers fed peeled cassava root meal (PCRM), in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design experiment. One hundred and eighty-nine broiler chicks aged 14 days were assigned to nine experimental diets where PCRM replaced maize at 0, 50 and 75 percent levels. The diets were formulated to be roughly isonitrogenous and isoenergetic containing starter...
ABSTRACT The bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA) class II genes play a significant role in presenting processed peptides to CD4 + T lymphocytes. BoLA genes particularly class II are highly polymorphic, enhancing the number of peptides that an individual can recognise thereby triggering a cascade of immune responses. This study investigated the genetic diversity of the BoLA class II genes in 249 animals comprising of Nguni ecotypes, Bonsmara and Afrikaner cattle from Khomas, Omusati and Zambezi re...
ABSTRACT CHARACTERIZATION AND PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF INDIGENOUS CHICKENS IN NORTHERN NAMIBIA REGIONS Farmers in all the studied regions regard poultry production as their primary source of domestic animal protein, with the domestic fowl being the most widely kept poultry species. Other uses are participation in socio - cultural ceremonies, selling for money and gifts. The extensive system of management is the most frequent. This system requires minimal costs, but mortalities due to disease...
ABSTRACT There is a general lack of information on how cattle utilise the lower Kuiseb River rangelands, their feeding behaviour and how they deal with intense heat. This study aimed at understanding cattle habitat selection (considering that they are free ranging in the absence of a herder), and their foraging behaviour in relation to air temperature along the lower Kuiseb River area in the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency, Erongo Region. The study was carried out at three farmer settlements al...
Abstract Namibia holds the largest free-ranging population of cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) in the world, a population estimated to be about 3,000 adult individuals. The cheetah is an elusive species living at low densities, making it hard to assess their abundance and density. Traditional detection methods such as direct observation, physical mark recapture, and invasive collection of tissue samples (e.g. blood) requires the physical handling of individuals. Non-invasive techniques such...
ABSTRACT The role of flies in the spread of anthrax, an animal disease caused by the spore-forming pathogen Bacillus anthracis, have been reported as far back as the early 1900s. Studies have implicated flies from families of Tabanidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae and other dipteran species. This study was undertaken in the Okaukuejo area of ENP to establish the role of biting and non-biting flies that may act as vectors for B. anthracis; and at what concentrations of Bacillus anthracis do they c...
ABSTRACT The control of tick-borne diseases in an endemic region is very challenging and costly due to the presence of multiple pathogens from the seven globally important livestock intracellular pathogens. This problem is exacerbated by the availability of competent vector ticks for each pathogen strain, thus resulting in enhanced transmission efficiency and higher infection prevalence of a disease among cattle from the tropical region than the temperate region. Unfortunately, these disease...
ABSTRACT This study was carried out to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal supplementation on the performance, carcass characteristics and blood haematological and serum biochemical profile of broiler chickens. Fresh Moringa leaves (FML) were harvested and shade – dried for three to four days and milled into meal. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. A total of 448-day old broiler chicks were used in this experiment. The experimental birds were distributed randomly into seven...
ABSTRACT Four experiments were undertaken to evaluate the effect of various treatment conditions on the nutritive value of urea-ammoniated rice straw. Experiment 1 was carried out to determine the optimum conditions necessary fo r ammoniating rice straw with urea. The factors investigated included urea concentration (3 .5 , 4.0, 6.5 and 8.0% W/w), treatment period (7, 14 and 21 days) and moisture le v e l (40, 50 and 60%), in a 4 x 3 x 3 fa c to r ia l experiment. Samples were analysed to ...
ABSTRACT Determination of correct stocking rate based on current rangeland condition still remains a big challenge to livestock farmers. Assessment of vegetation diversity and current rangeland condition was carried out in four communal rangelands, namely Siphocosini, Hawane, Motshane and Nkhaba. The rangeland condition assessment method employed in this study was the ecological condition index (ECI) method. Grass species composition and dry matter were estimated using the point-intercept me...
Abstract Surveillance and monitoring of emerging drug resistance are important as Namibia moves towards malaria elimination. In 2005 artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) were introduced as a first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Namibia. However, reduced ACT efficacy has been reported in Asia and in some parts of Western Africa, raising concerns around the efficacy of artemisinin. This study aimed to identify the different Plasmodium species found in the Zambezi re...
ABSTRACT The relationship among animal nutrition, soil ingestion and the seasonality of anthrax occurrence in zebra and springbok in the Etosha National Park of Namibia was examined. The nutrient content of zebra and springbok faeces was determined in wet and dry seasons for a period of two years. Nutrient content was also determined for a dominant grass species (Enneapogon desvauxii) eaten by zebra. Faecal Crude protein (FCP), faecal phosphorus (FP) and faecal crude fibre (FCF) were assesse...
ABSTRACT Feed shortage, especially during dry seasons, is a critical threat to livestock production in Namibia. Innovative feed production from encroacher bush species has the benefits of increasing fodder availability and controlling bush encroachment. Bush-based feed is characterized by high fibre and low protein content which makes it less palatable and digestible to livestock; hence often requires supplementation with commercial feed ingredients which increase bush feed production costs...
ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to determine the performance and meat sensory attributes of broiler chickens fed with Pearl Millet (Pennisetumg laucum) as a replacement for maize, as well as the potential of tanniferous Acacia karroo (A. karroo) leaf meal as an additive on broiler leanness. The optimum level at which maize can be replaced by pearl millet was also determined. Nutritional compositions of pearl millet and A. karroo leaf meal were determined using the standard Association of...
ABSTRACT: The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the methanolic extract of Stellaria media (L.) Vill leaf was studied using albumen-induced paw oedema and formalin-induced paw lick in rats as the anti-inflammatory test models; acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate and tail flick tests in mice as the analgesic models. Three groups of five rats or mice each were administered orally with the leaf extract of S. media at 100mg/kg, 300mg/kg or 500mg/kg body weight respectively. A fourth gr...