The study compares the biological performance of progenies of the Afrikaner x Western Sanga crossbred (small frame) and the Bonsmara (medium frame) cattle on the following traits: calving and growth rates as well as mortalities. The study was conducted in the Sourish Mixed Bushveld of the North West province. The objective was to identify a lowcare cattle breed, which can withstand unfavourable conditions under which most farmers in the North West Province operate. The results of this study indicated that, under good management, the Bonsmara cattle have higher growth rates compared to the Sanga cattle. There were statistical differences with regards to birth, pre-wean and wean masses, (P< 0.0001). Sanga cattle however were able to maintain higher calving rates under all varying conditions (Bonsmara 77% average and Sanga 84% average). The Sanga, due to its lower nutritional requirements, on average requires 15% less of the surface area required by the Bonsmara. Sanga cattle also returned better yields in terms of kilogram weaned calf per LSU and per hectare. With regard to herd mortalities, there was no significant difference (P = 0.03329).

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two separate texts are submitted towards the degree MA in Kreatiewe Afrikaanse Skryfkunde. Firstly, a thesis with the title ‘’n Kritiese ondersoek na die Afrikanerbees as ideologiese kulturele fenomeen binne die konteks van Afrikanernasionalisme’, and secondly a novel titled Die nalatenis. The novel and the thesis are thematically related. The focus of the thesis is the ideological character of the Afrikaner cattle as a cultural phenomenon within the context of Afrikaner nationalism. The novel tells the story of a certain family’s fate and their special connection to the breeding of Afrikaner cattle in the Free State. Firstly I need to make it clear that the theme of this thesis was not lightly chosen, but that I do have a personal interest in the material. My uncle and aunt were well-know Afrikaner cattle breeders, each from families who have been renowned for their association with the stud breeding of these cattle for many generations. Since my aunt was an enthusiastic collector of family history, I have since childhood been familiar with the stories about certain family personalities and their love for their cattle. In my version of the stories, and my research on the subject, I wanted to explore the connection between this cattle breed and the Afrikaner culture. I aim to demythologize the histories to a certain extent and give a critical commentary on certain constructions of these histories. To examine these issues, J.B Thompson’s (1990) critical theory of ideology will be used as main theoretical tool. Thompson identifies certain ideological practices and strategies of symbolic construction through which relations of domination are established and sustained in the social world. These concepts will be used to examine the ideological character of the Afrikaner cattle breed as symbolic form and the strategies that were used to establish it as such. Through an analysis of a number of texts I will identify the different meanings and values that were associated with the Afrikaner cattle within the context of Afrikaner nationalism. I will aim to establish if and how these values served to sustain the relations of domination associated with Afrikaner nationalism. The novel tells the story of Ragel, ’n young photographer, who is her late uncle and aunt’s only heir. She inherits the farm and needs to decide what to do with it. She is also the last keeper of a family secret. She and her boyfriend are relocating to London and he has proposed to her. The news of her uncle’s death also triggers the pain of previous losses – especially her own mother traumatic death. Where she sits locked in her darkroom in this liminal state, the larger family saga is played out: the story of the patriarg Rooi Jakob, who blessed the wrong child; of Anna who had to flee during the war with her children and cattle; of Magriet who rejected her younger son and the resulting rivalry between the two brothers, Louis and Jakob; and of course the small love story of Beth and Louis, whose fateful relationship brought everything to a bitter end. The novel is based on the theory that a family photo album can also be a self-portrait in which one can (re)discover oneself. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Twee afsonderlike werkstukke word hier ingehandig ter verkryging van die graad MA in Kreatiewe Afrikaanse Skryfkunde. Eerstens, ’n tesis met die titel: “’n Kritiese ondersoek na die Afrikanerbees as ideologiese kulturele fenomeen binne die konteks van Afrikanernasionalisme”. Tweedens ’n roman getiteld Die nalatenis. Die roman en tesis hou tematies met mekaar verband. Die fokus van die navorsing is die ideologiese aard van die Afrikanerbees as gekontekstualiseerde fenomeen gedurende, en ná, die opkoms van Afrikanernasionalisme. Die roman handel oor ’n sekere familie se lot en spesiale verbintenis met die teel van Afrikanerbeeste in die Vrystaat. Ek wil dit graag aan die begin van die betoog stel dat die tematiek van die tesis nie lukraak gekies is as studie-onderwerp nie, maar dat ek ’n persoonlike belang het in die stof waarmee ek hier omgaan. My oom en tannie was bekende Afrikanerbeestelers, elk uit families wat vir geslagte reeds geassosieer is met die stoet teling van dié beesras. Aangesien my tannie ’n entoesiastiese versamelaar van die familiegeskiedenis was, is ek van kleins af bekend met vertellings oor sekere familiepersoonlikhede en hul liefde vir hul beeste. In my weergawe van die verhale, en navorsing oor die onderwerp, wou ek die besondere verhouding tussen dié beesras en die Afrikanerkultuur ondersoek. In hierdie tesis poog ek om die geskiedenis tot ’n mate te ontmitologiseer en kritiese kommentaar te lewer op sekere konstruksies daarvan. Vir dié ondersoek sal J.B Thompson (1990) se kritiese teorie oor ideologie as belangrikste teoretiese gereedskap gebruik word. Thompson identifiseer sekere ideologiese praktyke en strategieë van simboliese konstruksie waardeur magsverhoudinge in stand gehou word in die sosiale wêreld. Aan die hand hiervan sal daar ondersoek ingestel word na die ideologiese aard van die Afrikanerbees as simboliese vorm en die strategieë wat gebruik is om dit te vestig. Deur die analise van enkele tekste sal daar gekyk word na die verskillende betekeniswaardes wat binne die konteks van Afrikanernasionalisme aan die Afrikanerbees toegeken is. Daar sal vasgestel word of en hoe hierdie betekenisse kon dien om die magsverhoudinge wat Afrikanernasionalisme gekenmerk het, te konstrueer en te ondersteun. Die roman vertel die verhaal van Ragel, ’n effens labiele jong fotograaf, wat die enigste erfgenaam is van haar pas oorlede oom en tante. Sy erf die plaas en beeskuddes, en moet besluit wat sy daarmee sal doen. Sy is ook die laaste bewaarder van ’n familiegeheim. Sy en haar kêrel staan op die punt om na Londen te verhuis en hy het haar gevra om te trou. Die nuus van haar oom se dood, die laaste van haar familie, roep vir Ragel alle vorige verliese op – veral ook die traumatiese dood van haar ma. Waar Ragel toegesluit in haar donkerkamer in hierdie liminale toestand verkeer, speel ook die groter familieverhaal homself af: die verhaal van familievader Rooi Jakob wat die verkeerde kind geseën het; van Anna wat in die oorlog moes vlug met haar kinders en beeste; van Magriet wat haar jonger seun verwerp het en die gevolglike wedywering tussen die twee broers, Louis en Jakob; en dan natuurlik ook die klein liefdesgeskiedenis van Beth en Louis, ’n lotsverbintenis wat alles tot ’n bitter einde gevoer het. Die verhaal is gevorm op die teorie dat ’n familie-fotoalbum ook ’n soort selfportret kan wees waarin ’n mens jouself kan (her)ontdek.

Only part of the abstract could be included due to the rest having renderable text / The abiotic environment plays an important role in cattle production. Key abiotic elements evaluated in this study are rainfall and temperature. This study was carried out to assess the effect and contribution of rainfall and temperature, amid other factors, on pre- and post-weaning growth traits of Afrikaner cattle at Matopos Research Institute from 1958 to 1997. Historical data generated from a genotype x environment interaction study at Matopos Research Institute was used to identify factors associated with the average daily weight gain of calves of Afrikaner cattle breed. A total of 10 700 records were retrieved comprising of birth weight (BW), 90 day weight, 205 day weight and early post-weaning weight as well as additional corresponding rainfall and temperature data from 1958 to 1997. The rainfall and temperature data was computed asrainfall and temperature variability. The data was corrected for heteroscedasticity using the generalized least squares approach (GLS) before running an ordinary least square regression (OLS) analysis to determine the association between growth rate and potential explanatory factors for average daily weight gain, pre-weaning weight gain and early post-weaning weight gain. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Only part of the abstract could be included due to the rest having renderable text / The abiotic environment plays an important role in cattle production. Key abiotic elements evaluated in this study are rainfall and temperature. This study was carried out to assess the effect and contribution of rainfall and temperature, amid other factors, on pre- and post-weaning growth traits of Afrikaner cattle at Matopos Research Institute from 1958 to 1997. Historical data generated from a genotype x environment interaction study at Matopos Research Institute was used to identify factors associated with the average daily weight gain of calves of Afrikaner cattle breed. A total of 10 700 records were retrieved comprising of birth weight (BW), 90 day weight, 205 day weight and early post-weaning weight as well as additional corresponding rainfall and temperature data from 1958 to 1997. The rainfall and temperature data was computed asrainfall and temperature variability. The data was corrected for heteroscedasticity using the generalized least squares approach (GLS) before running an ordinary least square regression (OLS) analysis to determine the association between growth rate and potential explanatory factors for average daily weight gain, pre-weaning weight gain and early post-weaning weight gain. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)