Thesis (MPhil (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A trial was done to determine if there are any differences in the growth performance of finisher pigs in the old conventional type of housing with disease infected pigs, pigs in multi unit housing that were also disease infected and high health pigs in multi unit type of housing. The high health pigs gave the best results when factors like A.D.I., A.D.G., F.C.R., margin over feed cost and carcass weight are compared with the results of the other two treatments. The difference in achievement between the disease infected pigs and the high health pigs were not the same for all the production factors but it was still in favour of the high health pigs. The trial results show just how dynamic pig production has become. From the results it is very clear that there is not any place anymore for the old conventional type of housing in any modern piggery. The time has also come for every pig farmer to look at and evaluate the health status of his piggery and to consider changing over to a high health herd. From a production as well as an economic viewpoint it makes good sense.

Thesis (MPhil (Animal Sciences. Aquaculture))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / This paper contains literature on tilapia culture, feeding and nutritional factors of prime consideration to survival and growth of Oreochromis mossambicus. Results are presented for a three-phase laboratory experiment on survival of O. mossambicus fry in an attempt to evaluate the use of live Spirulina platensis. The experiment was conducted on fry in a closed system in an effort to maximize the use of live Spirulina and also optimize growth and production. Fry were tested for tolerance levels of salinities, 0-35 g/lt, and showed favourable survival rates up to 15 g /lt salinity without being fed. Manipulation of input in freshwater turned high fry mortalities with increasing rates without difference for physical form of Spirulina. Growth was not significantly affected by types of input. However fry grew well at 0-40% rates with considerable survival performance. It is noted good quality of water that allow improved survival and growth of fry in a closed system may be assured with rates of input up to 5 or 10% of bodyweight. These input rates can guide use of live Spirulina in saline water tilapia culture if Spirulina proves good productivity at the consistency of fry tolerance to the salinity levels established in this paper.

Thesis (MPhil (Animal Sciences. Livestock Industry Management: Pig Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This mini-thesis describes the pig industry in South Africa which consists of a commercial intensive sector and an extensive sector that is also known as the small scale sector. Challenges in such as, marketing, feed, housing and genetics of small scale farmers are discussed. The objective of this study is to identify the problems experienced by the emerging/small scale pig farmers and to benchmark the production parameters of these farmers. Data was collected using questionnaires, telephone and site visits to farms/projects. The data collection was grouped into descriptions of small scale piggeries, feeding strategies, management programs, production parameters, regional constraints, marketing, comparisons between stud and commercial piggeries. The results were arranged into the following manner: general, regional constraints, description of small scale piggery facilities, feeding strategies of small scale farmers, management programs in small scale piggeries, production parameters of small scale piggeries in the Limpopo province, production parameters of stud and commercial piggeries, and the management strategy in a commercial piggery. Those piggeries having 5-30 sow units were interviewed. Results indicate that small scale farmers were found not to be sustainable in their production. The small scale farmers have no understanding of the pig industry, genetics and breeding of pigs, feeding strategies, and marketing channels for pigs. Typical problems experienced are: marketing is only done once or twice a year and not regularly as with any commercial piggery – a main problem identified here was access to the formal market. Typical production problems experienced were long farrowing intervals, small litter sizes, late weaning periods and low weaning percentages. This was attributed not only to mismanagement but also to bad infrastructure. Small scale piggeries typically have low cost sty’s that have inadequate floors, walls, roofing and very few of the piggeries has sufficient fresh water. Another problem experienced was poor growth which could be directly linked to the nutrition of the pigs. Most of the feed fed consisted of kitchen waste as balanced diets were perceived to be too expensive whilst access to suppliers, and transport (of both feed and pigs off to market) was generally lacking. Another major problem identified by the producers was insufficient scientific help from Government. Most producers also mentioned that they would welcome a mentorship program and help with the marketing and sourcing of funds. None the less, the pig owners all indicated that they wish to continue farming with pigs and that with the right help, they would be able to be successful. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werkstuk beskryf die vark industrie in Suid-Afrika wat bestaan uit ‘n kommersiële intensiewe en ekstensiewe sektor wat ook bekend staan as die klein-skaal sektor. Uitdagings soos bemarking, voer, behuising en genetika van klein-skaalse boere word bespreek. Die doel van die studie is om die probleme te identifiseer wat ervaar word deur die opkomende/klein-skaalse boere asook om die produksie-parameters van die boere te bepaal. Data was versamel deur middel van vraelyste, telefoonoproepe asook besoeke aan die boere/projekte. Die dataversameling was op verdeel in beskrywings van klein-skaalse vark eenhede, voerstrategieë, bestuursprogramme, produksie-parameters, distriksbeperkings, bemarking, en vergelykings tussen stoet- en kommersiële-eenhede. Die resultate was gesorteer op die volgende manier: algemeen, distriksbeperkings, beskrywing van klein-skaalse varkeenhede, produksie-parameters van klein-skaalse varkeenhede in die Limpopoprovinsie, produksieparameters van stoet- en kommersiële varkeenhede, en die bestuurstrategie in ’n kommersiële varkeenheid. Ondehoude is gevoer met dié eenhede wat tussen 5-30 soê het. Resultate wys dat klein-skaalse boere nie volhoubaar is in hul produksie nie. Die klein-skaalse boere het geen kennis van die vark bedryf, genetika en teel van varke, voerstrategieë en bemarking van varke nie. Tipiese probleme wat ervaar word is: bemarking word slegs een of twee keer per jaar gedoen en nie gereeld soos met kommersiële eenhede nie – die hoof probleem wat geïdentifiseer is die toegang tot die formele mark. Tipiese produksieprobleme wat hier geïdentifiseer is, was lang kraam intervalle, klein werpsel groottes, laat speenperiodes en lae speenpersentasies. Dit was as gevolg van nie net misbestuur nie, maar ook as gevolg van slegte infrastruktuur. Klein-skaalse vark eenhede het gewoontlik goedkoop varkhokke met onvoldoende bevloering, mure, en dakke en baie min van die eenhede het genoegsame vars water gehad. Nog ’n probleem wat ondervind is, was die slegte groei van die varke wat direk gekoppel kan word aan die voeding van die varke. Meeste van die voer het bestaan uit kombuisvullis omdat gebalanseerde rantsoene beskou was as te duur, terwyl daar oor die algemeen ’n te kort was aan toegang tot verskaffers en vervoer (van beide voer en varke na die mark). Nog ’n groot probleem wat geïdentifiseer is deur die produsente was dat daar ’n tekort is aan wetenskaplike hulp van die Regering. Meeste van die produsente het ook genoem dat hul ’n mentorskapprogram sal verwelkom asook hulp met bemarking en befondsing. Nie te min, die varkeienaars het almal aangetoon dat hul graag met die varkboerdery sou wil aangaan en dat met die regte hulp sou hul suksesvol kan wees.

Thesis (MPhil (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Rickets is described as a disease that affects young growing poultry. Poorly mineralized bones with thickened and irregular growth plates characterize it. The onset of rickets is characterized by a failure of mineralization of cartilage and bone. Other symptoms of rickets include reluctance to movement in affected birds. These birds will sit on their hocks and if startled they use their wings for balance. On necropsy, bones are soft and fragile and they have thickened growth plates. In this study 30% of the chicks aged between 7 and 8 days from a broiler flock, started showing splay leg problems. Affected chicks were unable to support their weight on their legs, some showing paralysis. The bones were soft and rubbery. To try and identify the possible cause, bones from the affected chicks were analyzed for calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) to determine the Ca:P ratio. Blood serum was also analyzed for the mineral content. Ca and P were the main focus of the tests as the problem was suspected to be rickets. The feed was analyzed for protein, Ca and P. The bone analysis showed a Ca:P ratio of less than 2:1, while results of the blood serum showed an inverse Ca: P ratio. The analysis results of the feed as well as the bones showed an imbalance in the Ca:P ratio which according to literature and research done is a possible cause for rickets. These findings combined with the symptoms displayed by the affected birds, lead to the suggestion that the problem in this study was rickets.