Indigenous chicken production receives little institutional support and resources because of lack of information on the socioeconomic importance, morphometric characteristic and meat quality of indigenous chickens. A cross sectional survey was conducted to highlight the major constraints to production. A structured questionnaire was administered to 126 households selected from communities of Mnambiti-Ladysmith and Impendle local municipalities of KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. The mean flock size per household was 20 and 17 for Mnambiti-Ladysmith and Impendle, respectively. The cock to hen ratio was 1:2:5. The chickens were mostly kept for meat and income ranked 1 and 2 respectively. Generally, adult females made the majority of decisions on chicken management and marketing (61%), with youths playing a minor role. Scavenging was the major feeding system, seasonally supplemented with cereal grain. The majority of the farmers (87%) provided birds with drinking water. Mortality of chickens was prevalent (46%) in both seasons. In experiment 2, the objective of the study was to compare morphometric characteristics of Black Australorp, Potchefstroom Koekoek, Venda and Ovambo chickens. A flock of 200 indigenous chickens, 50 each of Black Australorp, Potchefstroom Koekoek, Venda and Ovambo breeds were reared under semi-intensive system for 22 weeks. The chickens were slaughtered at 22 weeks of age by manual neck cut, bled for 2 minutes and de-feathered. Body weights, organ weights and linear body measure were estimated using flexible tape prior to slaughter. The body weight for the Black Australorp were higher (P<0.05) than the other breeds. There was no significant difference between the lung, heart kidney and spleen weights among breeds. Linear regression revealed that measurements of linear body parts can be used to predict weight of the birds. The objective of Experiment 3 was to compare consumer acceptability of meat from chickens that are indigenous to South Africa compared to Black Australorp and the broiler. A flock of 200 unsexed freely ranging indigenous chickens of Potchefstroom Koekoek, Venda, Black Australorp and Ovambo breeds were reared under an improved semi-intensive system for 22 weeks. The acceptability of cooked meat samples from each breed was rated on a 9 point Hedonic scale by 69 consumer pannellists drawn from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Cedara College of Agriculture and the Depart of Agriculture. Age of consumer had no effect on all the sensory attributes of the meat evaluated (P> 0.05). Chicken breed had a significant effect on taste and overall acceptability (P< 0.05) with the Venda, Broiler and Black Australorp, but it had no significant difference on colour, texture and aroma acceptability. Gender of the consumer had a significant effect (p<0.01) on taste, colour and texture acceptability of the meat, but no significant effect on aroma and overall acceptability. Female respondents gave lower scores for taste than did the males (P< 0.01). There was no interaction between gender of consumer and chicken breed on meat texture. Crossbreeding the indigenous chickens with improved breeds such as the Black Australorp is one avenue through which sensory characteristics of the indigenous chickens may be improved. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

A focus group and experiment were conducted to test the effects of psychological distance on participant affect, intentions, and behaviours in the realm of ethical consumption. Construal Level Theory (Liberman and Trope, 1998) posits that psychologically-near concepts are viewed differently than their psychologically-far counterparts, and this framework was used to guide the development of predictions relating to four dimensions of distance: temporal, spatial, social, and hypothetical. The study revealed that participants exhibit significantly higher levels of affect and intention when presented stimuli involve psychologically near impacts rather than psychologically-far impacts. This finding did not carry over into actual behaviour, however. Subject disposition toward psychological distance was measured but was found to not impact affect, intentions, or behaviour. Perceived Consumer Effectiveness (Kinnear, Taylor, & Ahmed, 1974) was found to be an important predictor of behaviour. / viii, 103 leaves ; 29 cm

Thesis (PhD) -- Macquarie University, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, 2008. / Thesis by publication. Bibliography: leaves 124-133.

Thesis (M.Inst.Agrar.(Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2005. / Principal faculty advisors: John C. Bernard and John D. Pesek, Dept. of Food and Resource Economics. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sugarcane is a crop that is farmed commercially due to the high amounts of sucrose that is stored within the mature internodes of the stem. Numerous studies have been done to understand sugar metabolism in this crop as well as to enhance sucrose yields. Until now sugarcane improvement strategies have been implemented through either breeding programs or transgenic manipulation. Public mistrust and regulatory hurdles, however, have made the commercialisation of transgenic crops difficult, expensive and timeconsuming. In this thesis two projects will address issues relating to the above. The first will address an effort to increase sucrose accumulation within the sugarcane culm. This was attempted via the expression of an Arabidopsis thaliana vacuolar pyrophosphatase (AtV-PPase) gene, linked to the maize ubiquitin promoter, in sugarcane callus. It was anticipated that increased activity of the tonoplast-bound AtV-PPase will result in increased sucrose accumulation in the vacuole. Transgenic sugarcane callus lines were tested for soluble sugar content which suggested no significant increase in sucrose content. However, this may change upon further assessment of sugarcane suspension cultures and glasshouse plants. The second project was concerned with the development of a novel sugarcane transformation technology that utilises only sugarcane sequences. This ‘cisgenic’ approach to sugarcane transformation will require a native sugarcane promoter, terminator, vector backbone and selection marker. It was attempted to first isolate a functional promoter as well as developing a selection system based on an endogenous selection marker. A promoter was amplified from sugarcane, using primers designed on a sorghum template, and its expression assessed using a GFP reporter gene. Unfortunately expression could not be confirmed in transgenic sugarcane callus. Currently, an alternative approach is followed by using short fragments of constitutively expressed genes to screen sugarcane Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) libraries to isolate their corresponding promoters. Lastly, it was attempted to develop a selection system for transgenic sugarcane based on resistance to the herbicide chlorosulfuron. A mutant acetolactate synthase (alsb) gene from tobacco, which has shown to confer resistance to the tobacco, was transformed into sugarcane callus. It was anticipated that this gene will confer chlorosulfuron resistance to transgenic sugarcane. If resistance is achieved, the corresponding sugarcane gene will be mutated via site-directed mutagenesis and checked if it also confers resistance to sugarcane. Results showed that although transgenic lines were generated, resistance development is still inconclusive. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suikerriet is ‘n kommersiële gewas wat verbou word as gevolg van die hoë hoeveelhede sukrose wat gestoor word in die volwasse tussenknope van die stam. Verskeie studies is al gedoen om suiker metabolisme in die gewas te ondersoek, sowel as om die sukrose opbrengs te verhoog. Huidige strategieë vir suikerriet verbetering word beywer deur middel van teel-programme of transgeniese manipulasie. Die kommersialiseëring van transgeniese gewasse word egter bemoeilik deur publieke wanpersepsies, sowel as regulatoriese uitdagings. Hierdie tesis beoog om boenoemde kwessies aan te spreek, deur middel van twee projekte. Die eerste projek poog om sukrose akkumulasie in sukerriet te verhoog. Dit was onderneem om die Arabidopsis thaliana vakuolere pirofosfatase (AtV-PPase) geen, wat verbind is met die mielie ubiquitien promoter, uit te druk in suikerriet kallus. Daar was verwag dat die verhoogde aktiwiteit van die tonoplast-gebonde AtV-PPase sal veroorsaak dat meer sukrose in die vakuool akkumuleer. Oplosbare suiker inhoud was getoets in transgeniese suikerriet kallus lyne, maar geen merkbare verhoging in sukrose inhoud was waargeneem nie. Hierdie mag egter verander met verdere ondersoeke in suikerriet suspensie-kulture en glashuis-plante. Die tweede projek het beywer om ‘n nuwe suikerriet transformasie tegnologie te ontwikkel, wat slegs van suikerriet genetiese materiaal gebruik maak. Hierdie ‘cisgeniese’ benadering tot suikerriet transformasie sal ‘n inheemse suikerriet promoter, terminator, vektor ruggraat en seleksie-merker, benodig. Dit was eers beoog om ‘n funksionele promoter te isoleer, sowel as om ‘n seleksie sisteem, gebasseer op ‘n inheemse seleksie merker, te ontwikkel. Deur gebruik te maak van primers wat op ‘n sorghum templaat gebasseer is, was ‘n promotor geisoleer vanuit suikerriet; die uitdrukking hiervan is bepaal deur gebruik te maak van ‘n GFP verklikker geen. Ongelukkig kon uitdrukking nie bevestig word in transgeniese suikerriet kallus nie. Tans word suikerriet Kunsmatige Bakterieële Chromosoom (KBC) biblioteke geskandeer, deur gebruik te maak van geen-fragmente van globaal-uitgedrukte gene, om ooreenstemmende suikerriet promoters te isoleer. Die tweede deel van die cisgeniese projek het beoog om ‘n seleksie sisteem vir transgeniese suikerriet te ontwikkel, wat gebasseer is op weerstand teen die plantdoder chlorosulfuron. Suikerriet kallus was getranformeer met ‘n mutante tabak geen – asektolaktaat sintase (alsb) – wat chlorosulfuron weerstand in tabak meebring. Daar was verwag dat die geen chlorosulfuron weerstand aan transgeniese suikerriet sou oordra. Indien weerstand ontwikkel, sal die ooreenstemende suikerriet geen deur gerigte mutagenese gemuteer word; dan sal dit kan bepaal word of weerstand ook oorgedra word aan suikerriet. Daar is bevind dat alhoewel transgeniese lyne gegenereer is, daar steeds nie ‘n konklusiewe bevestiging van weerstand ontwikkeling is nie.

Sheep farming is practiced extensively in South Africa for its significant contributions to the livestock, wool and meat industries. The sheep farming sector in the country has approximately 13,800 farmers with commercial and communal sheep farmers making up 58 percent and 42 percent of the entire work force (Directorate of Agricultural Information Services, 2008). An estimate of 28.8 million sheep and flock size ranging between ≤ 50 and ≥ 1800 exist in various South African provinces. Although the national herd size is unevenly distributed provincially most of the herds are found in the Eastern Cape (30 percent) followed by the Northern Cape (25 percent), Free State (20 percent) and the Western Cape (11 percent) respectively (Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2011). Over twenty indigenous and locally developed sheep breeds are managed where about 69 percent of the land area is available for their grazing nation-wide (Campher et al., 1998; Palmer and Ainslie, 2006). Common among the indigenous breeds are the Afrikaner, Blackhead Persian, Blackhead Speckled Persian, Blinkhaar Ronderib, Damara, Karakul, Namaqua Afrikaner, Pedi, Redhead Persian, Redhead Speckled, Swazi and Zulu. The locally developed breeds include Dorper, Van Rooy and Merinos. The local breeds developed from Merinos consist of the Afrino, Dormer, Dohne Merino and South African mutton Merino (Hammond, 2000; Pranisha, 2004; Hinton, 2006; Sorma et al., 2012). All these sheep breeds are best suited for providing by-products such as wool, meat, hide, milk or a combination of products (Dave and Meadowcroft, 1996; Jensen, 2009). The indigenous and locally developed sheep were bred to meet the growing demand for its by-products (Peters et al., 2010). Expectedly, sheep farmers therefore, make use of the products from these sheep as a means of livelihood and sustenance of a viable local society (Cloete and Olivier, 2010).

Medicines play a pivotal role in the process of human development as their rational utilization can decrease morbidity and mortality as well as improve quality of life (Jamshed, Hassali, Ibrahim, Shafie, & Babar, 2010). Access to therapeutic drugs form an integral part of any successful healthcare system. The high cost of medicines, is a barrier to accessibility and improved health to the majority of the South African population (Bangalee, 2015). In developing countries with limited healthcare budgets, such as South Africa, generic drugs (medicines) can be a cost-saving treatment alternative, resulting in medical expenditure being reduced and access to scarce resources increased (Van der Westhuizen, Burger, Lubbe, Serfontein, 2010). There is very little knowledge on perception and attitude of South African citizens with regard to use of generic drugs (Bangalee, 2015). Consumer perception can have a large impact on the choice of medicines or drugs chosen. The study intended to find out what the current consumer beliefs, attitudes, behaviours and knowledge of generic drugs are. There was also intent to establish if lack of awareness or misconception about generic drugs influence consumer choice. The study consists of a literature review of the definition of generic drugs and original or branded drugs, their influence in the public and private health sector, factors that influence consumer behaviour, brand effect, brand trust, brand loyalty, and most importantly the South Africa acceptance of generic drugs. Primary data was collected, reported and analysed through the use of a questionnaire to determine the current consumers’ belief, attitude, behaviour and knowledge of generic drugs. The study results reveal that scepticism does exists, yet there was clear acceptance, but still lack of confidence in generic drugs. Consumer education and information is the key to increased generic drug acceptance.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Masters in Management Science: Marketing, Durban University of Technology. Durban. South Africa, 2017. / The role of packaging has changed with the move to self-service retail formats. Marketers have transformed packaging to become one of the major promoting tools of products, which in turn gets the attention of potential customers and communicate the brand value to the target market. Thus, there is a necessity to explore packaging and its elements in more detail, in order to understand which of these elements are the most important factors influencing the consumer’s purchase decision. This study seeks to reveal the influence of visual and verbal packaging elements on international students buying decision of convenience goods specifically fruit juice which is popular among students. A quantitative, non-probability research approach was employed and convenience sampling was used to identify and select study participants constituting 397 students. In the study the visual and verbal elements are both found to influence consumer buying behaviour. The visual elements that influence consumer buying behaviour are colour, graphics and packaging technology. The verbal elements that have an influence on consumer buying behaviour for convenience goods are label information and brand name. The factor analysis shows that the most important factors during buying decisions are label information, brand name, graphics, colour and technology. The regression analysis reveal a significant relationship between consumer buying behaviour and seven predictor variables; colour, graphics, packaging technology, label information, brand name, level of involvement and time-pressure. The results also reveal that when consumers are under time-pressure, they consider visual elements when they make their purchase decisions. On the other hand, the consumers consider verbal elements when they are not under time-pressure. The results also show that consumers regard convenience goods as low involvement products. Thus it is the duty of marketers to utilise packaging as a marketing tool and weapon against competitors. This study recommends that marketers must consider all packaging elements when designing a package because all packaging elements are significant in drawing interest and attention of consumers. If these elements are properly combined the package will be more attractive and attention-grabbing. / M

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether consumer orientation (active/passive) and psychological involvement (attitude, opinion, belief, and behavioral intention) affect satisfaction when dining in an ethnic restaurant. The sample represented 232 consumers who dined in participating Washington D.C. metropolitan area ethnic restaurants. Information was obtained by asking consumers to answer a four part, 86 item questionnaire. Correlation analysis revealed that opinion (r = 0.17, P < 0.04), belief (r = 0.28, P < 0.01), and behavioral intentions (r = 0.19, P < 0.02) of the active consumer significantly affect satisfaction. Whereas, for the passive consumer no significant effect was found. Results of the stepwise regression analysis revealed that consumer psychological involvement and restaurant attributes affect satisfaction with service (R² = 0.57, p<0.05), satisfaction with lunch (R² = 0.8, p<0.05), satisfaction with dinner (R² = 0.33, p<0.05), and satisfaction with the overall dining experience (R² = 0.39, p<0.0l). Further, it was found that consumers' future visitations, within the next few weeks, were affected by consumer's psychological involvement (R² = 0.53, p<0.0l). Restaurant attributes (speed of service; employee courtesy; and food quality and prices) affected overall satisfaction in dining (R² = 0.4, p<0.0l), but it weakly affected future visitations (R² = 0.04, p<0.04, negative Mallows' Coefficient). The findings of this study contribute not only to consumer self-concept theory and satisfaction theory but also have practical implications to the ethnic restaurant industry. / Ph. D.