Thesis (M. A. Agricultural Science (Agricultural Economics) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The relationship between farm and retail prices provides insights into marketing efficiency, consumer and farmer welfare. In light of this, much focus has been given to price transmission studies. Thus, price transmission studies have become increasingly important in Sub Saharan Africa because of its nature of providing clear insights information into our markets. Despite its importance in markets, there are a few studies analysing the mechanism through which prices are determined and transmitted from farm gate to retail markets in dairy markets in South Africa. The aim of the study was to investigate and analyse the nature of price transmission mechanism of pasteurised liquid milk and cheese in South Africa. The specific objectives were to determine the correlation between the milk production and quantity of milk processed in South Africa. Furthermore, there was a need to determine the direction of causality between the farm gate, processor and retail prices of cheese and pasteurised liquid milk in South Africa. It was also necessary to determine whether the price transmission of pasteurised liquid milk and cheese was symmetric or asymmetric in South Africa. The study used secondary time series data that covered a sample size of 17 years (2000 -2016) of pasteurised liquid milk and cheese in South Africa. Pearson correlation coefficient, Granger causality test and Vector Error Correction Model were used for data analysis. Pearson correlation results revealed that milk produced is perfectly correlated with the quantity of milk processed and it was positive. The Granger causality tests revealed that there was a no causal relationship between farm gate and processor, retail and processor and also between farm gate and retail for cheese. However, signs of independent causal relationship from farm gate to retail prices were visible. It also suggested a bidirectional causal relationship between processor and farm gate prices and also between retail and processor prices of pasteurised liquid milk. On the other hand, a unidirectional causality was found from retail to farm gate prices. The VECM results for pasteurised liquid milk showed asymmetric price transmission implying that retailers and processors react quicker to price increases than to price decrease. ii It is recommended that more focus be placed on investment in emerging dairy farmers in order to increase production. This can be done through the input price subsidies, grants and education on modern technologies. The government should also implement the price monitoring cell in order to protect the consumers from unfair prices passed on by the retailers. / Services SETA and National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)

Bacillus cereus is a group of ubiquitous facultative anaerobic spore forming Gram-positive rods commonly found in soil. It has been detected and implicated in several contaminated food products and raw milk in dairy farms and it causes foodborne gastroenteritis by producing several toxins. This study is aimed at characterizing virulence determinants of B. cereus from cow‟s raw milk. A total of 400 raw milk samples were collected in Fort Hare Dairy Trust and Middledrift Dairy Farm; and cultured on Polymyxin pyruvate Egg-Yolk Mannitol Bromothymol Agar (PEMBA) for 48 hours at 37°C. DNA was isolated from the isolates and 16S rDNA was amplified and sent to Central Analytical Laboratory for sequencing. The gyrB gene of B. cereus was also used to confirm the identity of the isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates together with virulence genes were investigated. Multilocus Sequence typing was used to investigate the genetic relatedness of some selected isolates. Furthermore, spores of the isolates were produced, harvested and their concentrations determined. All (100%) of the isolates were identified as having a 96-99% similarity to B. cereus, B. thuringiensis and B. anthracis using sequencing; while gyrB gene was observed in all (100%) of the isolates. Three virulence genes nheA, nheB, nheC encoding for non haemolysin enterotoxin were amplified in all (100%) the isolates. All (100%) of the isolates were susceptible to doxycycline, gentamycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin. Resistance to rifampicin and penicillin G was predominant with equal rate of 100%, while susceptibility to erythromycin, clindamycin and doxycycline ranged from 60% to 100%. The selected isolates were related and are descendants of the same ancestor. All (100%) the isolates produced spores. The B. cereus isolates contain virulence genes, has multiple antibiotic drug resistance and produce spores, which poses a health risk to the public and cannot be used as probiotics.

Historically, consumer perceptions towards dairy products have been measured using a rational cognitive approach. However, recent consumer insights suggest that emotions play a dominant role in consumer decision making. The South African dairy industry therefore identified a need to determine emotive reactions to educational messages in addition to the reasons underpinning dairy consumption. Using a mixed method research approach, reactions from 81 South African dairy consumers were obtained, using three different, but interrelated measuring instruments. Descriptive statistics, hierarchical ladder maps and correlation analyses were used to examine emotive and cognitive consumer reaction to a number of generic dairy messages and products. The findings indicate that certain communication messages appear to have a stronger impact on consumers due to specific emotions that these messages elicit. Personal values underpinning dairy consumption decisions were also identified within the context of emotive reactions to the selected dairy products. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Historically, consumer perceptions towards dairy products have been measured using a rational cognitive approach. However, recent consumer insights suggest that emotions play a dominant role in consumer decision making. The South African dairy industry therefore identified a need to determine emotive reactions to educational messages in addition to the reasons underpinning dairy consumption. Using a mixed method research approach, reactions from 81 South African dairy consumers were obtained, using three different, but interrelated measuring instruments. Descriptive statistics, hierarchical ladder maps and correlation analyses were used to examine emotive and cognitive consumer reaction to a number of generic dairy messages and products. The findings indicate that certain communication messages appear to have a stronger impact on consumers due to specific emotions that these messages elicit. Personal values underpinning dairy consumption decisions were also identified within the context of emotive reactions to the selected dairy products. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Department of Food Science and Technology / MSCPNT