This study investigated the potential benefit of introducing Moringa oleifera (MO) and Leucaena leucocephala (LL) leaves as supplementary feed resource for indigenous goats feeding systems in southern Mozambique. The study started with a description of smallholder goat production systems in three resource-poor districts of Mozambique and subsequently investigated the variation and seasonal fluctuations of natural fodder quality in the Changalane district throughout a year period. Thereafter, the effect of tree forage supplementation on growth and reproductive performance of Landim goats were evaluated by simulating a typical feeding system used in the study area. In study one, a survey was conducted in three villages to collect data on indigenous goats and in smallholder husbandry practices in terms of feeding, health and reproduction management. Information from 45-smallholder goat keepers were recorded using a survey, which was complemented by interviews. Results showed that goats were raised under extensive systems, under free grazing. Tethering was a common management practice, with limited supplementation during the dry season. In general, during the dry season the natural pasture were scarcity and poor in quality and consequently does not sustained the energy and protein requirements of ruminants for maintenance and other functions. In study two, the eight key species that were consumed by the goats (namely Sclerocarya birrea, Spirostachys africana, Dichrostachys cinerea, Flueggea virosa, Acacia nigrescens, Acacia nilotica, Panicum maximum and Morus alba) were collected and analysed. Daily energy intake (4.27 ± 0.17 MJ/kg DM vs 3.71 ± 0.41 MJ/kg DM) and crude protein (CP) intake (92.83 ± 16.05 g DM/head/day vs. 59.38 ± 13.12 g DM/head/day) were higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. Daily intake of calcium and phosphorus did not show significant seasonal variations and were below the requirements levels for maintenance of a 20 kg bodyweight goat during the dry season and for the pregnant goat during both seasons. These results showed a need to supplement goats with energy, protein and phosphorus for maintenance, growth and reproduction during the dry season. In study three, the impact of supplementation with LL and MO on the growth and reproduction performance of indigenous goats were evaluated. Fifty-six goats were randomly divided into seven groups, with four castrated males and four females in each group. One group was used as the control group (animals grazing on natural veld without any supplementation), while first three groups were fed with LL and the other three groups with MO tree leaves, respectively. Compared to the control group, both treatments had a significant effect, irrespective of the level of supplementation in terms of overall body weight gain and the final body weight of the bucks. All female reproduction parameters measured for the supplemented groups were superior when compared to the control group. Findings of this study suggest the benefit of using LL and MO tree leaves as supplement for Mozambican goats to overcome the adverse effects of seasonal fluctuations in feed quality on their growth and reproductive performance. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / PhD / Unrestricted

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Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Little research has been done on natural feed additives which enhance milk production in dairy animals. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum) is a member of the legume family and is found in India, Middle East, North Africa and South Europe. Fenugreek is used as an herb in traditional medicine to promote lactation in lactating women. It also influences the lactation performance in ruminants such as dairy cows, water buffaloes and dairy goats. Diocin is a natural saponin found in Fenugreek and has structural similarity to oestrogen, which leads to an increased release of growth hormone (GH) and ultimately milk production. Three different trials were carried out to investigate Fenugreek’s effects. Each trial consisted of three treatment groups where dairy goats were randomly assigned. Nutrifen®, NutrifenPlus® and a control treatment served as the three treatments used in this study. Forty-eight goats per treatment group were used in the first trial where the main objective was to evaluate Fenugreek’s effect on milk production and milk composition. The second trial consisted of eight goats per treatment group, where Fenugreek’s effect on the in vivo and in vitro digestibility of the feed served as the main objective of this study. In the final part of the study, growth hormone found in plasma was subsequently investigated using the same goats from trial two. Fenugreek’s effect on elevating GH levels was the objective from the third part of the study. The first trial showed promising results in terms of an increase in milk production (P = 0.01) from dairy goats using the Nutrifen® treatment and an increase in milk lactose (P = 0.03) using the NutrifenPlus® treatment. Blood cholesterol and cholesterol content found in the milk did not differ between treatments used. Apparent digestibility of the total digestible nutrients (TDN) from the feed did not increase and did not differ between treatments and therefore concluded that the dairy goats digested the different treatments with similar efficiency regardless of the additive added to the feed. Growth hormone levels found in plasma also did not differ between treatments used in the third part of the study. Variation was found in GH plasma levels and this was expected as GH levels are known to have variation within ruminants. It appears that Fenugreek used as a natural feed additive can increase the milk yield from dairy goats, which would be beneficial to the commercial dairy goat farmer. However, the process on how Fenugreek exerts its effect on milk production still remains unclear. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tot datum is min navorsing gepubliseer wat die invloed van natuurlike voer bymiddels op melkproduksie aanspreek. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum) is ‘n peulgewas en kom voor in Indië, die Midde Ooste, Noord Afrika en Suid Europa. Fenugreek word in tradisionele medisyne gebruik om sodoende melkproduksie in lakterende vroue te verhoog. Dit verhoog ook melkprodukise in melkkoeie, waterbuffels en melkbokke. Diocin is ‘n natuurlike saponien, met sterk oestrogeniese strukturele ooreenkomste, wat in Fenugreek voorkom. Diocin lei tot die verhoogde afskeiding van groeihormoon (GH) en uiteindelik ‘n toename in melkproduksie. Drie proewe is uitgevoer ten einde die effek van Fenugreek te ondersoek. Elke proef het bestaan uit drie behandelingsgroepe en melkbokke is ewekansig aan die groepe toegedeel. Nutrifen®, NutrifenPlus® en ‘n kontrole sonder enige additief is gebruik as behandelings. Agt-en-veertig bokke is per behandeling gebruik in die eerste proef. Die doel van hierdie proef was om die invloed van Fenugreek op melkproduksie en melksamestelling te bepaal. Die tweede proef het agt bokke per behandelingsgroep gehad en het ten doel gehad om te bepaal wat die invloed van Fenugreek op die in vitro en in vivo verteerbaarheid van die voere was. In die derde proef is dieselfde bokke as die in proef twee gebruik en hier is groeihormoon vlakke in sirkulerende bloedplasma gemeet om die invloed van Fenugreek op hierdie parameter te bepaal. Resultate van die eerste proef het getoon dat melkproduksie van bokke wat Nutrifen® ontvang het betekenisvol verhoog het (P = 0.01) terwyl NutrifenPlus® gelei het tot ‘n verhoging (P = 0.03) in melk laktose vlakke. Bloed cholesterol en melk cholesterol vlakke was onveranderd. Skynbare verteerbaarheid van die totale verteerbare voedingstowwe (TVV) van die voer het nie verander (P = 0.34) met die insluiting van Fenugreek nie. Plasma groeihormoonvlakke was nie betekenisvol verskillend (P > 0.05) tussen behandelingsgroepe nie en die gebrek aan verskille kan waarskynlik toegeskryf word aan die variasie wat binne behandelings groepe opgemerk is vir hierdie parameter. Sodanige variasie in plasma groeihormoon word as algemeen beskou in herkouers. Gevolglik kan aanvaar word dat die natuurlike voerbymiddel, Fenugreek, gebruik kan word om melkproduksie in lakterende melkbokke te verhoog. Hierdie praktyk behoort voordele in te hou vir die kommersiële melkprodusent. Die proses waardeur hierdie verhoging plaasvind is egter steeds nie duidelik nie.

This study investigated the effects of a shaping program for halter training across 8 steps in the program and 4 trial-terminating, or "undesirable," responses. Three La Mancha goats (Capra hircus) located at the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville, Texas were used for the study. A fixed-time 15 s (FT-15 s) was used during the baseline conditions, to examine the effects of response contingent and response-independent food deliveries, as well as to examine what preliminary steps might not necessarily have to be shaped. All 3 goats successfully learned to allow the halter to be placed on them and to lead on the halter, although 2 of the 3 goats required an additional task analysis for the fifth step to further break down that approximation. Several of the early steps selected by the researchers were not necessary to complete the program, as determined by the baseline condition.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agriculture)) --University of Limpopo, 2006 / Two experiments were carried out to determine the effect of the level of Acacia nilotica leaf meal supplementation plus 23 g polyethylene glycol 4000 on diet intake, digestibility, and growth rate of indigenous Pedi goats fed ad libitum Buffalo grass, Buchloe dactyloides, hay. The first experiment lasted for 37 days, with the first 30 days being for adaptation and the last 7 days being for collection. Twenty yearling male Pedi goats weighing 22 ± 0.5 kg live weight were allocated to 4 treatments in a 2 x 2 Factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomised Design. Acacia nilotica leaf meal contained 120 g crude protein per kg DM, indicating its potential as a browse source for ruminants. It, also, contained high amounts of total phenolics (2.04 % DM) and low amounts of condensed tannins, both extracted (0.37 % DM) and unextracted (1.83 % DM). Increasing the level of Acacia nilotica leaf meal supplementation to 120 g increased (P<0.05) crude protein intake (38 g/kg DM) when compared to 80 g supplementation (34 g/kg DM). Supplementation with 23 g PEG 4000 increased (P<0.05) the crude protein intake where goats were supplemented with 120 g of A. nilotica leaf meal. However, PEG 4000 supplementation did not have an effect (P>0.05) on intake when goats were supplemented with 80 g of Acacia nilotica leaf meal. Supplementation with 120 g of Acacia nilotica leaf meal increased (P<0.05) diet digestibility of DM (0.57), OM (0.60) and CP (0.71) by the goats. Similarly, supplementation with 23 g PEG 4000 increased (P<0.05) DM (0.65), OM (0.66) and v CP digestibilities (0.76) where goats were supplemented with 120 g of A. nilotica leaf meal. Polyethylene glycol 4000 also increased (P<0.05) diet CP digestibility where goats were supplemented with 80 g of Acacia nilotica leaf meal. However, 23 g PEG 4000 did not have a significant (P>0.05) effect on diet digestibility of DM and OM where goats were supplemented with 80 g of Acacia nilotica leaf meal. In vivo NDF and ADF digestibility were not affected by the treatments. Level of Acacia nilotica leaf meal supplementation plus 23 g of PEG 4000 had a significant (P<0.05) effect on the daily live weight change of the goats. The effect was higher where goats were supplemented with 120 g of A. nilotica leaf meal when compared to 80 g supplementation. Blood urea concentrations were improved (P<0.05) by level of A. nilotica supplementation and PEG supplementation. It is concluded that PEG 4000 has the potential to improve the feeding value of Acacia nilotica leaf meal and can, therefore, be used in the feeding systems for ruminant animals. The second experiment determined the effect of A. nilotica leaf meal supplementation and PEG 4000 supplementation on in vitro diet digestibility. Level of Acacia nilotica leaf meal supplementation plus 23 g PEG supplementation improved (P<0.05) in vitro diet DM, OM and CP digestibilities where 120 g Acacia nilotica leaf meal was supplemented. Similarly, 23 g PEG 4000 supplementation also improved (P<0.05) in vitro diet CP digestibility where 80 g Acacia nilotica leaf meal was supplemented. However, level of A. nilotica supplementation plus PEG 4000 supplementation had no vi effect (P>0.05) on in vitro NDF and ADF digestibilities. In vivo diet DM, OM and CP digestibilities were positively and significantly (P<0.05) correlated with in vitro diet DM, OM and CP digestibilities. It is, therefore, concluded that in vitro diet DM, OM and CP digestibilities have good capacity to predict in vivo diet DM, OM and CP digestibilities. / National Research Foundation. Working Solutions International

Dissertation (MSc(Agriculture) / The main objective of the study was to analyze the economic viability and sustainability of the leasing system in the development of dairy goat’s keepers group in Ga-Mampa, Mafefe rural community. Mafefe is one of the rural communities where dairy goat keeping is given little or no care by the dairy goat keepers. Through an action research process implemented within the community by the Center for Rural Community Empowerment (CRCE/University of Limpopo: Turfloop Campus), community members became interested in developing dairy goat keeping, which was very dubious to the community members as it was their first time to hear about goats bred for milk production. In Limpopo Province, goats are the most common livestock among communal farmers and yet they do not make a significant contribution to the economy of the place, let alone improve income of the households who keep dairy goats. The purpose of the study, therefore, was to find ways to transform the current subsistence system of producing indigenous goats by households in Ga-Mampa Mafefe (Capricorn District (CD)) in the Limpopo Province of South Africa into a viable system of producing, processing and marketing both dairy goats and their byproducts through formal markets. The study attempts to find out as to how a commodity group manages capital through a leasing system to sustainably insure that its members can access a technical innovation: dairy goat keeping. This study also looks at how leasing contributes to the development of the dairy goat project, the community and the development of individual members of the project. The Net Present Value (NPV) and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) criteria were used to evaluate the economic viability of the leasing system towards the development of dairy goats. The results indicate that the NPV in this study is greater than zero, therefore the project is considered to be economically viable and sustainable, and also the BCR is greater than one indicating that the project is still profitable and hence acceptable. According to the findings from the analytical techniques, production of dairy goats through the leasing system would be profitable to dairy goat keepers. vi A sensitivity analysis to changes in benefits and costs of inputs was conducted. This found the above project proposal to be viable, even when benefits are reduced by 20%. The project proposal was still viable when the cost of inputs was inflated by 20%. In both cases, the benefit cost ratio is greater than one. Also the combined effect of reducing the benefit by 20% and inflating cots by 20% would result in positive Net Present Value (NPV). Results from a survey carried out further show the possibility and viability of producing satisfactory levels of milk from dairy goats in Limpopo Province. / French Embassy, Centre for Rural Community Empowerment (CRCE)

Small maize livestock farmers in the Eastern Province of Zambia badly need forage high in protein to supplement the protein deficient pasture grass. Nutrient intake, especially for the small ruminants with small gastro-intestinal capacity compared to metabolizable energy requirement, will be near or below maintenance if these poor quality feeds are not supplemented. High quality supplements however, are beyond the reach of the small scale farmers. The effect of feeding maize husk and leucaena as a mixture or separately on voluntary intake of maize husk was studied over a 40 day period. Ten male goats with an average weight of 15 kg were used. In a separate experiment the effect of browse supplementation on maize husk utilization by goats was studied. The treatments were; maize husk plus urea; maize husk plus Leucaena leucocephala (3:2); maize husk plus Calliandra calothyrsus (3:2); and maize husk plus leucaena plus calliandra (3:1:1). The results of the study indicate that leucaena and calliandra are both potentially valuable feed components.

A remote control sampling technique was developed for the collection of oesophageal fistula samples from goats. Number and size of samples can be varied and collected throughout the day without disturbing the animal's normal feeding behaviour. The equipment developed and tested in this study consists of an oesophageal fistula valve which allows the fistula to be opened and closed, a rechargeable battery pack and motor to operate the valve, a portable radio and receiver to activate the valve motor, and a harness to attach the equipment to the body of the animal In addition, a closing device to effectively seal large oesophageal fistulae (> 1 050 mm²), which in turn is required to accommodate the valve, was developed. During field tests with the fistula valve, 10 % of I 027 sampling attempts failed due to blockage of the valve, and an average of 1.3 incidences of equipment failure were recorded per animal per sampling day, from an average of 9.9 extrusa collections per day. Observed feeding behaviour (grazing/browsing) as well as grass / bush ratio of fistula valve and standard fistula bag samples of four goats, formed the basis for the evaluation of this technique. In addition, extrusa recovery rates, measured under controlled conditions, were used in the evaluation of this sampling method Differences in extrusa composition between the fistula valve and fistula bag techniques varied substantially during the browsing period within a camp and also between camps. Furthermore, during high frequencies of observed grazing, there were large differences between the fistula valve and fistula bag methods. During this study, the fistula valve technique provided a more realistic estimate (R²=.91) of the observed feeding behaviour of goats than the fistula bag technique (R²=.63). Under controlled conditions, the large oesophageal fistula, with or without the valve, enables high and consistent extrusa recovery rates (87 % recovery; SD 7.5). / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1993.

Thesis (M.Sc.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative organism of heartwater infections, places severe economic constraint on the livestock industry wherever Amblyomma tick vectors are present. Angora goats are particularly susceptible to this disease and the current live blood vaccine cannot safely be used to protect these animals. An attenuated E. ruminantium (Welgevonden) experimental vaccine has previously shown promising results in Merino sheep and Boer goats. The vaccine was administered by intravenous route (i/v). The general objective of this study was to test the efficacy and safety of the attenuated heartwater vaccine E. ruminantium (Welgevonden) in Angora goats. The specific objectives were, firstly to assess the intra-muscular route of administration of the attenuated vaccine as compared to the standard i/v route and, secondly, to study the haematological changes in Angora goats before, during and after vaccination under controlled conditions at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute tick-free stables. A total of 55 Angora goats were used in this trial. They were purchased from an area in South Africa which is known to be Amblyomma-free and heartwater-free. Furthermore, on arrival, the goats were screened for E. ruminantium infection by the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test to confirm their disease-free status. The Angora goats were divided into 3 groups: In Group 1, ten were vaccinated by the standard i/v route, in Group 2, 31 received the vaccine by i/m route and 10 served as untreated controls for Group 3. Five of the 10 i/v vaccinated group, 20/31 of the i/m vaccinated and 5 controls were challenged by feeding of known infected adult A hebreaum. The other remaining animals within the three groups were challenged using a known infected blood stabilate administered by the standard i/v route (dose 5xLD50). All animals were challenged 42 days after vaccination. The vaccine did not produce any inflammatory reactions at the site of injection. However, 3/31 (9.7%) of i/m and 7/10 (70%) of i/v vaccinated goats developed febrile reactions starting on Day 11 post-immunisation and were treated. All vaccinated goats were fully protected against either needle i/v or tick challenge, while the control non-vaccinated goats reacted severely to the challenge materials and required oxytetracycline treatment. Despite treatment, two of the unvaccinated goats died from the challenge material. 9 Haematological values (packed cell volume, differential blood cells count) were obtained on blood samples taken from the treatment and control groups at different times during the course of the trial. Wide within group variations as shown by the high standard deviation values were found. As no significant changes were found between vaccinated and control animals, it is likely that the attenuated vaccine does not cause significant clinical haematological changes. This study has demonstrated that the attenuated E. ruminantium (Welgevonden) vaccine is safe in 90.3% and efficacious (100% efficacy) for intramuscular administration in Angora goats. However, further laboratory and on-farms studies are needed in order to establish the lowest effective and safety dose, duration of immunity, and the vaccine’s safety in young and pregnant animals. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / unrestricted