Research Papers – Boer Goats South Africa

Physiological responses to preslaughter transportation stress in Tasco-supplemented Boer Goats

Tasco seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) supplementation is known to increase antioxidant activity and immune response in farm animals, but its effects have not been adequately studied in goats. This study was conducted to determine the effects of Tasco feed supplementation on stress responses in transported goats.

Essential amino acid requirements of meat and milk goats

The essential amino acid (EAA) profile of the Boer Goat and Saanen kids was investigated. The EAA composition of the components differed from the whole empty body (WEB) concentration. No significant differences between the two species WEB EAA composition were found.

Ash from fireplaces at homesteads in rural regions of South Africa as potential source of minerals to goats

In this study the mineral composition of ash from fireplaces at rural homesteads was determined to establish if such ash could be a source of minerals to goats. The mineral composition of ash collected from homesteads in six different communal farming regions of South Africa was determined.

A comparison of plant form and browsing height selection of four small stock breeds

A direct observation technique was used to establish the foraging behaviour of Boer Goats, Nguni goats, Pedi sheep and Dorper sheep. According to the Chi-square dissimilarity measure, plant-form (grass, forbs, woody) differences between the diets of goats and sheep were greater than differences between the goat breeds and sheep breeds.

Post-mortem metabolic status, pH and temperature of chevon from indigenous South African goats slaughtered under commercial conditions

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of sex, age and pre-slaughter conditioning on post- mortem pH, temperature and glycolytic metabolite concentrations in M. longissimus thoracis (LT) of indigenous South African goats.

Preference of grazing goats for cool-season annual clovers

Information on improved forages for goat grazing is lacking for the southern USA. Two cafeteria-style grazing trials were completed to determine preference of meat-type goats for cool-season annual clovers in Georgia.

Effect of sex, age, and pre-slaughter conditioning on pH, temperature, tenderness and colour of indigenous South African goats

Sex, age and pre-slaughter conditioning effects on pH, temperature, colour and tenderness properties of M. semimembranosus (SM) of indigenous South African goats were investigated. Sex and age had no significant effect on pH.

Foraging strategies of sheep and goats under semi-intensive management in Botswana

Diet selection of sheep and goats was determined seasonally using the microhistological technique to assess their trophic diversities, diet overlapping and preferences between the two species.

The influence of age and reproductive status on quality and quantity of cashmere produced by Boer Goats under South African conditions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and quantity of cashmere produced by Boer Goats in South Africa. No significant differences were found between reproductive status and qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cashmere produced by Boer Goats.

Level of feed intake on performance of two goat genotypes

A controlled experiment was designed at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) with purebred goats, to measure feed intake, and its subsequent effects on growth of different goat genotypes when raised intensively.

Changes in milk composition as affected by subclinical mastitis in sheep and goats

The present study focused on gaining a better insight into how subclinical mastitis at the gland level in dairy sheep and goats affects milk yield and compositional changes in relation to curd yield.

Goat production in the smallholder section in the Boane district in Southern Mozambique

Results are presented of a study of a smallholder goat production system in the Boane district, southern Mozambique. Goat keepers (n = 65) were selected and their goats (Landim breed) (n = 770) were recorded and monitored over two years (1993 – 1995).

The effect of dietary protein degradability on production characteristics of lactating Saanen does

Twenty-one lactating Saanen goats of similar milk yield and lactation number were fed one of three experimental protein diets: low UDP (160 g CP/kg DM), high UDP, low protein (128 g CP/kg DM), and high UDP high protein (160 g CP/kg DM). The aim of the study was to determine whether an increased UDP and decreased RDP content would increase production and also whether a decreased CP content and an increased UDP content would sustain the production of lactating Saanen does.

Ecological benefit of strip grazing with a solar mobile fence grazing system

Previous studies showed that milk goats can be managed economically through the feeding of agricultural products, by-products and rangeland grazing which otherwise would have been wasted. It was proposed that rangelands should be utilized seasonally, permitted by vegetation growth, and left idle in the dormant season (Galina et al., 1998a). Galina et al. (1998b) evaluated this system in terms of bio- sustainability.

Comparison of textural properties of low-fat chevon, beef, pork, and mixed-meat sausages

Chevon (goat meat) is an ideal source of red meat for the preparation of heart-healthy products because of its lower fat content. This study was conducted to compare the texture attributes of low-fat chevon sausages to those of beef and pork sausages.