Price dynamics of red meat types in South Africa for the period 2013 to 2017.

The agricultural product market is changing from a producer-orientated to a more consumer-orientated market. Consumer rely on the classification system within the red meat types. Different red meat types and carcass classifications influence the prices of red meat. This study was conducted to determine the price dynamics of different red meat carcasses and carcass classes. It was theorised that the different red meat classification classes and number of carcasses sold influence the price and demand of red meats. It was also theorised that specific meat classes have a greater influence on meat prices and demand than others. The results of this study supports the hypothesis that red meat carcass type and specific meat classes within carcass type influence red meat carcass prices. There is a differentiation among classes in terms of the degree to which class influences price, since classes were identified that had no influence on price dynamics of other meat types.

Understanding the Association Between Spirituality, Religiosity, and Feelings of Happiness and Sadness Among HIV-Positive Indian Adults: Examining Stress-Related Growth as a Mediator.

This study examined the role of stress-related growth as a mediator of the associations between spirituality, religiosity, and feelings of happiness and sadness in a sample of 178 HIV-positive Indian adults. Results indicated that spirituality, but not religiosity, was associated with feelings of happiness and sadness. Subsequent mediation analyses indicated that stress-related growth fully mediated the relationships involving spirituality and feelings of happiness and sadness. Overall, our findings point to the importance of facilitating greater spiritual development among HIV-positive Indians, as well as promoting strategies that help them develop and apply stress-related growth coping methods in their lives.

Loneliness and Suicidal Risk in Young Adults: Does Believing in a Changeable Future Help Minimize Suicidal Risk Among the Lonely?

This study examined loneliness and future orientation as predictors of suicidal risk, namely, depressive symptoms and suicide ideation, in a sample of 228 college students (54 males and 174 females). Results of regression analyses indicated that loneliness was a significant predictor of both indices of suicidal risk. The inclusion of future orientation was found to significantly augment the prediction model of both depressive symptoms and suicide ideation, even after accounting for loneliness. Noteworthy, beyond loneliness and future orientation, the Loneliness × Future Orientation interaction term was found to further augment both prediction models of suicidal risk. Consistent with the notion that future orientation is an important buffer of suicidal risk, among lonely students, those with high future orientation, compared to low future orientation, were found to report significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms and suicide ideation. Some implications of the present findings for studying both risk and protective factors associated with suicidal risk in young adults are discussed.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of humic acid as an aflatoxin binder in broiler chickens.

The in vitro affinity and adsorption capacity of a humic acid, oxihumate, for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was evaluated, utilizing Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. Oxihumate showed a high in vitro affinity for AFB1. The Freundlich isotherm fitted the data better than the Langmuir isotherm, and binding capacities of 10.3, 7.4, and 11.9 mg of AFB1/g of oxihumate at pH 3, 5, and 7, respectively, were calculated. The in vivo efficacy of oxihumate as an aflatoxin binder in male broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin-contaminated feed from 7 to 42 d of age was also assessed. The efficacy of oxihumate was compared with a commercially available product with a brewers dried yeast (BDY) and brewers fermentation solubles as main active ingredients. A total of 420 birds were assigned to 28 pens, with 15 birds per pen. The following treatments were applied: 1) 0 mg of AFB1 + 0 additives, 2) 1 mg of AFB1/kg of feed + 0 additives, 3) 1 mg of AFB1/kg of feed + 3.5 g of oxihumate/kg of feed, 4) 1 mg of AFB1/kg of feed + 3.5 g of BDY/kg of feed, 5) 2 mg of AFB1/kg of feed + 0 additives, 6) 2 mg of AFB1/kg of feed + 3.5 g of oxihumate/kg of feed, and 7) 2 mg of AFB1/kg of feed + 3.5 g of BDY/kg of feed. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicates. Oxihumate was effective in diminishing the adverse effects caused by aflatoxin on BW of broilers (P < 0.05). Oxihumate also showed protective effects against liver damage, stomach and heart enlargement, as well as some of the hematological and serum biochemical changes associated with aflatoxin toxicity (P < 0.05). Results indicated that oxihumate, but not BDY, could alleviate some of the toxic effects of aflatoxin in growing broilers. Oxihumate might, therefore, prove to be beneficial in the management of aflatoxin-contaminated feedstuffs for poultry when used in combination with other mycotoxin management practices. Additional studies are warranted to assess its efficacy under a wide variety of circumstances.

Fluoride tolerance of laying hens.

1. One thousand Silver Grey Hyline hens were given drinking water containing 5 concentrations of added sodium fluoride (0, 6, 10, 14 and 20 mg/l) over a 17-week growth and 57-week laying period. The natural fluoride content of the water was 0.21 mg/l during the growing period and 0.29 mg/l throughout lay. 2. During the rearing phase, efficiency of food utilisation and mortality were not significantly affected by the fluoride concentration of the water. Weight gain and food intake decreased in the 10 and 14 mg/l fluoride treatments. 3. During the laying period, the fluoride content of the water had a significant effect on egg production, but eggshell breaking strength was not significantly influenced. 4. Post mortem analyses, carried out at the end of lay (74 weeks of age), showed that carcase weight and the fluoride content of the os femur increased significantly as the fluoride concentration in the water increased; the increase in bone fluoride followed a linear pattern. 5. Histopathology showed no evidence of changes in the livers or kidneys; liver weights and breaking strength of the os femur were unaffected by the amount of fluoride consumed. 6. The data showed that under commercial conditions, laying birds can tolerate ingesting 4.453 mg fluoride/day for up to 74 weeks.

Fatty acids in carcass fat of steers treated with a ß-adrenergic agonist individually or in combination with trenbolone acetate + oestradiol-17ß.

Forty steers of medium maturity were allocated randomly to four treatment groups of 10 steers each (C = Control, ßA = ß-Agonist, TO = Trenbolone acetate + oestradiol-17ß and ßTO = ß-Agonist in combination with trenbolone acetate + oestradiol-17ß). After 56 days on treatment, the ß-Agonist treatment was stopped and the steers slaughtered on the ninth day after withdrawal. Samples of subcutaneous fat over the 13th rib and M. longissimus dorsi were stored in sealed polyethylene bags at -20 °C for fatty acid analysis. A greater proportion of oleic acid (C18: 1, P < 0.05) was deposited in the subcutaneous fat of steers treated with ßA as opposed to those treated with either TO or ßTO. Treatments altered the fatty acid composition of the M. longissimus dorsi, particularly through their effects on palmitic acid (C16:0, P < 0.01), palmitoleic acid (C16:1, P < 0.01) and oleic acid (C18:1, P < 0.01). The results suggest a shift (P < 0.01) towards saturated fatty acids in the M. longissimus dorsi of steers treated with either ßA or ßTO.

Feedlot growth performance of steers on salinomycin, monensin and a daily rotation between the two.

The effects of salinomycin (20 mg kg-1 feed), monensin (33 mg kg-1 feed) and a daily rotation of these ionophores, on average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) were investigated in 60 steers (273 kg) over an 84-day feedlot period. Individual feed intakes and weight gains were recorded. The data were fitted to linear regressions with individual animals as replicates, from which ADGs, ADFIs and FCEs were calculated. Means of parameters of the control, salinomycin, monensin and rotation treatments were respectively ADG (kg): 1.56, 1.74, 1.58 and 1.66; FCE (kg DM/kg): 5.83, 5.43, 5.53 and 5.38; ADFI (kg): 9.10, 9.43, 8.83 and 8.90; final weight (kg): 402, 419, 407 and 413. Salinomycin showed the greatest improvement in gain, whereas monensin did not affect gain and tended to decrease feed intake. The rotation programme did not result in added benefits above those that could be obtained with a single ionophore (salinomycin), although feed efficiency tended to increase.

Fatty acids in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of intensively fed SA Mutton Merino and Dorper wethers.

Recent ambiguity about the role of animal fat in causing coronary heart disease, coupled with the controversy regarding the effect of various levels of energy nutrition on ruminant depot fats, prompted an investigation into the influence of high-energy nutrition, breed and slaughter weight on the fatty acid profiles of ruminants. Two isonitrogenous and isomineral diets containing 11·76 MJ ME/kg DM and 10·18 MJ ME/kg DM were fed to Dorper and SA Mutton Merino wethers of ± 20 kg to 37 and 43 kg live weight. Subcutaneous fat samples and feed samples were collected for fatty acid analysis. Treatment significantly affected the subcutaneous fatty acid profiles of wethers, which includes C15:0, C16:0, C17:0, C17:1, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3. Treatment also influenced the concentration of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the subcutaneous adipose tissue as well as the concentration of trans-fatty acids. The results obtained suggest that dietary energy levels may significantly affect the fatty acids in the subcutaneous fat of wethers. Breed differences, after correcting for carcass fatness, occurred in C16:0.

Influence of freezing method on thaw drip and protein loss of low-voltage electrically stimulated and non-stimulated sheeps' muscle.

South African Mutton Merino wethers (n = 32) were slaughtered, yielding carcasses with a mean weight of 22·18 ± 2·11 kg. Sixteen carcasses were electrically stimulated (ES) (21 V, 60 Hz, 120 s) immediately and all carcasses were chilled at room temperature (16°C) for 3 h and then overnight at 4°C, 95% RH. Both left and right Mm. longissimus lumborum et thoracis were excised and cut into six portions (77 g ± 7·8 g), each placed separately in a polyethylene bag and randomly allocated to five freezing treatments. These were: (1) cryogenic, -65°C; (2) cryogenic, -90°C; (3) walk-in-freezer, -21°C; (4) blast freezer, -21°C; (5) domestic freezer, -25°C. The respective freezing rates were 4·4, 6·4, 0·55, 0·35 and 0·51 cm h(-1) to -2·2°C at core depth of 1 cm below the surface. Samples were frozen to core temperatures of -20°C, removed and placed in a storage freezer (-20°C) for 48 h and 2·5 months. Samples were then suspended in perforated bags in a chiller (4°C) to thaw, and drip was collected in outer bags over the periods 0-24, 24-48, 48-72 and 72-96 h and expressed as g (100 g)(-1). Freezing methods had significant (P < 0·01) influences on drip loss in both ES and NES samples. Following storage for 48 h post-freezing at -20°C, total drip (g (100 g)(-1)) over 96 h of both ES and NES samples for the five freezing treatments were respectively: (1) 7·61 and 4·61; (2) 7·35 and 3·29; (3) 9·44 and 4·68; (4) 9·07 and 5·43; (5) 10·58 and 5·15. Following storage for 2·5 months, the total ES and NES drip were respectively, (1) 11·25 and 9·38; (2) 10·36 and 9·15; (3) 13·72 and 12·65; (4) 13·70 and 12·26; (5) 11·92 and 11·29. Total protein in the drip did not differ between freezing treatments. Differences between ES and NES samples did occur in the 48 h storage group. It is concluded that cryogenic freezing results in less thaw drip than the vapour compression systems. This advantage of cryogenic freezing disappears if meat is stored for long periods at -20°C. Electrical stimulation increases the drip loss in samples frozen for 48 h, but the differences are not significant after 2·5 months frozen storage. Protein losses parallel the drip.

An allometric-autoregressive approach to poultry development.

1. The relative rates of development in a commercial layer and a broiler strain of chicken fed 180 or 230 g crude protein/kg were investigated by the use of the allometric-autoregressive model. Development was divided into pre-pubertal (0 to 8 weeks) and pubertal phases (8 to 22 weeks). 2. Significant strain effects were observed, at all ages, in rates of gain of live (L) body mass, carcass (C) mass, non-carcase (N) mass and empty-body (EB) mass as well as C, N and EB moisture, protein and fat content. 3. Significant dietary effects were observed in C and EB fat in the pre-pubertal phase and L mass, N protein and C fat in the subsequent pubertal period.

Influence of phased inclusion of halofuginone on broiler skin tensile strength and growth performance.

The effect of continuous administration, weekly 24 h administration, phased withdrawal and phased inclusion of dietary halofuginone at 3 mg kg-1 on skin tensile strength was tested in Ross I broiler pullets. Controls received monensin continuously at 100 mg kg-1. A total of 2,592 birds were used in 2 lots of 1,296 in 2 separate programmes. Continuous dietary administration of halofuginone affected skin tensile strength negatively (P less than 0.05), with an equally significant recovery following a 7 d withdrawal period. A polynomial regression analysis indicates that skin strength may undergo a slight compensatory overstrengthening reaction within 7 d of withdrawal of halofuginone. Weekly 24 h administration of halofuginone reduced differences in skin strength between treatment and controls to non-significant levels. Differences in skin strengths between controls and the halofuginone phased inclusion programme decreased as the birds aged, being significant (P less than 0.05) on Days 14 and 28 and non-significant on Days 21, 35, 42 and 49. A weakening of skin tensile strength of broiler carcasses, as far as it may be influenced by halofuginone, can be alleviated through different shuttle programmes involving halofuginone. Such programmes would include intermittent dosing, a withdrawal period, administration to older birds or a combination of these programmes.

Influence of continuous dietary halofuginone on broiler skin tensile strength and growth performance.

Halofuginone was administered to both sexes of 2 broiler strains, Ross and Hubbard, in 4 dietary treatments, 0, 1.5, 3 and 6mg kg-1. Controls received dietary monensin at 100 mg kg-1. Group feed intake and body mass were recorded weekly. Skin tensile strength was monitored on Days 28, 35, 42 and 49 using a standardised cut of breast skin from carcasses randomly drawn from each treatment, strain and sex combination. Halofuginone inclusion level was inversely correlated (r = -0.36) with skin tensile strength and affected both sexes of the 2 strains (P less than 0.01). Between sexes, the skins of cockerels were consistently stronger than those of hens (P less than 0.01). The effect of age (P less than 0.07) and that of strain (P less than 0.06) tended towards significance at the 5% level. The singular effect of halofuginone on skin tensile strength was masked by the interactions treatment and sex (P less than 0.01); treatment and age (P less than 0.02); treatment and strain (P less than 0.06); age and strain (P less than 0.01). An inclusion level of 6mg kg-1, double the recommended level, could reduce growth and skin tensile strength significantly.

The non-significant effect of feeding level, growth rate and age on libido of young Afrikaner bulls.

Afrikaner bulls (n = 30) between 9,5 and 15 months old, were allocated to 2 dietary treatments fed ad libitum. Diet 1 consisted of 70% concentrate and 30% Eragrostis curvula hay (11,4 MJ ME kg-1 DM) and Diet 2 of 40% concentrate and 60% E. curvula hay (9,3 MJ ME kg-1 DM). Five libido tests were conducted per bull between the ages of 16 and 28 months. Bulls were pre-stimulated for 10 min by close contact with previously synchronised oestrous heifers. Three bulls were then simultaneously allowed a period of 15 min with 6 heifers. Manifestations of libido were indexed as follows: 1. smelling heifer and definite signs of interest; 2. attempt to mount without erection; 3. mount with erection but no intromission; 4. successful service. Libido values fluctuated highly both within and between bulls. Libido did not improve over the 16 to 28-month age period nor with experience as successive tests were conducted. Bulls on Diet 1 grew significantly faster during the first 7,5 months of the trial, but demonstrated non-significantly higher libido scores. It was concluded that maturation over the 16 to 28-month age period, learning experience and level of feeding had no effect on libido.

The influence of breed and sex on the incidence of mortalities and skin tears in broiler carcasses.

The effects of nutrition, breed and sex on the incidence of mortalities and of skin tears on broiler carcasses were studied. Both sexes of 2 breeds, Hubbard and Ross, were given 4 dietary treatments consisting of a normal level of vitamin and mineral premix plus 300 ppm furazolidone, twice normal premix inclusion level plus 300 ppm furazolidone, a normal level of vitamin and mineral premix, and twice normal mineral premix inclusion level. A coccidiostat containing the active ingredient halofuginone was included at 6 ppm, twice the recommended dosage. Starter, grower and finisher diets were fed respectively up to Day 20, Day 30 and Day 48. Group growth performances, mortalities and the incidence of torn skin were monitored on both the live birds and carcasses. The effect of the different nutritional treatments on skin tears was not significant (P = 0.9533), as was the breed effect (P = 0.0547). However, the effect of sex was significant (P = 0.0044), the incidence in hens being higher. Mortalities among the Hubbard were significantly greater than among the Ross (P = 0.0001). Hens showed a slightly higher mortality rate than roosters, tending towards significance at the 5% level (P = 0.0554).

Fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat of sheep grazed on eight different pastures.

The levels of eight long chain fatty acids (14:0, 16:0, 16:1 17:0, 17:1, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2) were measured in the subcutaneous fat of S.A. Mutton Merino wethers (5 months old, 20-25 kg live mass, 8 per treatment) and, including 18:3, in eight pastures grazed for 84 days (maize stubble, Z. mays; Triticale; L. multiflorum; L. perenne; D. glomerata; D. eriantha; C. dactylon; M. sativa). Respectively, percentage fatty acid contents of subcutaneous fat and pastures were 14:0 5·04 ± 0·86 and 0·67 ± 0·37, 16:0 22·85 ± 0·81 and 17·83 ± 3·00, 16:1 2·07 ± 0·22 and 2·42 ± 1·17, 17:0, 1·68 ± 0·04 and 0·42 ± 0·16, 17:1 0·75 ± 0·06 and 0·17 ± 0·19, 18:0 25·94 ± 2·02 and 4·95 ± 1·68, 18:1 32·27 ± 0·93 and 8·12 ± 11·70, 18:2 1·59 ± 0·36 and 15·89 ± 5·16, 18:3 measured in pastures only 34·51 ± 15·91. The palmitoleic acid (16:1) content of pastures increased (P < 0·05) as the ether extractable lipid content of the pastures increased. Pasture treatments influenced the levels of 14:0, 17:1 and 18:2 highly significantly (P < 0·01) and of 18:0 significantly (P < 0·05). Increasing levels of fatness of ribcut samples were associated with a decrease in 14:0 and an increase in 17:1 (P < 0·01) and an increase in 18:2 (P < 0·05).