Browsing by Author "Zindove, Titus Jairus."

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Effects of within-litter birth weight variation of piglets on performance at three weeks of age and at weaning.
(2011) Zindove, Titus Jairus.; Chimonyo, Michael.; Dzomba, Edgar Farai.
The impact of within-litter weight variation on the productivity of pig enterprises is poorly understood. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of within-litter birth weight variation on litter performance at three weeks of age and at weaning. The study was conducted using records from 1 788 litters, collected between January 1998 and September 2010, from a pig herd at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Irene. The records consisted of piglet identity, breed of sow, breed of boar, parity number, date of farrowing, number of piglets born alive (NBA), individual piglet weight at birth, three weeks and at weaning. From these records, mean birth weight (MBWT), litter weight at birth (TBWT), within-litter birth weight coefficient of variation (CVB), minimum birth weight (MinB) and maximum birth weight (MaxB) were calculated. Mean weight at three weeks (MWTT), litter weight at three weeks (LWTT), within-litter weight coefficient of variation at three weeks (CVT), percent survival to three weeks (SURVT), mean litter weaning weight (MWWT), litter weight at weaning (LWWT), within-litter weaning weight coefficient of variation (CVW) and percent survival at weaning (SURVW) were computed as derivatives. The factors affecting CVB were analysed using the General Linear Model procedures (SAS, 2008). For the relationships between CVB and litter performance at three weeks and weaning, PROC STEPWISE was used. The PROC REG (SAS, 2008) was then used to test whether the relationships between CVB and CVT, SURVT, MWTT, LWTT, CVW, SURVW, MWWT, LWWT and LWWT. Multiparous sows farrowed litters with higher (P<0.05) CVB than gilts. The litter weight (TBWT) and NBA, fitted as covariates, also affected (P<0.05) CVB. The correlation between CVB and NBA was 0.30. The CVB had a linear relationship (P<0.05) with SURVT (SURVT = 83.21 - 0.20 CVB), CVT (CVT = 16.71 + 0.50 CVB), SURV (SURW = 87.9 – 0.04CVB) and CVW (CVW= 15.8 + 0.5CVB). An increase of CVT with CVB depended on parity (P<0.05). The rate of increase of CVT with CVB was highest in Parity 1 (b=0.41) followed by Parity 2 (b=0.36) then middle aged (Parity 3-5) sows (b=0.32). The CVB had no effect on MWTT, LWTT, MWWT and LWWT (P>0.05). The CVB was shown to be an important determinant of SURVT and SURVW. A uniform litter at birth is likely to lead to a homogenous litter at three weeks and weaning, thereby reducing costs of production. Pig producers should, therefore aim at producing homogenous litters at birth.
Influence of physical state of farm housing and processing facilities on quality and safety of dairy milk products.
(2018) Paraffin, Annah Shingirai.; Chimonyo, Michael.; Zindove, Titus Jairus.
The broad objective of the study was to determine the influence of physical state of farm housing and milk processing facilities on the quality and safety of milk and its products. Data collected from urban areas (n =135) and non-urban areas (n =135) households were used to investigate consumer perceptions of milk safety and consumption preferences of dairy products. Data collected from large-scale dairy farmers (n=158) and small-scale dairy farmers (n=186) were used to investigate the perception of milk producers on milk quality and safety. Milk records collected from large-scale dairy farms (n =78) and small-scale farms (n =126) were used to determine the effect of physical state of farm housing and milking practices on total bacteria counts (TBC), somatic cell counts (SCC), protein, butterfat (BF), solids non-fat (SNF), lactose and total solids (TS). Milk records collected from large-scale (n =12) and small-scale (n = 15) dairy processors were used to estimate the influence of physical state of milk processing facilities on presence of E. coli and coliforms in buttermilk. Urban households were 2.8 times more likely to consume fresh milk compared to their non-urban counterparts (P < 0.05). Households from urban areas were twice more likely to purchase fresh milk from kiosks, while households from non-urban areas were five times more likely to buy fresh milk from vendors. The likelihood of appearance, quality and nutritional value being important to households during selection of milk products was higher in urban locations compared to non-urban locations (odds ratio estimates of 4.29, 4.49 and 6.75, respectively). Knowledge and awareness of milk safety issues was more important to urban households. Large-scale farmers were three times more likely to consider breed affecting milk quality compared to their small- scale counterparts. Post milking contamination of milk was perceived to occur during transportation by small-scale farmers, whilst large-scale farmers ranked storage as an important source of contamination post-milking. The likelihood of milk safety being important was twice higher in large farms compared to small-scale farms (P < 0.05. The majority (70%) of large-scale farms had milking parlour doors, windows and fly proofing in poor physical state. More than fifty percent of small-scale farms had milking parlour doors, windows and fly proofing in good physical state (P < 0.01). Most of the large-scale farms used pumps to deliver their milk to storage tanks whilst most of the small-scale farmers used the pouring method (P < 0.05). The TBC and SCC in milk from dairy farms where the wash rooms that had doors, floors, walls and ventilation were in a good physical state were higher than from those farms where the wash rooms were in poor physical state (P < 0.05). Farms that used machine milking and automatic milking cleanings system had lower TBC and SCC in milk compared to farms that used manual milking or hand washing (P < 0.05). The butterfat and protein content in milk from dairy farms with milking facilities that had poor physical state of ceilings, ventilation and floors was lower than those in good physical state (P < 0.05). The butterfat, protein, lactose and solids non-fat (SNF) content in milk from farms that utilised hand milking was higher than dairy farms that used milking machines (P < 0.05). The likelihood of buttermilk from processors with buildings, processing and packaging areas that had poor physical state of drains, roofs, fly-proofing, windows having E. coli and coliforms was 1.2 times higher than those facilities in good physical state. Processors without quality assurances systems or food safety training were twice more likely to produce buttermilk contaminated by E. coli and coliforms (P < 0.05). Poor physical state of ceilings, doors and floors and poor drainage systems at farms results in production of milk with high bacterial count and presence of E. coli and coliforms in buttermilk.
Relationship between linear type traits and fertility in Nguni cows.
(2014) Zindove, Titus Jairus.; Chimonyo, Michael.
The broad objective of the study was to determine the relationship between linear type traits and fertility in Nguni cow herds. Data collected from 300 Nguni cattle owning households from two municipalities (150 each) were used to compare trait preferences of Nguni cattle owners located in semi-arid and sub-humid production environments. A total of 1017 records from 339 cows of Venda, Pedi, Swazi and Makhatini ecotypes were used to investigate sources of variation of linear traits in Nguni cows of different ecotypes. A total of 1559 Nguni cows kept under thornveld, succulent karoo, grassland and bushveld vegetation types were used to determine the relationship between six linear type traits (body stature, body length, heart girth, navel height, body depth and flank circumference) and fertility traits (calving interval and age at first calving) in Nguni cow herds under natural rangelands. Relationships between the linear type traits and incidences of still births and abortions in Nguni cow herds were determined using 250 Nguni cows from two sites experiencing sub-humid and semi-arid environments (125 cows each). Cows with at least Parity 3 were used in the study. Nguni cattle owners located in sub-humid areas mostly preferred fertility traits (calving interval and age at first calving) whilst those from semi-arid regions preferred traits reflective of adaptation to harsh conditions. In sub-humid areas, calving interval (CI) and age at first calving (AFC) were ranked first and second, respectively. Although lowly ranked, linear traits were iv considered by communal farmers in selecting Nguni cows for breeding stock. Cow fertility problems were mainly experienced in semi-arid areas compared to sub-humid areas. Semi-arid areas had more households (32.7 %) with cows with extended CI (2 and 3 years) than sub-humid areas (19.1 %). Body depth, flank circumference and heart girth were influenced (P < 0.05) by parity of cow, season of measurement and body condition score (BCS). Body depth, flank circumference and heart girth increased with increase in parity of cow. Cows in Parity 7 had the deepest bodies and navels hanging closest to the ground. Venda cows had the same flank circumference and heart girth across all seasons (P > 0.05). Body stature, body length, heart girth, navel height, body depth and flank circumference varied with ecotype of cow (P < 0.05). Venda cows had significantly higher body depths. Cows with deeper bodies had navels near the ground (r = -0.32) and longer bodies (r = 0.46; P < 0.05). Cows raised on the succulent karoo rangelands had shortest calving interval, calved earliest, deepest bodies, widest chests and flanks. Linear type traits under study can be grouped into two distinct factors, one linked to body capacity (body depth, flank circumference and heart girth) and the other to the frame size of the cows (body stature, body length and navel height). Calving interval and age at first calving decreased linearly with increase of body capacity (P < 0.05). There was a quadratic increase in age at first calving as frame size of cows increased (P < 0.05). As the body depth increased the likelihood of the incidence of still births and abortions in cows decreased (odds ratios 1.15 and 1.15, respectively). It was concluded that small-framed cows with large body capacities had short calving intervals, calved early and were less likely to abort or experience still births.