scholarly journals Rumen fermentation and methane production in the African Buffalo Syncerus Caffer (Sparrman, 1779) in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
W Van Hoven
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
National Park ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Rumen Content ◽  
Maintenance Energy ◽  
Gas Composition ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Maintenance Energy Requirement

Fermentation experiments were performed on 36 buffaloes Syncems coffer. Body mass varied from 135-580 kg with an average for adults of 500 kg. Net mass of the reticulo-rumen content varied from 14-134 kg with a DM of 14,5. Fermentation rate was found to be 167,08 @ 13,53 fJimo\ gas^TpD/gDM/ hour and an adult of 500 kg produced 317,6 @ of methane per day from the rumen alone. An equivalent of 40,5 of the daily maintenance energy requirement is lost as methane. Caecal gas composition was found to be 60,63 @ 10,69 C02, 19,44 @ 8,0 CH4, 0,33 @ 0,26 H2 and 19,55 @ 11,43 N2. Ruminal gas composition: 73,85 @ 1,91 C02, 25,89 @ 1,79 CH4 and 0,029 @ 0,007 H2. Total VFA concentration, 12,06 @ 1,23 mmol/lOOml.

scholarly journals Coccidian oocyst and nematode egg counts of free-ranging African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa : research communication

2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.L. Penzhorn
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Syncerus Caffer ◽  
Research Communication ◽  
Nematode Eggs ◽  
Coccidian Oocyst ◽  
Free Ranging

Faecal specimens collected in the Kruger National Park from 103 African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) up to 1 year old and 283 buffaloes older than 1 year were examined for the presence of coccidian oocysts and nematode eggs. Most specimens from animals older than 1 year had negative coccidian oocyst counts. Positive specimens from younger animals had significantly higher coccidian oocyst counts than those from older animals. No such difference was found for nematode egg counts.

scholarly journals Maintenance energy requirements and forage intake of purebred vs. crossbred beef cows1

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1182-1195
Author(s):  
Claire E Andresen ◽  
Aksel W Wiseman ◽  
Adam McGee ◽  
Carla Goad ◽  
Andrew P Foote ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Growth Efficiency ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Maintenance Energy ◽  
Calf Growth ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Breed Type ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Maintenance Energy Requirement

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of cow breed type and age on maintenance requirements, feed energy utilization, and voluntary forage intake. The main effect of breed type included Angus (ANG; n = 32) and Hereford × Angus (HA; n = 27) lactating cows. The main effect of age included 2- and 3-yr-old (YOUNG; n = 29) and 4- to 8-yr-old (MATURE; n = 30) cows. Within breed type and age class, cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 pens for a total of 8 pens, each housing 7 to 9 cow/calf pairs. To determine maintenance energy requirements, cows and calves were limit-fed for 105 d to body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) stasis. There were no differences between breeds in cow hip height, BW, average milk yield (P > 0.31), diet digestibility, or cow maintenance energy requirement (P = 0.54). Crossbred cows had greater BCS (P < 0.05) throughout the experiment. Efficiency of calf growth was not different between breeds when expressed as feed intake of the cow/calf pair nor as energy intake of the pair per unit of calf BW gain (P ≥ 0.31). Young cows produced less milk per day and per unit of BW0.75 (P < 0.01); however, there was no effect of cow age on maintenance energy requirement, diet digestibility, or efficiency of calf growth (P > 0.10). Subsequently, a 45-d experiment was conducted to determine voluntary low-quality forage intake. Cows were housed in dry-lot pens equipped with shade, windbreaks, and feed bunks with free-choice access to clean water and a chopped hay ration was provided ad libitum to determine forage intake. Daily forage intake was lower (P = 0.05) for HA compared with ANG (123 vs. 132 g/kg BW0.75, respectively) although there was no difference in BW. However, HA cows sustained greater BCS (P < 0.01). There was no difference (P = 0.60) in forage intake per unit of BW0.75 due to cow age. Results indicate similar calf growth efficiency among breed types although crossbred cows maintained greater body energy stores and consumed less low-quality forage during the voluntary intake experiment. These differences could not be attributed to lower maintenance energy requirements. Neither maintenance energy requirement nor calf growth efficiency was different between young and mature cows.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and lumpy skin disease in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) in the Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamsudeen Fagbo ◽  
Jacobus A.W. Coetzer ◽  
Estelle H. Venter
Keyword(s):  
Skin Disease ◽  
Rift Valley ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rift Valley Fever ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Neutralising Antibodies ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Lumpy Skin Disease ◽  
Antibody Titres

Rift Valley fever and lumpy skin disease are transboundary viral diseases endemic in Africa and some parts of the Middle East, but with increasing potential for global emergence. Wild ruminants, such as the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), are thought to play a role in the epidemiology of these diseases. This study sought to expand the understanding of the role of buffalo in the maintenance of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) by determining seroprevalence to these viruses during an inter-epidemic period. Buffaloes from the Kruger National Park (n = 138) and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (n = 110) in South Africa were sampled and tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralising antibodies against LSDV and RVFV using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) and the serum neutralisation test (SNT). The I-ELISA for LSDV and RVFV detected IgG antibodies in 70 of 248 (28.2%) and 15 of 248 (6.1%) buffaloes, respectively. Using the SNT, LSDV and RVFV neutralising antibodies were found in 5 of 66 (7.6%) and 12 of 57 (21.1%), respectively, of samples tested. The RVFV I-ELISA and SNT results correlated well with previously reported results. Of the 12 SNT RVFV-positive sera, three (25.0%) had very high SNT titres of 1:640. Neutralising antibody titres of more than 1:80 were found in 80.0% of the positive sera tested. The LSDV SNT results did not correlate with results obtained by the I-ELISA and neutralising antibody titres detected were low, with the highest (1:20) recorded in only two buffaloes, whilst 11 buffaloes (4.4%) had evidence of co-infection with both viruses. Results obtained in this study complement other reports suggesting a role for buffaloes in the epidemiology of these diseases during inter-epidemic periods.

scholarly journals Pathology and immunohistochemistry of papillomavirus-associated cutaneous lesions in Cape mountain zebra, giraffe, sable antelope and African buffalo in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Williams ◽  
E. Van Dyk ◽  
P. J. Nel ◽  
E. Lane ◽  
E. Van Wilpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rabbit Antiserum ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
The Body ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Stratum Granulosum ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Equine Sarcoid

Skin lesions associated with papillomaviruses have been reported in many animal species and man. Bovine papillomavirus (BVP) affects mainly the epidermis, but also the dermis in several species including bovine, the best-known example being equine sarcoid, which is associated with BVP types 1 and 2. This publication describes and illustrates the macroscopic and histological appearance of BPV-associated papillomatous, fibropapillomatous or sarcoid-like lesions in Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) from the Gariep Dam Nature Reserve, 2 giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) from the Kruger National Park, and a sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) from the Kimberley area of South Africa. An African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) cow from Kruger National Park also had papillomatous lesions but molecular characterisation of lesional virus was not done. Immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal rabbit antiserum to chemically disrupted BPV-1, which cross-reacts with the L1 capsid of most known papillomaviruses, was positive in cells of the stratum granulosum of lesions in Giraffe 1, the sable and the buffalo and negative in those of the zebra and Giraffe 2. Fibropapillomatous and sarcoid-like lesions from an adult bovine were used as positive control for the immunohistochemistry and are described and the immunohistochemistry illustrated for comparison. Macroscopically, both adult female giraffe had severely thickened multifocal to coalescing nodular and occasionally ulcerated lesions of the head, neck and trunk with local poorly-circumscribed invasion into the subcutis. Necropsy performed on the 2nd giraffe revealed neither internal metastases nor serious underlying disease. Giraffe 1 had scattered, and Giraffe 2 numerous, large, anaplastic, at times indistinctly multinucleated dermal fibroblasts with bizarre nuclei within the sarcoid-like lesions, which were BPV-1 positive in Giraffe 1 and BPV-1 and -2 positive in Giraffe 2 by RT-PCR. The sable antelope presented with a solitary large lesion just proximal to the right hind hoof, which recurred after excision, and was BPV-1 positive by RT-PCR. Other wart-like growths were present elsewhere on the body. The Cape mountain zebra either succumbed from their massive lesions or were euthanased or removed from the herd because of them. The lesions wereBPV-1 and/or -2 positive byRT-PCR. The buffalo lesions were wart-like papillomatous projections in the inguinal and udder region. Stratum granulosum cells that stained immunohistochemically positive in the various species appeared koilocyte-like, as described in human papillomaviral lesions.

scholarly journals Settling the browser–grazer debate for African buffalo in grass-limited Eastern Cape thicket, South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marietjie Landman ◽  
Kate Kloppers ◽  
Graham I.H. Kerley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rumen Content ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Valid Measure ◽  
Additional Testing ◽  
Browse Species

Despite extensive evidence that African buffalo Syncerus caffer are grazers, De Graaff et al. using rumen content analysis of animals that had starved to death proposed that buffalo in grass-limited Eastern Cape thicket should be considered browsers. Although these anomalous findings were initially accepted, but later challenged, the browse-dominated diet continues to be used as a foundation for hypotheses on the diet of healthy animals. Consequently, the debate around buffalo as browsers or grazers in thicket has not yet been settled. We describe the diet of buffalo in the Addo Elephant National Park and include data from other published work from the region to test the importance of grass in buffalo diet. We show that the diet is dominated by grasses, even in grass-limited thicket, and that browse species are seldom dominant foods. Thus, there is no empirical evidence to corroborate the notion that buffalo switch their diet to browse when grass availability is low. In an attempt to advance our understanding of buffalo foraging in thicket, we reiterate that De Graaff’s work is not a valid measure of buffalo diet in succulent thicket and that additional testing of the browser–grazer hypothesis is not needed.Conservation implications: Our results confirm that buffalo are grazers, rather than browsers, in grass-limited Eastern Cape thicket. Thus, additional testing of the browser–grazer hypothesis for buffalo in the region is not needed.

scholarly journals Faecal endogenous loss of calcium in young sheep

1989 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Chrisp ◽  
A. R. Sykes ◽  
N. D. Grace
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Maintenance Energy ◽  
Agricultural Research Council ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Maintenance Energy Requirement

1. Two groups of eight 6–7-month-old wether lambs were offered either a frozen ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture or a ryegrass-white clover hay, containing 12.1 and 6.4 g calcium/ kg dry matter (DM) respectively. Within groups the amounts offered to individual sheep ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 times the estimated maintenance energy requirements.2. A single intravenous injection of 150 μCi 45Ca as CaCl2. 2H2O, and stable balances were used to determine absorption, faecal endogenous loss and balance of Ca.3. Faecal endogenous loss of Ca increased by 1.2 mg/kg body-weight (W) per d with each g/kg W per d increase in DM intake regardless of the diet. At any DM intake the mean faecal endogenous loss was 5.5 mg/kg W per d higher in the sheep offered the frozen herbage diet when compared with those on the hay diet. At any Ca intake the mean faecal endogenous loss was 6.9 mg/kg W higher in sheep offered the hay diet compared with those on the frozen herbage.4. At feeding levels of about 1.5–2 times the estimated maintenance energy requirement the observed faecal endogenous loss of Ca ranged from 35 to 50 mg/kg W per d, which is two- to threefold greater than the present estimate of the Agricultural Research Council (1980) of 16 mg/kg W per d.5. A simple model to explain the variation in faecal endogenous loss of Ca between the present study with young sheep and that with lactating ewes (Chrisp et al. 1989) also offered herbage diets is developed, which incorporates the concept of a true endogenous loss related to DM intake and a net endogenous loss reflecting the extent of re-absorption of Ca endogenous losses within the gastrointestinal tract.

scholarly journals Differences in Taurine Synthesis Rate among Dogs Relate to Differences in Their Maintenance Energy Requirement

2007 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
pp. 1171-1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwang S. Ko ◽  
Robert C. Backus ◽  
John R. Berg ◽  
Michael W. Lame ◽  
Quinton R. Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Synthesis Rate ◽  
Maintenance Energy ◽  
Maintenance Energy Requirement

scholarly journals Pathology and immunohistochemistry of papillomavirus-associated cutaneous lesions in Cape mountain zebra, giraffe, sable antelope and African buffalo in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Williams ◽  
E. Van Dykb ◽  
P. J. Nel ◽  
E. Lane ◽  
E. Van Wilpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rabbit Antiserum ◽  
Dermal Fibroblasts ◽  
The Body ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Stratum Granulosum ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Equine Sarcoid

Skin lesions associated with papillomaviruses have been reported in many animal species and man. Bovine papillomavirus (BVP) affects mainly the epidermis, but also the dermis in several species including bovine, the best-known example being equine sarcoid, which is associated with BVP types 1 and 2. This publication describes and illustrates the macroscopic and histological appearance of BPV-associated papillomatous, fibropapillomatous or sarcoid-like lesions in Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) from the Gariep Dam Nature Reserve, 2 giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) from the Kruger National Park, and a sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) from the Kimberley area of South Africa. An African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) cow from Kruger National Park also had papillomatous lesions but molecular characterisation of lesional virus was not done. Immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal rabbit antiserum to chemically disrupted BPV-1, which cross-reacts with the L1 capsid of most known papillomaviruses, was positive in cells of the stratum granulosum of lesions in Giraffe 1, the sable and the buffalo and negative in those of the zebra and Giraffe 2. Fibropapillomatous and sarcoid-like lesions from an adult bovine were used as positive control for the immunohistochemistry and are described and the immunohistochemistry illustrated for comparison. Macroscopically, both adult female giraffe had severely thickened multifocal to coalescing nodular and occasionally ulcerated lesions of the head, neck and trunk with local poorly-circumscribed invasion into the subcutis. Necropsy performed on the 2nd giraffe revealed neither internal metastases nor serious underlying disease. Giraffe 1 had scattered, and Giraffe 2 numerous, large, anaplastic, at times indistinctly multinucleated dermal fibroblasts with bizarre nuclei within the sarcoid-like lesions, which were BPV-1 positive in Giraffe 1 and BPV-1 and -2 positive in Giraffe 2 by RT-PCR. The sable antelope presented with a solitary large lesion just proximal to the right hind hoof, which recurred after excision, and was BPV-1 positive by RT-PCR. Other wart-like growths were present elsewhere on the body. The Cape mountain zebra either succumbed from their massive lesions or were euthanased or removed from the herd because of them. The lesions wereBPV-1 and/or -2 positive byRT-PCR. The buffalo lesions were wart-like papillomatous projections in the inguinal and udder region. Stratum granulosum cells that stained immunohistochemically positive in the various species appeared koilocyte-like, as described in human papillomaviral lesions.

scholarly journals Observation on developmental biology, growth and some aspects of the population ecology of the African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer Sparrman) in the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
U. De V. Pienaar
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Population Ecology ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
Syncerus Caffer

Observation on developmental biology, growth and some aspects of the population ecology of the African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer Sparrman) in the Kruger National Park

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