Milk production and viability of the various smallholder dairying models used in Zimbabwe.

An evaluation of milk yield, dairy products and viability of the smallholder dairy production models used in Zimbabwe was carried out. We used secondary data on 1167 smallholder dairy farmers. These were categorised into commercial dairying (119), Milk collection centre (MCC) bulking and processing (145), MCC bulking and delivering to processor (87), farm gate (468) and other (348) models.

A Comparative Evaluation of Carcass Quality, Nutritional Value, and Consumer Preference of from Two Impoundments with Different Pollution Levels in Zimbabwe.

The objective of the study was to determine the quality and consumer preferences of Nile tilapia () from two water bodies with different pollution levels and trophic states. Water quality assessment of the two impoundments was carried out. Fish were sampled from hypereutrophic Lake Chivero and oligomesotrophic Lake Kariba for proximate analysis, carcass quality, and sensory evaluation.

Serum lipid, enzyme, and hematological responses of broilers fed Acacia angustissima leaf meal-based diets.

The objective of the study was to determine serum lipid, enzyme, and hematological responses of broilers to Acacia angustissima leaf meal. Acacia angustissima leaves were harvested at mid maturity, ground into a leaf meal, and included in broiler diets at 0, 5, and 10%. One hundred and fifty-day-old chicks of 41.

Comparative evaluation of non-genetic factors affecting milk yield and composition of Red Dane and Jersey cattle in Zimbabwe.

A study was carried out to evaluate non genetic factors affecting milk yield and milk composition in Zimbabwean Red Dane and Jersey cattle cattle. A total of 1004 and 10 986 unedited Red Dane and Jersey 305-day lactation records respectively, were obtained from Livestock Identification Trust (LIT) containing 22 herds (1 Red Dane herd and 21 Jersey herds), with Red Dane calving in the period 2004 to 2009 (giving year of birth from 1998 to 2007) and Jersey cows calving in the period 1996 to 2008 (giving year of birth from 1994 to 2005). The General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2004) version 9.

Production and economic performance of F1-crossbred dairy cattle fed non-conventional protein supplements in Zimbabwe.

The effects of supplementing crossbred cows with non-conventional protein sources on dry matter intake, milk yield parameters and economic returns were investigated. Twenty-five lactating F1 Holstein-Mashona crossbreds averaging 115 ± 24 days in milk were used. Five treatments, total mixed ration (TMR), urea-treated maize stover, untreated maize stover, Macroptilium atropurpureum (Siratro) hay and veld hay, were randomly assigned to cows and replicated five times in a completely randomised design.

Genetic trends production and somatic cell count for Jersey cattle in Zimbabwe born from 1994 to 2005.

Genetic trends for Jersey dairy cattle in Zimbabwe were estimated. A total of 10,986 lactation records were obtained from Zimbabwe Livestock Identification Trust, with cows calving in the period 1996 to 2008. An ASReml program fitting an animal model was used for the analyses.

Comparative analysis of hatching rates and clutch sizes of Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) eggs collected on- and off-farm in Zimbabwe.

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is a large aquatic reptile predominant in the tropics in Africa and Zimbabwe in particular. Clutch sizes and hatching rates of Nile crocodile eggs collected from the wild and on-farm in Lowveld, Highveld and Kariba regions of Zimbabwe were evaluated. A total of 274 egg records for the period 2000 to 2008 from 39 farms were collected from the Crocodile Farmers Association of Zimbabwe.

Environmental factors affecting milk, fat and protein yields in Jersey cattle in Zimbabwe.

A study was carried out to establish the factors affecting milk, butterfat and protein yields in Zimbabwean Jersey cattle. A total of 10,986 unedited 305-day lactation records were obtained from Zimbabwe Livestock Identification Trust containing 25 herds, with cows calving in the period 1996-2008. The general linear model procedure of the Statistical Analysis Systems version 9.