Bohani Mtileni - Independent Researcher (original) (raw)

Papers by Bohani Mtileni

Research paper thumbnail of Pedigree-Based Genetic Diversity in the South African Boerboel Dog Breed

Animals, Mar 21, 2024

Several pedigree-based analyses of dog breed populations have revealed increased levels of inbree... more Several pedigree-based analyses of dog breed populations have revealed increased levels of inbreeding worldwide. These inbreeding levels threaten dogs' fitness and adaptability, population development, and survival, as well as breeds' economic importance and breeding goals. Therefore, determining the population structure of the Boerboel dog breed is critical for monitoring and controlling the loss of genetic diversity through optimal breeding programs in order to preserve its unique genes. This study's findings revealed that the Boerboel dog breed has less genetic diversity, implying increased homogeneity, and there is unequal founder contribution to the current population's genetic variation. Future breeding strategies would need to avoid the mating of closely related animals and the use of popular males.

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular Detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in selected chicken breeds in South Africa

Research Square (Research Square), Feb 20, 2024

BackgroundThe impact of chickens onmaintaining the economy and livelihood of rural communities ca... more BackgroundThe impact of chickens onmaintaining the economy and livelihood of rural communities cannot be overemphasized. In recent years, one of the diseases affecting its success has been Mycoplasma spp. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are signi cant respiratory pathogens that affect chickens. The presentstudy aimed to molecularly detect and characterize the presence of MG and MS intracheal swabsand fecalsamples fromSouth African chicken breeds. Methods: Forty-ve tracheal swabs from the Lohmann Brown (n=9), Rhode Island (n=9), Ovambo (n=9), Venda (n=9), and Potchefstroom Koekoek (n=9) breeds were collected.To detect MG and MS, DNA was extracted from tracheal swabsand faecal samples,and qPCR was performed with a 16S rRNA (185 bp) and vlhA (392 bp) gene fragment. Following the sequencing of all the amplicons, MG, and MS dendrograms showing the evolutionary relationships among the ve South African chicken breeds and the reference population from the GenBankwere constructed. Results: The qPCR revealed the presence of MG and MS in 22% (2/9) of the tested tracheal swab samples for MS only in Rhode Island breeds;66.6% (6/9) and 33% (3/9) of the tested samples in Ovambo breeds;and 11.1% (1/9) and 44.4% (4/9) of the tested samples in Venda breeds. No MG orMS were detected in the Lohmann Brown orPotchefstroom Koekoek breed. Furthermore, qPCR revealed the presence of MG in pooled faecal samples from Lohmann Brown and Ovambo breeds. Eight different bacterial isolates were recognized from both samples. Four isolates were of the Mycoplasma gallisepticum 16sribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene (

Research paper thumbnail of A systematic review on the prospects of X- and Y-sexed semen in ruminant livestock: implications for conservation, a South African perspective

Frontiers in veterinary science, Apr 9, 2024

Red, and Veld Master) animals. These breeds require less veterinary service, feed, management e o... more Red, and Veld Master) animals. These breeds require less veterinary service, feed, management e orts, provide income to rural and or poor owners. However, most of them are under extinction risks and some with unknown status hence, require immediate conservation intervention. To allow faster genetic progress on the endangered animals, it is important to generate productive animals while reducing wastages and this can be achieved through sex-sorted semen. Therefore, this systematic review is aimed to evaluate the prospects of X and Y-sexed semen in ruminant livestock and some solutions that can be used to address poor sex-sorted semen and its fertility. This review was incorporated through gathering and assessing relevant articles and through the data from the DAD-IS database. The keywords that were used to search articles online were pre-gender selection, indigenous ecotypes, fertility, flow cytometry, artificial insemination, conservation, and improving sexed semen. Following a careful review of all articles, PRISMA guidelines were used to find the articles that are suitable to address the aim of this review. Sex-sorted semen is a recently introduced technology gaining more attention from researchers particularly, in the conservation programs. Preselection of semen based on the sex chromosomes (X-and or Y-bearing chromosomes) is of paramount importance to obtain desired sex of the o spring and avoid animal wastage as much as possible. However, diverse factors can a ect quality of semen of di erent animal species especially after sex-sorting. Flow cytometry is a common method used to select male and female sperm cells and discard dead and abnormal sperm cells during the process. Thus, sperm sexing is a Frontiers in Veterinary Science frontiersin.org Ngcobo et al.. /fvets.. good advanced reproductive technology (ART) however, it is associated with the production of oxidative stress (OS) and DNA fragmentation (SDF). These findings, therefore, necessitates more innovation studies to come up with a sexing technology that will protect sperm cell injuries during sorting in frozen-thawed.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Dog Breeds Using Pedigree and Molecular Analysis: A Review

Diversity, Dec 1, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of An Assessment of Economic Sustainability and Efficiency in Small-Scale Broiler Farms in Limpopo Province: A review

Sustainability

An important factor in determining the success of a small-scale broiler farm is its economic viab... more An important factor in determining the success of a small-scale broiler farm is its economic viability and efficiency. During times of trouble for the industry, the idea receives more attention. The conceptual considerations of economic sustainability and efficiency are frequently quite constrained, according to the difficulties raised in this study and by other authors. There is a lack of information about South Africa's small-scale broiler production's economic viability and effectiveness. Furthermore, it is clear that small-scale broiler producers have the ability to increase their economic efficiency. By reducing the mortality rate, feed conversion rate, and production duration, both their technical and financial efficiency could be improved. Profitability in the production of broilers will be considerably increased by lowering the cost of these variable inputs, particularly feed and day-old chicks. Additionally, raising the education level, capacity utilization ratio, a...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Conservation in South African Indigenous Goat Ecotypes: A Review

Animals, Nov 29, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and resistance to gastrointestinal parasites in goats: A review

Veterinary World

Gastrointestinal parasitism, particularly nematode infection, is a major health issue affecting g... more Gastrointestinal parasitism, particularly nematode infection, is a major health issue affecting goats worldwide, resulting in clinical diseases and productivity loss. Prevalent gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) affecting goats in South Africa are the Strongyloides papillosus, Eimeria spp., and Strongyles, especially the Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp. According to the issues discussed in this paper and by other authors, the prevalence and intensity of various GIPs vary with an animal's location, breed, age, sex, and season. Because GIPs easily develop resistance to chemical treatment, selecting and breeding genetically GIP-resistant animals would be a relatively simple and inexpensive strategy for reducing or eliminating the current reliance on chemotherapy. Potential phenotypic indicators for selecting GIP-resistant goats include parasitological, immunological, and pathological phenotypic markers. Synergistic use of these indicators should be encouraged for a mor...

Research paper thumbnail of Cow Efficiency, Relative-Birth Weight and Subsequent Pre-Weaning Growth Performance of Nguni Cattle

Cow Efficiency, Relative-Birth Weight and Subsequent Pre-Weaning Growth Performance of Nguni Cattle

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of genetic diversity between South African conserved and field chicken populations using microsatellite markers

South African Journal of Animal Science, 2010

The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chi... more The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chicken populations and the effectiveness of the current conservation flocks in capturing the available diversity in the founder populations. Two chicken populations, Venda (VD_C) and Ovambo (OV_C) conservation flocks (n = 56) from the Animal Production Institute in Irene and two founder population from which these conservation flocks were sampled; Venda (VD_F) and Ovambo (OV_F) field populations (n = 72) were genotyped for 29 autosomal microsatellite markers. All microsatellites typed were found to be polymorphic. A total of 213 alleles were observed for all four populations. The mean number of alleles per population ranged from 3.52 ± 1.09 (VD_C) to 6.62 ± 3.38 (OV_F). Mean observed (H O) and expected (H E) heterozygosity in the conservation flocks were 0.55 and 0.57 respectively. The corresponding values for the founder population were 0.62 and 0.68. The observed within population diversity measures indicated that field populations are more diverse than conservation flocks. The Reynolds genetic distance (D Reynolds) between conservation flocks and field population observed was 0.22 between VD_C and VD_F and 0.09 between OV_C and OV_F. STRUCTURE was used to cluster individuals to 2 ≤ K ≤ 5. The most probable clustering was found in K = 3, in which the populations were grouped into three clusters. VD_C and OV_C conservation flocks separated as independent clusters, while VD_F and OV_F field populations formed one cluster for any K value. Clustering analysis indicated a clear subdivision of the conservation flocks and field population into genetically distinct populations. The present study suggests that conservation flocks are less diverse compared to field populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Runs of Homozygosity and Quantitative Trait Locus/Association for Semen Parameters in Selected Chinese and South African Beef Cattle

Animals

In this study, runs of homozygosity (ROH) and quantitative trait locus/association (QTL) for seme... more In this study, runs of homozygosity (ROH) and quantitative trait locus/association (QTL) for semen parameters in selected Chinese and South African beef cattle breed were estimated. The computed results showed 7516 ROH were observed between classes 0–5 Mb with no ROH observed in classes >40 Mb. Distribution of ROH showed high level of genomic coverage for ANG, NGU, CSI, and BEL breeds. Approximately 13 genomic regions with QTL were controlling sperm motility, sperm concentration, semen volume, sperm count, sperm head abnormalities, sperm tail abnormalities, sperm integrity, and percentage of abnormal sperm traits. Nine candidate genes, CDF9, MARCH1, WDR19, SLOICI, ST7, DOP1B, CFAF9, INHBA, and ADAMTS1, were suggested to be associated with above mentioned QTL traits. The results for inbreeding coefficient showed moderate correlation between FROH vs FHOM at 0.603 and high correlation between FROH 0–5 Mb 0.929, and lowest correlation for 0–>40 Mb 0.400. This study suggested recen...

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of genetic diversity between South African conserved and field chicken populations using microsatellite markers

South African Journal of Animal Science, 2010

The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chi... more The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chicken populations and the effectiveness of the current conservation flocks in capturing the available diversity in the founder populations. Two chicken populations, Venda (VD_C) and Ovambo (OV_C) conservation flocks (n = 56) from the Animal Production Institute in Irene and two founder population from which these conservation flocks were sampled; Venda (VD_F) and Ovambo (OV_F) field populations (n = 72) were genotyped for 29 autosomal microsatellite markers. All microsatellites typed were found to be polymorphic. A total of 213 alleles were observed for all four populations. The mean number of alleles per population ranged from 3.52 ± 1.09 (VD_C) to 6.62 ± 3.38 (OV_F). Mean observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosity in the conservation flocks were 0.55 and 0.57 respectively. The corresponding values for the founder population were 0.62 and 0.68. The observed within population diversit...

Research paper thumbnail of Candidate Genes in Bull Semen Production Traits: An Information Approach Review

Veterinary Sciences

Semen quality plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of breeding programs, especia... more Semen quality plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of breeding programs, especially where artificial insemination (AI) is practiced. Bulls with good semen traits have good fertility and can produce a volume of high semen per ejaculation. The aim of this review is to use an information approach to highlight candidate genes and their relation to bull semen production traits. The use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has been demonstrated to be successful in identifying genomic regions and individual variations associated with production traits. Studies have reported over 40 genes associated with semen traits using Illumina BeadChip single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs).

Research paper thumbnail of Gastrointestinal parasite infection intensity and hematological parameters in South African communal indigenous goats in relation to anemia

Veterinary World, 2020

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the intensity of gastrointestinal parasite (GIP) infect... more Aim: The study was conducted to determine the intensity of gastrointestinal parasite (GIP) infections and hematological parameters in South African communal indigenous goats in relation to anemia. Materials and Methods: A total of 288 goats were randomly sampled in areas representing four agro-ecological zones. Fecal and blood samples were collected from the rectum and jugular vein, respectively, of each animal. The number of eggs per gram (EPG) and oocysts per gram (OPG) of feces and the hematological parameters were determined using the modified McMaster technique and a BC-2800Vet® automatic hematology analyzer, respectively. Data were analyzed using the repeated measures techniques of Minitab 17, modeling the covariance structure of the observed data. Results: Based on EPG and OPG, goats in humid zone were significantly infected (p<0.05) with strongyles, Eimeria, Moniezia, and Trichuris spp. Hematological parameters of goats in arid and humid zone were lower (p<0.05) than t...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of agro-ecological zone, season of birth and sex on pre-weaning performance of Nguni calves in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Tropical Animal Health and Production

The study was conducted to determine the effect of agro-ecological zone, season of birth and sex ... more The study was conducted to determine the effect of agro-ecological zone, season of birth and sex on Nguni calves' pre-weaning performance. Production indices such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), pre-weaning average daily gain (P-ADG) and pre-weaning gain (P-WG) were assessed in the different agro-ecological zones. Herd records on performance of 826 Nguni calves' from nine Nguni herds representing different agro-ecological zones: arid zone (n = 217); semi-arid zone (n = 296); dry sub-humid zone (n = 118) and humid zone (n = 195) were used for the analysis of pre-weaning calf performance. General linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS (2013) was used to analyse data, whereas mean separation was conducted using Tukey's HSD test. Agro-ecological zone had a great influence (P < 0.01) on performance levels arising from pasture conditions which were dependent on rain, temperature, topography and soil type. Fluctuations in WW, P-ADG and P-WG performance across agro-ecological zones depicted the sensitivity of Nguni calves' to postnatal stress. Calves' in humid zone had higher performance with 121.21 kg for WW, 96.83 kg for P-WG and 0.477 kg/day for P-ADG. The lowest WW (114.51 kg), P-WG (89.98 kg) and P-ADG (0.438 kg/day) were observed in arid zone. Male calves were heavier at weaning (128.18 kg), P-ADG (0.503 kg/day) and total gain (103.03 kg); however, similar BW of 25 kg was observed for both male and female calves. Season had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on BW, P-ADG and P-WG. The P-ADG was 0.461 kg/day for calves born in summer and 0.449 kg/ day for calves born in winter season. Calves born in summer gained 94.69 kg and calves born in winter gained 92.10 kg. Summer calves gained 2.59 kg more than winter calves. Summer heifer calves performed poorly whilst summer male calves outperformed heifer calves in terms of WW, P-WG and P-ADG. Pre-weaned calves in humid zone outperformed all calves in other agro-ecological zones. It was concluded that acceptable levels of growth are achievable from Nguni cattle under the different agro-ecological zones of Limpopo province, South Africa.

Research paper thumbnail of Correlates of Resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasites Infection in South African Communal Indigenous Goat Populations

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

The study was conducted to investigate the correlates of resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasite... more The study was conducted to investigate the correlates of resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasites (GIPs) infection in South African communal indigenous goat. A total of 288 goats were randomly sampled for fecal and blood collection. Infection intensity was estimated through determining the fecal egg per gram using a modified McMaster technique. Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Hemoglobin (Hgb) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) were determined through Auto-Haematology-Analyser BC-2800Vet®. Goat diagnosed free from GIP egg during coprologic evaluation were classified as uninfected, those whose Fecal Egg Count (FEC) were less than 800 as Low Fecal Count (LFEC) phenotype, those with FEC between 800 and 1200 as Intermediate Fecal Egg Count (IFEC) and those that were higher than 1200 as High Fecal Egg Count (HFEC) phenotype. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA analyses, for dual coinfection, not all comparisons were possible. Pearson's moment correlation test was computed to determine the relationship between variables. The HFEC phenotyped goats were highly (p<0.05) infected by GIPs followed by intermediate and lastly by LFEC phenotype. Higher (p<0.05) Hgb (10.26 g/dL), PCV (28.51%) and MCH (6.12 pg) were observed in uninfected goats compared to IFEC and HFEC phenotypes. A significant effect of infection status on Hgb and PCV was observed, however, MCH was not influenced (p>0.05). There was a negative relationship (p<0.05) between the Hgb and overall FEC, strongyles and Trichuris spp. intensity. Negative relationship (p<0.05) between PCV and overall FEC and all the GIPs except for Moniezia spp. intensity was evident. The MCH depicted a negative relationship (p<0.05) with Eimeria and Trichuris spp. intensity. The interactions between concomitant GIPs complicates the clinical outcome of infected goats and should be taken into consideration in any study that investigates disease under field conditions. The FECs, Hgb, PCV and MCH are correlates and potential selection criteria of GIP resistant goats.

Research paper thumbnail of Gastro-Intestinal Parasites Co-Infection and their Interaction as Drivers of Host Heterogeneity in South African Communal Goat Populations

Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

The study was conducted to evaluate how the concomitant infecting gastro-intestinal parasites (GI... more The study was conducted to evaluate how the concomitant infecting gastro-intestinal parasites (GIPs) modifies the intensity of infection, distribution pattern and host susceptibility to parasite within the South African communal indigenous goat population. A total of 288 goats were randomly sampled in different agro-ecological zones of South Africa. For each goat, the intensity of the GIPs was determined using a modified McMaster technique. Four subsets of data were used: the first included goats infected with single GIP species, either strongyles, Strongyloides papillosus, or Trichuris sp., the second, third and fourth considered goats co-infected with any two possible combinations of the three GIPs. The GLM procedures were used to analyse data. The three nematodes exhibited different ageintensity profiles. For single infections, infection intensity for strongyles and Trichuris sp., were higher (p<0.05) in young goats compared to other age groups. Co-infection by S. papillosus and Trichuris sp., strongyles and Trichuris sp. increased the infection intensity with the host age, but their pattern did not change (p>0.05). Strongyles intensity pattern in co-infection with either S. papillosus or Trichuris sp. did not change, as young goats exhibited higher (p<0.05) intensity than other age groups. The infection intensity for S. papillosus and Trichuris sp. between goat of different ages were similar (p>0.05) when co-infected with strongyles. Sex-intensity profile of all GIPs in single infections did not differ (p>0.05). Co-infection by S. papillosus and Trichuris sp. did not influence (p>0.05) the sex-intensity profile of these nematodes. Goats co-infected by strongyles with either S. papillosus or Trichuris, the intensity of these GIPs was high (p<0.05) in females compared to males. Multiple GIPs infections resulted in the accumulation of GIPs in the host population and variation in parasitism between goat ages and sexes. Concomitant GIP infections modify host susceptibility and influence heterogeneity amongst individual hosts.

Research paper thumbnail of Phenotypic Diversity of South African Indigenous Goat Population in Selected Rural Areas

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2020

Agree Nephawe and Bohani Mtileni. This open access article is distributed under a Creative Common... more Agree Nephawe and Bohani Mtileni. This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 3.0 license.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of cashew nut shell liquid at varying inclusion levels on rumen fermentation and methane production in vitro

Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology

Essential oils are possible natural antibiotic alternatives for manipulating ruminal fermentation... more Essential oils are possible natural antibiotic alternatives for manipulating ruminal fermentation in order to improve the utilization of nutrient in ruminants. This study evaluated the effect of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) at varying inclusion levels on in vitro gas production, nutrient degradation, and post-incubation parameters. Experimental diets consisted of Panicum maximum (Ntchisi) grass as basal diet and supplemental pellets treated with 0, 5, 10 and 15 ml/kg of cashew nut shell liquid. Proximate composition of experimental diets was analysed. In vitro experiment was carried out on experimental diets (P. maximum and concentrate pellets at ratio 70:30) for 24 hours using goat rumen liquor as inoculum. Results showed that CNSL inclusion had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the ether extract and metabolizable energy of experimental pellets. Dietary treatment with 15 ml/kg of CNSL had the lowest (P < 0.05) in vitro gas production. Inclusion of CNSL significantly inhibited methane production at 5 ml/kg (18%), 10 ml/kg (34%) and 15 ml/kg (57%) CNSL inclusion levels (P < 0.05). Ammonia-N and TVFA decreased significantly with CNSL inclusion. Significant reduction (P < 0.05) in short-chain fatty acid, metabolizable energy, and organic matter degradability were recorded with increasing CNSL inclusion levels.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of male–male competition on reproductive performance and mortality of broiler breeders following intra-spiking

Influence of male–male competition on reproductive performance and mortality of broiler breeders following intra-spiking

Poultry Science

The study was conducted to determine the influence of male–male competition on reproductive perfo... more The study was conducted to determine the influence of male–male competition on reproductive performance and male mortality of Cobb 500 broiler breeder flocks following double intra-spiking. Broiler breeders were housed in 3 open-sided houses each accommodating 8,200 females and 820 males. Males of the same age on the same farm were exchanged between the houses (intra-spiking) to stimulate competition thereby changing the social hierarchy of each house. Intra-spiking was performed by replacing 25, 35, and 45% of males between the houses at 40 and 48 weeks of age (WOA), respectively. Eggs were collected from 36 to 55 WOA, when egg fertility and male mortality were recorded. Data was analyzed using repeated measures techniques of SAS 9.4, modeling the covariance structure of the observed data. Male–male competition (intra-spiking), age and their interaction significantly (P < 0.05) influenced egg fertility, hatchability, and male mortality. Average fertility and hatchability were in...

Research paper thumbnail of Estimates of effective population size and inbreeding in South African indigenous chicken populations: implications for the conservation of unique genetic resources

Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2016

Conservation of locally adapted indigenous livestock breeds has become an important objective in ... more Conservation of locally adapted indigenous livestock breeds has become an important objective in sustainable animal breeding, as these breeds represent a unique genetic resource. Therefore, the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa initiated a conservation programme for four South African indigenous chicken breeds. The evaluation and monitoring of the genetic constitution of these conservation flocks is important for proper management of the conservation programme. Using molecular genetic analyses, the effective population sizes and relatedness of these conservation flocks were compared to village (field) chicken populations from which they were derived. Genetic diversity within and between these populations are further discussed within the context of population size. The conservation flocks for the respective breeds had relatively small effective population sizes (point estimate range 38.6-78.6) in comparison to the field populations (point estimate range 118.9-580.0). Furthermore, evidence supports a transient heterozygous excess, generally associated with the occurrence of a recent population bottleneck. Genetic diversity, as measured by the number of alleles, heterozygosity and information index, was also significantly reduced in the conservation flocks. The average relatedness amongst the conservation flocks was high, whilst it remained low for the field populations. There was also significant evidence for population differentiation between field and conservation populations. F st estimates for conservation flocks were moderate to high with a maximum reached between VD_C and VD_F (0.285). However, F st estimates for field population were excessively low between the NN_C and EC_F (0.007) and between EC_F and OV_F (0.009). The significant population differentiation of the conservation flocks from their geographically correlated field populations of origin is further supported by the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), with 10.51 % of genetic diversity ascribed to population differences within groups (F SC = 0.106). The results suggest that significant genetic erosion has occurred within the conservation flocks due to inbreeding, pronounced effects of random drift and selection. It might be necessary to introduce new breeding individuals from the respective field populations in order to increase the effective population sizes of the conservation flocks and counter the effects of genetic erosion.

Research paper thumbnail of Pedigree-Based Genetic Diversity in the South African Boerboel Dog Breed

Animals, Mar 21, 2024

Several pedigree-based analyses of dog breed populations have revealed increased levels of inbree... more Several pedigree-based analyses of dog breed populations have revealed increased levels of inbreeding worldwide. These inbreeding levels threaten dogs' fitness and adaptability, population development, and survival, as well as breeds' economic importance and breeding goals. Therefore, determining the population structure of the Boerboel dog breed is critical for monitoring and controlling the loss of genetic diversity through optimal breeding programs in order to preserve its unique genes. This study's findings revealed that the Boerboel dog breed has less genetic diversity, implying increased homogeneity, and there is unequal founder contribution to the current population's genetic variation. Future breeding strategies would need to avoid the mating of closely related animals and the use of popular males.

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular Detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in selected chicken breeds in South Africa

Research Square (Research Square), Feb 20, 2024

BackgroundThe impact of chickens onmaintaining the economy and livelihood of rural communities ca... more BackgroundThe impact of chickens onmaintaining the economy and livelihood of rural communities cannot be overemphasized. In recent years, one of the diseases affecting its success has been Mycoplasma spp. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are signi cant respiratory pathogens that affect chickens. The presentstudy aimed to molecularly detect and characterize the presence of MG and MS intracheal swabsand fecalsamples fromSouth African chicken breeds. Methods: Forty-ve tracheal swabs from the Lohmann Brown (n=9), Rhode Island (n=9), Ovambo (n=9), Venda (n=9), and Potchefstroom Koekoek (n=9) breeds were collected.To detect MG and MS, DNA was extracted from tracheal swabsand faecal samples,and qPCR was performed with a 16S rRNA (185 bp) and vlhA (392 bp) gene fragment. Following the sequencing of all the amplicons, MG, and MS dendrograms showing the evolutionary relationships among the ve South African chicken breeds and the reference population from the GenBankwere constructed. Results: The qPCR revealed the presence of MG and MS in 22% (2/9) of the tested tracheal swab samples for MS only in Rhode Island breeds;66.6% (6/9) and 33% (3/9) of the tested samples in Ovambo breeds;and 11.1% (1/9) and 44.4% (4/9) of the tested samples in Venda breeds. No MG orMS were detected in the Lohmann Brown orPotchefstroom Koekoek breed. Furthermore, qPCR revealed the presence of MG in pooled faecal samples from Lohmann Brown and Ovambo breeds. Eight different bacterial isolates were recognized from both samples. Four isolates were of the Mycoplasma gallisepticum 16sribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene (

Research paper thumbnail of A systematic review on the prospects of X- and Y-sexed semen in ruminant livestock: implications for conservation, a South African perspective

Frontiers in veterinary science, Apr 9, 2024

Red, and Veld Master) animals. These breeds require less veterinary service, feed, management e o... more Red, and Veld Master) animals. These breeds require less veterinary service, feed, management e orts, provide income to rural and or poor owners. However, most of them are under extinction risks and some with unknown status hence, require immediate conservation intervention. To allow faster genetic progress on the endangered animals, it is important to generate productive animals while reducing wastages and this can be achieved through sex-sorted semen. Therefore, this systematic review is aimed to evaluate the prospects of X and Y-sexed semen in ruminant livestock and some solutions that can be used to address poor sex-sorted semen and its fertility. This review was incorporated through gathering and assessing relevant articles and through the data from the DAD-IS database. The keywords that were used to search articles online were pre-gender selection, indigenous ecotypes, fertility, flow cytometry, artificial insemination, conservation, and improving sexed semen. Following a careful review of all articles, PRISMA guidelines were used to find the articles that are suitable to address the aim of this review. Sex-sorted semen is a recently introduced technology gaining more attention from researchers particularly, in the conservation programs. Preselection of semen based on the sex chromosomes (X-and or Y-bearing chromosomes) is of paramount importance to obtain desired sex of the o spring and avoid animal wastage as much as possible. However, diverse factors can a ect quality of semen of di erent animal species especially after sex-sorting. Flow cytometry is a common method used to select male and female sperm cells and discard dead and abnormal sperm cells during the process. Thus, sperm sexing is a Frontiers in Veterinary Science frontiersin.org Ngcobo et al.. /fvets.. good advanced reproductive technology (ART) however, it is associated with the production of oxidative stress (OS) and DNA fragmentation (SDF). These findings, therefore, necessitates more innovation studies to come up with a sexing technology that will protect sperm cell injuries during sorting in frozen-thawed.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Dog Breeds Using Pedigree and Molecular Analysis: A Review

Diversity, Dec 1, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of An Assessment of Economic Sustainability and Efficiency in Small-Scale Broiler Farms in Limpopo Province: A review

Sustainability

An important factor in determining the success of a small-scale broiler farm is its economic viab... more An important factor in determining the success of a small-scale broiler farm is its economic viability and efficiency. During times of trouble for the industry, the idea receives more attention. The conceptual considerations of economic sustainability and efficiency are frequently quite constrained, according to the difficulties raised in this study and by other authors. There is a lack of information about South Africa's small-scale broiler production's economic viability and effectiveness. Furthermore, it is clear that small-scale broiler producers have the ability to increase their economic efficiency. By reducing the mortality rate, feed conversion rate, and production duration, both their technical and financial efficiency could be improved. Profitability in the production of broilers will be considerably increased by lowering the cost of these variable inputs, particularly feed and day-old chicks. Additionally, raising the education level, capacity utilization ratio, a...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Conservation in South African Indigenous Goat Ecotypes: A Review

Animals, Nov 29, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and resistance to gastrointestinal parasites in goats: A review

Veterinary World

Gastrointestinal parasitism, particularly nematode infection, is a major health issue affecting g... more Gastrointestinal parasitism, particularly nematode infection, is a major health issue affecting goats worldwide, resulting in clinical diseases and productivity loss. Prevalent gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) affecting goats in South Africa are the Strongyloides papillosus, Eimeria spp., and Strongyles, especially the Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp. According to the issues discussed in this paper and by other authors, the prevalence and intensity of various GIPs vary with an animal's location, breed, age, sex, and season. Because GIPs easily develop resistance to chemical treatment, selecting and breeding genetically GIP-resistant animals would be a relatively simple and inexpensive strategy for reducing or eliminating the current reliance on chemotherapy. Potential phenotypic indicators for selecting GIP-resistant goats include parasitological, immunological, and pathological phenotypic markers. Synergistic use of these indicators should be encouraged for a mor...

Research paper thumbnail of Cow Efficiency, Relative-Birth Weight and Subsequent Pre-Weaning Growth Performance of Nguni Cattle

Cow Efficiency, Relative-Birth Weight and Subsequent Pre-Weaning Growth Performance of Nguni Cattle

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of genetic diversity between South African conserved and field chicken populations using microsatellite markers

South African Journal of Animal Science, 2010

The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chi... more The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chicken populations and the effectiveness of the current conservation flocks in capturing the available diversity in the founder populations. Two chicken populations, Venda (VD_C) and Ovambo (OV_C) conservation flocks (n = 56) from the Animal Production Institute in Irene and two founder population from which these conservation flocks were sampled; Venda (VD_F) and Ovambo (OV_F) field populations (n = 72) were genotyped for 29 autosomal microsatellite markers. All microsatellites typed were found to be polymorphic. A total of 213 alleles were observed for all four populations. The mean number of alleles per population ranged from 3.52 ± 1.09 (VD_C) to 6.62 ± 3.38 (OV_F). Mean observed (H O) and expected (H E) heterozygosity in the conservation flocks were 0.55 and 0.57 respectively. The corresponding values for the founder population were 0.62 and 0.68. The observed within population diversity measures indicated that field populations are more diverse than conservation flocks. The Reynolds genetic distance (D Reynolds) between conservation flocks and field population observed was 0.22 between VD_C and VD_F and 0.09 between OV_C and OV_F. STRUCTURE was used to cluster individuals to 2 ≤ K ≤ 5. The most probable clustering was found in K = 3, in which the populations were grouped into three clusters. VD_C and OV_C conservation flocks separated as independent clusters, while VD_F and OV_F field populations formed one cluster for any K value. Clustering analysis indicated a clear subdivision of the conservation flocks and field population into genetically distinct populations. The present study suggests that conservation flocks are less diverse compared to field populations.

Research paper thumbnail of Runs of Homozygosity and Quantitative Trait Locus/Association for Semen Parameters in Selected Chinese and South African Beef Cattle

Animals

In this study, runs of homozygosity (ROH) and quantitative trait locus/association (QTL) for seme... more In this study, runs of homozygosity (ROH) and quantitative trait locus/association (QTL) for semen parameters in selected Chinese and South African beef cattle breed were estimated. The computed results showed 7516 ROH were observed between classes 0–5 Mb with no ROH observed in classes >40 Mb. Distribution of ROH showed high level of genomic coverage for ANG, NGU, CSI, and BEL breeds. Approximately 13 genomic regions with QTL were controlling sperm motility, sperm concentration, semen volume, sperm count, sperm head abnormalities, sperm tail abnormalities, sperm integrity, and percentage of abnormal sperm traits. Nine candidate genes, CDF9, MARCH1, WDR19, SLOICI, ST7, DOP1B, CFAF9, INHBA, and ADAMTS1, were suggested to be associated with above mentioned QTL traits. The results for inbreeding coefficient showed moderate correlation between FROH vs FHOM at 0.603 and high correlation between FROH 0–5 Mb 0.929, and lowest correlation for 0–>40 Mb 0.400. This study suggested recen...

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of genetic diversity between South African conserved and field chicken populations using microsatellite markers

South African Journal of Animal Science, 2010

The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chi... more The objective of the study was to determine genetic diversity within South African indigenous chicken populations and the effectiveness of the current conservation flocks in capturing the available diversity in the founder populations. Two chicken populations, Venda (VD_C) and Ovambo (OV_C) conservation flocks (n = 56) from the Animal Production Institute in Irene and two founder population from which these conservation flocks were sampled; Venda (VD_F) and Ovambo (OV_F) field populations (n = 72) were genotyped for 29 autosomal microsatellite markers. All microsatellites typed were found to be polymorphic. A total of 213 alleles were observed for all four populations. The mean number of alleles per population ranged from 3.52 ± 1.09 (VD_C) to 6.62 ± 3.38 (OV_F). Mean observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosity in the conservation flocks were 0.55 and 0.57 respectively. The corresponding values for the founder population were 0.62 and 0.68. The observed within population diversit...

Research paper thumbnail of Candidate Genes in Bull Semen Production Traits: An Information Approach Review

Veterinary Sciences

Semen quality plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of breeding programs, especia... more Semen quality plays a crucial role in the successful implementation of breeding programs, especially where artificial insemination (AI) is practiced. Bulls with good semen traits have good fertility and can produce a volume of high semen per ejaculation. The aim of this review is to use an information approach to highlight candidate genes and their relation to bull semen production traits. The use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has been demonstrated to be successful in identifying genomic regions and individual variations associated with production traits. Studies have reported over 40 genes associated with semen traits using Illumina BeadChip single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs).

Research paper thumbnail of Gastrointestinal parasite infection intensity and hematological parameters in South African communal indigenous goats in relation to anemia

Veterinary World, 2020

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the intensity of gastrointestinal parasite (GIP) infect... more Aim: The study was conducted to determine the intensity of gastrointestinal parasite (GIP) infections and hematological parameters in South African communal indigenous goats in relation to anemia. Materials and Methods: A total of 288 goats were randomly sampled in areas representing four agro-ecological zones. Fecal and blood samples were collected from the rectum and jugular vein, respectively, of each animal. The number of eggs per gram (EPG) and oocysts per gram (OPG) of feces and the hematological parameters were determined using the modified McMaster technique and a BC-2800Vet® automatic hematology analyzer, respectively. Data were analyzed using the repeated measures techniques of Minitab 17, modeling the covariance structure of the observed data. Results: Based on EPG and OPG, goats in humid zone were significantly infected (p<0.05) with strongyles, Eimeria, Moniezia, and Trichuris spp. Hematological parameters of goats in arid and humid zone were lower (p<0.05) than t...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of agro-ecological zone, season of birth and sex on pre-weaning performance of Nguni calves in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Tropical Animal Health and Production

The study was conducted to determine the effect of agro-ecological zone, season of birth and sex ... more The study was conducted to determine the effect of agro-ecological zone, season of birth and sex on Nguni calves' pre-weaning performance. Production indices such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), pre-weaning average daily gain (P-ADG) and pre-weaning gain (P-WG) were assessed in the different agro-ecological zones. Herd records on performance of 826 Nguni calves' from nine Nguni herds representing different agro-ecological zones: arid zone (n = 217); semi-arid zone (n = 296); dry sub-humid zone (n = 118) and humid zone (n = 195) were used for the analysis of pre-weaning calf performance. General linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS (2013) was used to analyse data, whereas mean separation was conducted using Tukey's HSD test. Agro-ecological zone had a great influence (P < 0.01) on performance levels arising from pasture conditions which were dependent on rain, temperature, topography and soil type. Fluctuations in WW, P-ADG and P-WG performance across agro-ecological zones depicted the sensitivity of Nguni calves' to postnatal stress. Calves' in humid zone had higher performance with 121.21 kg for WW, 96.83 kg for P-WG and 0.477 kg/day for P-ADG. The lowest WW (114.51 kg), P-WG (89.98 kg) and P-ADG (0.438 kg/day) were observed in arid zone. Male calves were heavier at weaning (128.18 kg), P-ADG (0.503 kg/day) and total gain (103.03 kg); however, similar BW of 25 kg was observed for both male and female calves. Season had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on BW, P-ADG and P-WG. The P-ADG was 0.461 kg/day for calves born in summer and 0.449 kg/ day for calves born in winter season. Calves born in summer gained 94.69 kg and calves born in winter gained 92.10 kg. Summer calves gained 2.59 kg more than winter calves. Summer heifer calves performed poorly whilst summer male calves outperformed heifer calves in terms of WW, P-WG and P-ADG. Pre-weaned calves in humid zone outperformed all calves in other agro-ecological zones. It was concluded that acceptable levels of growth are achievable from Nguni cattle under the different agro-ecological zones of Limpopo province, South Africa.

Research paper thumbnail of Correlates of Resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasites Infection in South African Communal Indigenous Goat Populations

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

The study was conducted to investigate the correlates of resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasite... more The study was conducted to investigate the correlates of resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasites (GIPs) infection in South African communal indigenous goat. A total of 288 goats were randomly sampled for fecal and blood collection. Infection intensity was estimated through determining the fecal egg per gram using a modified McMaster technique. Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Hemoglobin (Hgb) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) were determined through Auto-Haematology-Analyser BC-2800Vet®. Goat diagnosed free from GIP egg during coprologic evaluation were classified as uninfected, those whose Fecal Egg Count (FEC) were less than 800 as Low Fecal Count (LFEC) phenotype, those with FEC between 800 and 1200 as Intermediate Fecal Egg Count (IFEC) and those that were higher than 1200 as High Fecal Egg Count (HFEC) phenotype. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA analyses, for dual coinfection, not all comparisons were possible. Pearson's moment correlation test was computed to determine the relationship between variables. The HFEC phenotyped goats were highly (p<0.05) infected by GIPs followed by intermediate and lastly by LFEC phenotype. Higher (p<0.05) Hgb (10.26 g/dL), PCV (28.51%) and MCH (6.12 pg) were observed in uninfected goats compared to IFEC and HFEC phenotypes. A significant effect of infection status on Hgb and PCV was observed, however, MCH was not influenced (p>0.05). There was a negative relationship (p<0.05) between the Hgb and overall FEC, strongyles and Trichuris spp. intensity. Negative relationship (p<0.05) between PCV and overall FEC and all the GIPs except for Moniezia spp. intensity was evident. The MCH depicted a negative relationship (p<0.05) with Eimeria and Trichuris spp. intensity. The interactions between concomitant GIPs complicates the clinical outcome of infected goats and should be taken into consideration in any study that investigates disease under field conditions. The FECs, Hgb, PCV and MCH are correlates and potential selection criteria of GIP resistant goats.

Research paper thumbnail of Gastro-Intestinal Parasites Co-Infection and their Interaction as Drivers of Host Heterogeneity in South African Communal Goat Populations

Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences

The study was conducted to evaluate how the concomitant infecting gastro-intestinal parasites (GI... more The study was conducted to evaluate how the concomitant infecting gastro-intestinal parasites (GIPs) modifies the intensity of infection, distribution pattern and host susceptibility to parasite within the South African communal indigenous goat population. A total of 288 goats were randomly sampled in different agro-ecological zones of South Africa. For each goat, the intensity of the GIPs was determined using a modified McMaster technique. Four subsets of data were used: the first included goats infected with single GIP species, either strongyles, Strongyloides papillosus, or Trichuris sp., the second, third and fourth considered goats co-infected with any two possible combinations of the three GIPs. The GLM procedures were used to analyse data. The three nematodes exhibited different ageintensity profiles. For single infections, infection intensity for strongyles and Trichuris sp., were higher (p<0.05) in young goats compared to other age groups. Co-infection by S. papillosus and Trichuris sp., strongyles and Trichuris sp. increased the infection intensity with the host age, but their pattern did not change (p>0.05). Strongyles intensity pattern in co-infection with either S. papillosus or Trichuris sp. did not change, as young goats exhibited higher (p<0.05) intensity than other age groups. The infection intensity for S. papillosus and Trichuris sp. between goat of different ages were similar (p>0.05) when co-infected with strongyles. Sex-intensity profile of all GIPs in single infections did not differ (p>0.05). Co-infection by S. papillosus and Trichuris sp. did not influence (p>0.05) the sex-intensity profile of these nematodes. Goats co-infected by strongyles with either S. papillosus or Trichuris, the intensity of these GIPs was high (p<0.05) in females compared to males. Multiple GIPs infections resulted in the accumulation of GIPs in the host population and variation in parasitism between goat ages and sexes. Concomitant GIP infections modify host susceptibility and influence heterogeneity amongst individual hosts.

Research paper thumbnail of Phenotypic Diversity of South African Indigenous Goat Population in Selected Rural Areas

American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2020

Agree Nephawe and Bohani Mtileni. This open access article is distributed under a Creative Common... more Agree Nephawe and Bohani Mtileni. This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 3.0 license.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of cashew nut shell liquid at varying inclusion levels on rumen fermentation and methane production in vitro

Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology

Essential oils are possible natural antibiotic alternatives for manipulating ruminal fermentation... more Essential oils are possible natural antibiotic alternatives for manipulating ruminal fermentation in order to improve the utilization of nutrient in ruminants. This study evaluated the effect of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) at varying inclusion levels on in vitro gas production, nutrient degradation, and post-incubation parameters. Experimental diets consisted of Panicum maximum (Ntchisi) grass as basal diet and supplemental pellets treated with 0, 5, 10 and 15 ml/kg of cashew nut shell liquid. Proximate composition of experimental diets was analysed. In vitro experiment was carried out on experimental diets (P. maximum and concentrate pellets at ratio 70:30) for 24 hours using goat rumen liquor as inoculum. Results showed that CNSL inclusion had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the ether extract and metabolizable energy of experimental pellets. Dietary treatment with 15 ml/kg of CNSL had the lowest (P < 0.05) in vitro gas production. Inclusion of CNSL significantly inhibited methane production at 5 ml/kg (18%), 10 ml/kg (34%) and 15 ml/kg (57%) CNSL inclusion levels (P < 0.05). Ammonia-N and TVFA decreased significantly with CNSL inclusion. Significant reduction (P < 0.05) in short-chain fatty acid, metabolizable energy, and organic matter degradability were recorded with increasing CNSL inclusion levels.

Research paper thumbnail of Influence of male–male competition on reproductive performance and mortality of broiler breeders following intra-spiking

Influence of male–male competition on reproductive performance and mortality of broiler breeders following intra-spiking

Poultry Science

The study was conducted to determine the influence of male–male competition on reproductive perfo... more The study was conducted to determine the influence of male–male competition on reproductive performance and male mortality of Cobb 500 broiler breeder flocks following double intra-spiking. Broiler breeders were housed in 3 open-sided houses each accommodating 8,200 females and 820 males. Males of the same age on the same farm were exchanged between the houses (intra-spiking) to stimulate competition thereby changing the social hierarchy of each house. Intra-spiking was performed by replacing 25, 35, and 45% of males between the houses at 40 and 48 weeks of age (WOA), respectively. Eggs were collected from 36 to 55 WOA, when egg fertility and male mortality were recorded. Data was analyzed using repeated measures techniques of SAS 9.4, modeling the covariance structure of the observed data. Male–male competition (intra-spiking), age and their interaction significantly (P < 0.05) influenced egg fertility, hatchability, and male mortality. Average fertility and hatchability were in...

Research paper thumbnail of Estimates of effective population size and inbreeding in South African indigenous chicken populations: implications for the conservation of unique genetic resources

Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2016

Conservation of locally adapted indigenous livestock breeds has become an important objective in ... more Conservation of locally adapted indigenous livestock breeds has become an important objective in sustainable animal breeding, as these breeds represent a unique genetic resource. Therefore, the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa initiated a conservation programme for four South African indigenous chicken breeds. The evaluation and monitoring of the genetic constitution of these conservation flocks is important for proper management of the conservation programme. Using molecular genetic analyses, the effective population sizes and relatedness of these conservation flocks were compared to village (field) chicken populations from which they were derived. Genetic diversity within and between these populations are further discussed within the context of population size. The conservation flocks for the respective breeds had relatively small effective population sizes (point estimate range 38.6-78.6) in comparison to the field populations (point estimate range 118.9-580.0). Furthermore, evidence supports a transient heterozygous excess, generally associated with the occurrence of a recent population bottleneck. Genetic diversity, as measured by the number of alleles, heterozygosity and information index, was also significantly reduced in the conservation flocks. The average relatedness amongst the conservation flocks was high, whilst it remained low for the field populations. There was also significant evidence for population differentiation between field and conservation populations. F st estimates for conservation flocks were moderate to high with a maximum reached between VD_C and VD_F (0.285). However, F st estimates for field population were excessively low between the NN_C and EC_F (0.007) and between EC_F and OV_F (0.009). The significant population differentiation of the conservation flocks from their geographically correlated field populations of origin is further supported by the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), with 10.51 % of genetic diversity ascribed to population differences within groups (F SC = 0.106). The results suggest that significant genetic erosion has occurred within the conservation flocks due to inbreeding, pronounced effects of random drift and selection. It might be necessary to introduce new breeding individuals from the respective field populations in order to increase the effective population sizes of the conservation flocks and counter the effects of genetic erosion.