Program

Day 1 - 03 July 2024

 

Time

Plenary

07:45

Registration

08:45

Welcome/Housekeeping - Chairman SASAS EC/Convenor

09:00

Opening Address - Prof van Ryssen SASAS Hon Pres (Plenary Chairperson: Mr S Goni)

09:30

South Africa’s agriculture in times of weak global growth, geopolitical tensions, and domestic growth-constraining environment - Wandile Sihlobo

10:30

11:00

Strengthening decision support of livestock production systems using remote sensing technologies - Dr Theunis Morgenthal

11:45

Strategies for Sustainable Animal Food Production: Examining Adaptation and Reproduction Dynamics - Prof Eddie Webb

12:30

13:30

Nutritional and management strategies to mitigate the impacts of heat stress in cattle - Prof Lourens Erasmus

 

14:15

Evaluation of the genetic composition and inbreeding of Nguni cattle within the Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) scheme in certain regions of KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo province: preliminary genetic mapping - Joseph Muthivhi

Impact of dietary tomato pomace on growth performance, visceral morphometry, and meat quality characteristics in Jumbo quail - Jenifer Sebayana

Inclusion of flaxseed oil and ascorbic acid on South African indigenous sheep (rams) diet improves cryopreserved sperm quality and fertility - Jabulani Nkululeko Ngcobo

14:30

The genetic components of growth patterns in ostriches evaluated by random regression models - Cornelius Nel

Effects of mopane (colophospermum mopane) leaf meal supplementation on rabbit growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality -Chikwanda Denice Chikwanda

Environmental and management factors influencing corpus luteum quality and subsequent conception rate in beef and dairy cows in South Africa - Kaylee Demont

14:45

The mitogenome assembly and annotation of the South African Kolbroek pig breed - Sinebongo Mdyogolo

Maize replacement with raw or heat-treated cassava tuber meal in Jumbo quail diets: Performance, egg quality, physiological and welfare indicators - Athenkosi Gazi

Sperm motility and velocity traits predict egg fertility in naturally mated ostriches - Nelleke Lotz

15:00

 

15:30

A national survey on the incidence of ovine footrot in South African sheep flocks - Helet Lambrechts

The effect of threonine inclusion level in a diet on growth performance and gut organ measurements of indigenous Boschveld chickens - Modipadi Kawa

Identification of tannin-resistant bacteria from game and domestic ruminants grazing on tannin-abundant pastures - Fabian Nde Fon

15:45

Influence of Organic Loading Rate, Temperature (Mesophilic or Thermophilic), and Stirring Speed on Biogas Production - Ephodia Sihlangu

Olive pomace spent mushroom substrate in Jumbo quail diets: Performance and physiological traits - Kabelo Patrick Mathabela

Seasonal Monitoring of Forage Carbon:Nitrogen:Acid Detergent Fiber Ratio in Natural Rangeland Using Remote Sensing Data - Monde Rapiya

16:00

The effects of cage tier on production performance and egg quality of four breeds of egg-type chickens - Hakeem Awojobi

The utility of corticated marama bean (Tylosema esculentum) meal as a nutrient source for Jumbo quail. - Mveleli Marareni

Water-use efficiency indicators for pre-slaughter carcass characteristics of South African beef cattle under an intensive production system - Ayanda Ngxumeshe

16:15

The effect of climate change on the distribution of heartwater in South Africa - Michiel Scholtz

Dietary red grape pomace and Aloe vera gel as nutraceuticals to ameliorate stocking density-induced stress in broiler chickens - Chidozie Freedom Egbu

Effects of dietary beta carotene supplementation on feedlot finishing performance and beef quality characteristics of Bonsmara composite-type bulls - Bukhosi Mpala

17:00

Cocktail/Student Quiz - Quizmater: Mr Paul Bevan (Foyer/Auditorium)

 

 

 

 

Day 2 - 04 July 2024

 

Time

Topic

 

 

08:00

Registration

 

 

08:15

Advancing Animal Sciences through Professionalisation & Professional Development - Mr Phutiane Letsoalo (Acting Registrations Manager)

08:30

Integrating large-scale phenotyping and quantitative genomics to improve livestock welfare and resilience - Prof Luiz Brito (Plenary Chairperson: Prof E Van Marle-Köster)

09:15

Livestock disease trends within South Africa from a veterinarian’s perspective - Dr Brett Catherine

 

Breeding (Chairperson: Prof S Cloete)

Industry/production (Chairperson: Dr I Jaja)

Physiology (Chairperson: Dr T Stempa)

09:45

Evaluation of conformation and performance of progeny from Dohne Merino sires with AA and A final classification symbols - Willem Olivier

On-farm evaluation of pre-weaning growth performance and cow efficiency of smallholder beef cattle in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District - Nkosinathi Bareki

The influence of periparturient nutrition of ewes on colostrum production and milk composition - Helet Lambrechts

10:00

Heterosis and effect of stillbirth incidences on sow productivity among Landrace and Large White crosses - Puleng Kgabo Mashamaite

Which month matters most? Exploring the relationship between monthly weather conditions and sheep production performance - Pieter Gert Theron

Preliminary results on temperament as a measure of acclimatization of sheep housed at different stocking densities - Elzette van Schalkwyk

10:15

Genetic parameters for mass and flue quality of white plumes from juvenile ostriches - Anel Engelbrecht

The effect of changes in the component traits of efficiency in beef cows on the farm-gate carbon footprint - Nelly Chabalala (Breeding)

Exploring Breed Variability in Gut Microbiota Composition: A Comparative Study of Rural and Commercial Horses in Southern Africa - Bongekile Tabu

10:30

 

 

 

11:00

Nguni sheep (Zulu ecotype) de-novo genome assembly and annotation using Oxford nanopore long reads and Illumina short reads. - Nkosinathi Nxumalo

Glycolytic metabolites and shelf-life properties of chevon from non-descript goats slaughtered using indigenous methods - Cedrick Mashebane Seloane

Chemical constituents and in-vitro dry matter digestibility of fodder radish mixed with different proportions of African lovegrass - Lwando Mbambalala

11:15

Molecular detection of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in selected chicken breeds in South Africa - Peter Ayodeji Idowu

Changes in lamb behaviour during and shortly after tail docking - Schalk Cloete

Yield and nutritive value of forage species as affected by different levels of rainfall interception in the semi-arid grassland - Thabo Patrick Magandana

11:30

Runs of Homozygosity in Wet Carcass Syndrome-affected South African Sheep - Pranisha Soma

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered dairy cattle at three commercial abattoirs in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa - Ishmael Jaja

The effect of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product on production parameters, rumen environment, and fibre degradation of Jersey cows grazing ryegrass-dominant pasture. - Robin Meeske

11:45

Utilisation of Genome-Wide SNP Data Revealed Genetic Diversity in South African Indigenous Goat Population. - Tlou Caswell Chokoe

Anthelmintic efficacy of A. anthelmintica and C. rotundifolia extracts against gastrointestinal nematodes of goats - Sithembile Ndlela

Holistic Insights into Nutrition, Behavior, Rumen Fermentation, and Performance in Nguni and Bonsmara Cattle across Traditional and Commercial Grazing - Mhlangabezi Slayi

12:00

Using genomics approach to unravel candidate genes associated with heartwater disease resistance in South African indigenous goats - Xolile Nuse

Growth and adaptive performance of indigenous and exotic beef cattle bulls raised extensively under different Namibian conditions - Charity Makaleng

Quantifying the Impact of Different Rumen Modulating Strategies on Enteric Methane Emission and Productivity in Ruminant Livestock: A Meta-Analysis - Bulelani Nangamso Pepeta

12:15

Behavioural aspects of aggression in the American Pit Bull Terrier dog breed in South Africa - Linky Makgahlela

Winter slaughter auction rush in two villages of Jozini Local Municipality, Kwa-Zulu Natal - Morake Daniel Motiang

Increasing pasture intake by allocating additional plantain pasture to cows before morning milking - Muller Cronje

12:30

 

 

13:30

Scientific and technical inputs required to run a successful dairy operation - Nigel Lok

14:15

The dynamics of communal wool farming in the Eastern Cape Province - Khanyiso Mzayifani \ Bernard Makhabane

14:40

The experiences of a developing dairy farmer in a challenging production environment - Tsilidzi Matshidzula

15:00

 

 

 

15:30

Morphometric Characterization and Structural Indices of Nguni Goats in Four Agro-Ecological Zones of Limpopo province, South Africa - Madumetja Cyril Mathapo

Effect of oyster mushroom spent substrate on growth performance, carcass traits, bone and meat quality in broiler chickens. - Mercy Ogwuegbu (Nutrition: monogastric)

The impact of environmental robustness on indigenous ram-lambs’ physiological age and secondary sex characteristics - Rimbilana Shingange

15:45

Population structure, genetic variability and inbreeding depression in birth weight and twinning rate of kalahari red goats - Katlego Precious Nkgapele

Effects of enzymes inclusion in diets on internal organs, bone development and welfare in broiler chickens fed Kalahari melon oil cake (Citrullus lanatus) -Ramokone Millicent Mokonyama

Effects of time of day, age, and access to shade provision on body temperature of ostrich chicks - Molatelo Kekana

16:00

Are there genetic trade-offs between product output and quality in ostriches? - Schalk Cloete

Effect of seaweed-derived polysaccharides and extracts on broiler immunity development and growth performance_ A review - Johan Paul Verwey

Tree shade alleviates heat stress in adult Dormer and SA Mutton Merino ewes and their neonatal lambs - Kudakwashe Mafunga

16:15

The effect of THI on conception in the Tygerhoek Merino resource flock - Samuel Meijboom

Performance, gut mucosa traits and meat quality of broilers fed enzyme-treated sorghum-based diets - Rutendo Paidamoyo Magaya

Anthropometric Measurements and their Relationship to Performance in Show Jumping of the Warmblood Horse - Ashlyn Southern

16:30

AGM

 

 

19:00

 

 

 

 

Day 3 - 05 July 2024

 

Time

Topic

 

 

08:00

Registration

 

 

08:15

Scientific evaluations of animal welfare: Implications for welfare assessment and trade in the EU and UK - Prof Cathy Dwyer (Plenary Chairperson: Prof L Makgahlela)

09:00

Student debate - Animal Welfare … Sponsor: Plaas Media (Chairperson: Ms A du Preez)

09:30

Panel discussion - The role of animal science to understand, advocate and uphold animal welfare - Moderator: Prof G Bath

10:30

 

 

 

11:00

Polymorphism of Prolactin (PRL) and Kappa Casein (CSN3) Genes and their Association with Milk Yield in Saanen Dairy Goats at Neudamm Farm and Cheetah Conservation Fund - Theopoline Itenge

Projected impacts of climate change-induced heat stress on milk production in semi-arid environments: A case study of Botswana - Jonas Kwedibana

Effect of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) in diets on growth performance, blood indices, and methane emissions of yearling male Pedi goats: Diego Matabane

11:15

Signatures of selection reveal copy-number variations responsible for the coat colours and patterns in indigenous South African goats. - Sithembisile Gcabashe

Developing a Dairy index for the Environment, Economics, and Nutrition (DiEET), A South African example - Enrike Maree

Free-choice voluntary dry matter intake of cattle fed diets containing Phragmites australis hay, Typha capensis hay or oat hay - Stephen Slippers

11:30

Parameter estimates for egg production and egg weight of individually penned female ostriches maintained for artificial insemination purposes - Pfunzo Muvhali

Analysis of feeding behaviours of the F2 Nguni X Angus cattle finished using the GrowSafe system - Bekezela Dube

Supplementation of a basal goat diet with incremental levels of canola essential oil: Effect on chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation - Adeola Patience Idowu

11:45

Identifying genes associated with adaptive mechanisms for cattle surviving in harsh smallholding systems of South Africa - Mamidi Ramoroka

Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the prevalence of sheep scab among communal sheep farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa - Bukeka Mtenjwa

Feeding behaviour of young growing beef bulls differing in breed composition - Georgette Pyoos

12:00

The effect of estimated breeding value on lifetime milk yield and milk yield efficiency of Jersey cows - Carel Muller

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of dairy workers about toxoplasmosis in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa - Makaziwe Edith Chabula

Mitigation of enteric methane emissions from beef cattle through dietary inclusion of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal - Sanele Jiyana

12:15

Closure - Dr Trevor Dugmore President SASAS

12:30