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Two major problems challenge the world of food today: the constantly growing demand for meat products and dealing with the volumes of waste produced by the industry. The volume of slaughterhouse derivatives produced when generating meat products threatens the health of humans and the environment. The need to feed a growing population sustainably and to find more sustainable and circular alternative treatment technologies for handling and disposing of slaughtering derivatives undoubtedly creates opportunities for several role players. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was undertaken to identify such processes, considering the different slaughterhouse derivatives generated by red meat and poultry slaughterhouse facilities. The literature search and refinement process identified 130 scientific documents for analysis. The results highlight an increase in the scientific literature on the sustainable recovery of slaughterhouse derivatives, and a diverse range of available treatment technologies to dispose of such derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Point‐of‐care International Normalised Ratio (INR) testing is used frequently. We evaluated the microINR® POC system for accuracy, precision and measurement repeatability, and investigated instrument and test chip variability and error rates. Methods: Venous blood INRs of 210 patients on warfarin were obtained with Thromborel® S on the Sysmex CS‐2100i® analyser and compared with capillary blood microINR® values. Precision was assessed using control materials. Measurement repeatability was calculated on 51 duplicate finger‐prick INRs. Triplicate finger‐prick INRs using three different instruments (30 patients) and three different test chip lots (29 patients) were used to evaluate instrument and test chip variability. Results: Linear regression analysis of microINR® and Sysmex CS2100i® values showed a correlation coefficient of 0.96 (P < .0001) and a positive proportional bias of 4.4%. Dosage concordance was 93.8% and clinical agreement 95.7%. All acceptance criteria based on ISO standard 17593:2007 system accuracy requirements were met. Control material coefficients of variation (CV) varied from 6.2% to 16.7%. The capillary blood measurement repeatability CV was 7.5%. No significant instrument (P = .93) or test chip (P = .81) variability was found, and the error rate was low (2.8%). Conclusion: The microINR® instrument is accurate and precise for monitoring warfarin therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of lucerne hay quality on the milk production potential and milk composition of Jersey cows was investigated. Three different grades of lucerne hay (Prime, Grade 1, Grade 2; selected according to the New Lucerne Quality Index) were included in a total mixed ration (TMR) and fed to lactating cows. The three dietary treatments consisted of the same basal diet (53% lucerne hay, 7% wheat straw and 40% concentrate), differing only with respect to the lucerne hay quality. Fifty-seven lactating Jersey cows (389 ± 39.07 kg) were selected and blocked according to production potential (milk production, days in lactation, as well as lactation number) and randomly allocated to each of the dietary treatments (n = 19 animals per treatment). After a dietary adaptation period of 14 days, each treatment received their respective diets for the remaining period of 54 days. Average dry matter intake (DMI) and individual milk production was measured on a daily basis and production parameters were calculated accordingly. Milk composition samples were collected every second week. Grade 2 lucerne hay significantly decreased the voluntary DMI of the cows. However, the Prime lucerne hay significantly increased the metabolizable energy intake (MEI), as well as both the protein and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) content of the Jersey milk, compared to the Grade 1 and Grade 2 treatments. In contrast, the efficiency with which ME is utilized for milk production was significantly decreased following Prime lucerne hay inclusion. Milk yield as such was not affected by dietary treatment. Results of the present study seem to indicate that lucerne hay quality does affect the production performance, milk composition and efficiency of energy utilized for milk production purposes of Jersey cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of lucerne hay quality on the milk production potential and milk composition of Jersey cows was investigated. Three different grades of lucerne hay (Prime, Grade 1, Grade 2; selected according to the New Lucerne Quality Index) were included in a total mixed ration (TMR) and fed to lactating cows. The three dietary treatments consisted of the same basal diet (53% lucerne hay, 7% wheat straw and 40% concentrate), differing only with respect to the lucerne hay quality. Fifty-seven lactating Jersey cows (389 ± 39.07 kg) were selected and blocked according to production potential (milk production, days in lactation, as well as lactation number) and randomly allocated to each of the dietary treatments (n = 19 animals per treatment). After a dietary adaptation period of 14 days, each treatment received their respective diets for the remaining period of 54 days. Average dry matter intake (DMI) and individual milk production was measured on a daily basis and production parameters were calculated accordingly. Milk composition samples were collected every second week. Grade 2 lucerne hay significantly decreased the voluntary DMI of the cows. However, the Prime lucerne hay significantly increased the metabolizable energy intake (MEI), as well as both the protein and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) content of the Jersey milk, compared to the Grade 1 and Grade 2 treatments. In contrast, the efficiency with which ME is utilized for milk production was significantly decreased following Prime lucerne hay inclusion. Milk yield as such was not affected by dietary treatment. Results of the present study seem to indicate that lucerne hay quality does affect the production performance, milk composition and efficiency of energy utilized for milk production purposes of Jersey cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine fast food consumption patterns, socio-economic characteristics and other factors that influence the fast food intake of young adults from different socio-economic areas in Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken, using an interviewer-administered, validated questionnaire to elicit the characteristics of the study population (adults aged from 19 to 30 years), their reasons for and frequency of fast food consumption, their specific fast food choices, and their attitudes towards health. Results: The study population (n = 341) consisted primarily of young working adults (n = 242) with at least a secondary education. Almost half (42%, n = 102) of the employed participants earned less than R5 000 per month, but spent more than R200 on fast food per month. Twenty-one per cent of all participants had fast food at least once a week, while 27.6% had it two to three times a week. Socio-economic group (SEG) and gender were significantly related to fast food intake (p < 0.01), with a larger proportion of participants (65%, n = 76) in the lower socio-economic group (LSEG) showing more frequent use. Males consumed fast food more frequently than females. The most popular fast foods consumed were burgers (69.5%), pizza (56.6%) and fried chicken (38.4%). Soft drinks were the most popular beverage consumed (56%). The main reasons for choosing fast food were time limitations (58.9%), convenience (58.2%) and taste (52.5%). The majority of the participants were concerned about their health (93.3%) and indicated a fear of becoming overweight (44.3%). Seventy-eight per cent of all the participants would have chosen a healthier option if it had been available on the menu. Television was reported to be the most effective medium influencing their food choices. Conclusion: Fast food intake appears to be very common in this group of young South African adults. Various factors that influence fast food intake were identified that provide health educators and policy makers with useful information for health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obtaining of a representative sample is crucial for the application of an accurate and uniform lucerne hay grading system in South Africa. There is currently limited data available on the effect of the inside diameter of the coring probe on the chemical composition of the lucerne hay samples. A study was therefore undertaken to determine the influence of the inside diameter of a coring probe on the chemical composition of unground lucerne hay samples using the Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) technique. Ten lucerne bales (total 40), randomly chosen from four different grades (Prime, Grade 1, 2 and 3 according to the National Lucerne Trust quality and grading system), were sampled with both a large probe (35 mm inside diameter and 520 mm long) and a small probe (12 mm inside diameter and 450 mm long). The samples with each probe were taken at approximately the same location in the bale. The samples were analysed with the NIRS for crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), ash and lignin. The model to calculate the new lucerne quality index (NLQI) from the ADF, ash and lignin, according to the National Lucerne Trust quality and grading scheme was used. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship (r²) between the results of the large and small probe namely CP = 0.77, ADF = 0.95, NDF = 0.94, ash = 0.92, lignin = 0.87 and NLQI = 0.97. Sampling of lucerne hay with a large and small probe was irrelevant as resulted in similar chemical composition results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obtaining of a representative sample is crucial for the application of an accurate and uniform lucerne hay grading system in South Africa. There is currently limited data available on the effect of the inside diameter of the coring probe on the chemical composition of the lucerne hay samples. A study was therefore undertaken to determine the influence of the inside diameter of a coring probe on the chemical composition of unground lucerne hay samples using the Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) technique. Ten lucerne bales (total 40), randomly chosen from four different grades (Prime, Grade 1, 2 and 3 according to the National Lucerne Trust quality and grading system), were sampled with both a large probe (35 mm inside diameter and 520 mm long) and a small probe (12 mm inside diameter and 450 mm long). The samples with each probe were taken at approximately the same location in the bale. The samples were analysed with the NIRS for crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), ash and lignin. The model to calculate the new lucerne quality index (NLQI) from the ADF, ash and lignin, according to the National Lucerne Trust quality and grading scheme was used. Regression analysis revealed 2 a significant relationship (r ) between the results of the large and small probe namely CP = 0.77, ADF = 0.95, NDF = 0.94, ash = 0.92, lignin = 0.87 and NLQI = 0.97. Sampling of lucerne hay with a large and small probe was irrelevant as resulted in similar chemical composition results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South African canine babesiosis is caused by the virulent Babesia canis rossi . In recent years, this common disease has been detected in 12% of dogs presented at the outpatients' division of the University of Pretoria's (Onderstepoort) Veterinary Academic Hospital, and 31% of the affected dogs have been hospitalized as seriously ill. Of these hospitalized cases, 50% had severe anaemia at presentation, 32% had moderate anaemia and 18% were non-anaemic (often polycythaemic), frequently with central-nervoussystem signs or multiple organ failure. A retrospective survey of 662 hospitalized cases revealed that the haematology, clinical biochemistry and patient profile (signalment) of the severely anaemic dogs were distinct from those of the non-anaemic, indicating that the babesiosis in these two groups of dogs should be viewed as two different diseases in terms of the postulated, underlying, 'pathomechanisms'. The severely anaemic dogs exhibited hypoxic hepatic disease and an increase in serum urea (without a concomitant increase in creatinine), seldom had profound electrolyte imbalances and tended to have a much more profound leucocytosis, consisting of a left-shifted inflammatory leucogram, with higher numbers of circulating metamyelocytes, lymphocytosis and monocytosis. In contrast, the non-anaemic dogs exhibited severe azotaemia (which could be of renal or pre-renal origin) and often showed a marked electrolyte disturbance (reflecting acid-base abnormalities) and a very mild leucocyte response; such dogs often presented as leucopenic, many being lymphocytopenic. These results indicate that the severely anaemic dogs had developed haemolytic disease (possibly immune-mediated), whereas the non-anaemic dogs had developed an acute and overwhelming inflammatory response. The mean age of the non-anaemic dogs (2.66 years) was less than the dogs in the 'severe anaemia group' (0.83 years). Dogs belonging to the traditional fighting breeds (bull terriers, pit bull terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers) were noticeably over-represented in the non-survivors of the acute inflammatory response group, possibly indicating an underlying genetic basis for the different presentations. It is evident that the inflammatory-response disease presentation, which is similar to complicated falciparum malaria in humans, may serve as an animal model for that disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]