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Context: Water scarcity often accompanied by limited water intake (WI) in livestock may result in pre-slaughter stress, thereby affecting meat quality parameters. Aims: This study was conducted to determine the effect of vitamin C (VC) supplementations on fatty acid (FA), lipids oxidation and sensory attributes of Longissimus lumborum muscles of Xhosa goats subjected to different watering regimen. Methods: In total, 42 goats were randomly assigned into seven treatments: without water restriction, WR (W0, control); WR of 70% of ad libitum WI (W70); WR of 50% ad libitum WI (W50); WR of 70% of ad libitum WI + 3 g VC daily (W70+); WR of 50% of ad libitum WI intake + 3 g VC daily (W50+); WR of 70% of ad libitum WI + 3 g VC and extra 5 g VC given every 8 days (W70++); WR of 50% of ad libitum WI + 3 g VC and extra 5 g VC given every 8 days (W50++). The goats were fed for 75 days and killed following standard procedures. Bodyweight changes, thaw loss, ultimate pH (pHu), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), moisture and fat content, sensory attributes and FA profile of the meat were evaluated. Key results: Results indicated that the decreased final weight in the untreated groups (W70 and W50) was reduced (P > 0.05) in the treated groups (W70+, W50+, W70++, W50++). The treatment effect was not significant (P > 0.05) on pHu, thaw loss and TBARS values. The moisture and fat content in the water-restricted groups were lower (P < 0.05) than in W0. The meat sensory appearance was affected (P < 0.05) by WR. Regardless of VC concentration, vaccenic and docosahexaenoic acid increased (P < 0.05), while linolenic acid decreased as the WR levels increased. Conclusions: WR of 70% and 50% of ad libitum WI, with or without VC, did not negatively affect the meat's lipid oxidation and FA profile. Implications: Limited WI reduces body weight. However, a daily dose of VC could help reduce body weight loss during water scarcity. Water scarcity, often accompanied by limited water intake (WI) in livestock, may result in pre-slaughter stress, affecting meat quality parameters. The effect of water restrictions levels with vitamin C (VC) supplementation was evaluated on the performance and meat quality of goat meat. While bodyweight loss was lessened with VC supplementation and sensory attributes affected, limited WI had no negative effect on most of the meat parameters measured. Supplementation of VC can help reduce bodyweight loss during the period of water scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mopane worm is the edible larva of Imbrasia (Gonimbrasia) belina (Westwood, 1894), a species of emperor moth that is generally found in central and southern African tropical regions. Both over-harvesting of larvae and the destruction of the mopane woodlands are threatening its biodiversity. An insect with a description matching that of I. belina was observed in the northern coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal, a subtropical biota. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the potential of the northern coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal as a sanctuary forI. belina. The presence of I. belina in the subtropical biota of the coastal region of KwaZulu-Natal was confirmed through mitochondrion CO1 gene sequences, this being so far its southernmost occurrence. Field surveys revealed the occurrence of four morphologically distinct variants within the uMkhanyakude District, inclusive of the protected iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Hluhluwe Game Reserve from the beginning of September to early November as do most of the populations in the mopane woodlands but differs from them by having one outbreak per season instead of two. Imbrasia belina is polyphagous and feeds off hosts including marula (Sclerocarya birrea [(A. Rich.) Hochst.] [Anacardiaceae]) and seven other tree species. There is therefore scope to use the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastal region as a sanctuary for biodiversity conservation of I. belina. There are initiatives to cultivate marula for its fruit in the region, which further increases the potential of the area as a sanctuary for I. belina by farming marula for both its fruit and I. belina. The protected nature reserves present in the region will ensure areas of controlled use by humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to determine the effect of tannin on the nutritive value and microbial enzyme activity in vitro. The leaves and pods of the Acacia sieberiana and Acacia nilotica trees were subjected to chemical analysis and in vitro fermentation with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG; 35 mg/g). Gas production (GP), true degradability (TD) and the proteolytic and fibrolytic enzyme activities in digesta were determined. Data analyses accounted for the effects of feed type, feed fraction, PEG and their interactions. Leaves and pods had similar NDF and ADF contents in A. sieberiana but differed in both attributes in A. nilotica. The leaves had a higher protein, but lower condensed tannin (CT) contents than the pods. A. sieberiana had more CT than A. nilotica, but both had a similar maximum GP. PEG increased the maximum GP, stimulated GP from the soluble fraction and shortened the lag phase. PEG increased the TD for leaves and pods of A. sieberiana, but suppressed TD in fractions of A. nilotica. PEG also increased the activity of protease enzymes, xylanase, endo- and exocellulases, indicating that tannins depress the digestibility of feeds partly by suppressing the activity of these enzymes. Consequently, condensed tannin depressed the digestibility of feed in the rumen by affecting the activity of enzymes involved in carbohydrate and protein breakdown, the effects of which could be reduced with the use of PEG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]