My main focus point is in the livestock industry and its aim to produce food to hunger stricken communities. The increasing world population, global warming and land redistribution place an enormous responsibility on food producers and new challenges to animal scientists. Stress in livestock animals and its effects on food production is a focus point. Meat quality includes animal welfare. Hormonal control and energy metabolism influences an animal’s behaviour and in turn animal welfare during handling and transportation. 

ARTICLES IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS PEER REVIEWED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

O’Neill, H.A., Webb, E.C., Frylinck, L. and Strydom, P., 2006, August. The stress responsiveness of three different beef breed types and the effect on ultimate pH and meat colour. In 52nd International Congress of Meat Science and Technology: Harnessing and exploiting global opportunities (Vol. 82, pp. 1401-1409). Wageningen Academic Publishers 

Webb EC, O’Neill HA. The animal fat paradox and meat quality. Meat Science. 2008 Sep 1;80(1):28-36.

O’Neill HA, Casey NH, Webb EC. Interactive effect of dietary protein level and zilpaterol hydrochloride on feedlot performance and meat quality of steers. South African Journal of Animal Science. 2010;40(3):185-9.

O’Neill HA, Webb EC, Frylinck L, Strydom P. Urinary catecholamine concentrations in three beef breeds at slaughter. South African Journal of Animal Science. 2012;42(5):545-9.

O’Neill HA, Webb EC. The conversion of dopamine to epinephrine and nor-epinephrine is breed dependent. South African Journal of Animal Science. 2012;40(5):502-4.

Agbeniga B, Webb EC, O’Neill HA. Influence of Kosher (Shechita) and conventional slaughter techniques on shear force, drip and cooking loss of beef. South African Journal of Animal Science. 2013;43(5):S103-6

Frylinck L, O`Neil A, Du Toit E, Strydom PE, Webb EC. The beef tenderness model. South African Journal of Animal Science. 2015;45(3):234-48

O’Neill HA, Webb EC, Frylinck L, Strydom PE. Effects of short and extended fasting periods and cattle breed on glycogenolysis, sarcomere shortening and Warner-Bratzler shear force. South African Journal of Animal Science. 2018;48(1):71-80.

O’Neill, H.A. 2019. A review on the involvement of catecholamines in animal behaviour. South African Journal of Animal Science, 49 (1) http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v49i1.1

Maqhashu, A., Mapholi, N.O., O`Neill, H.A., Nephawe, K.A., Ramukhithi, F.V., Sebei, J.P., Nxumalo, K.S. and Nedambale, T.L., 2020. Assessment of genetic variation in Bapedi sheep using microsatellite markers. South African Journal of Animal Science, 50(2), pp.318-324.

Mphaphathi, M.L., Nkadimeng, M., Sithole, S.M., Sebopela, M.D., Ramukhithi, F.V., Tshabalala, M.M., Maqhashu, A., O`Neill, H. and Nedambale, T.L., 2020. 178 Evaluation of polar body extrusion following exposure of cattle oocytes to different concentrations of ethylene glycol cryoprotectant. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 32(2), pp.217-217

Maqhashu, A., O’Neill, H.A., Sebei, P.J., Ramukhithi, F.V., Mapholi, N.O., Nephawe, K.A. and Nedambale, T.L., 2020. 140 The relationship between morphometric characteristics and semen parameters in Bapedi rams. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 32(2), pp.196-196.

O’Neill, H.A., Einkamerer, O.B., Elago, B.T. and Ganswindt, A., 2020. Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in South African Mutton Merino sheep fed various sources of roughage. South African Journal of Animal Science, 50(4), pp.501-506.

R. Grobler, F.H. de Witt, E.D. Cason, O.B. Einkamerer, G.C. Josling, H.A. O’Neill, M.D. Fair, J.J. Baloyi, M.D. MacNeil, and F.W.C Neser1 Training the next generation of animal scientists for South Africa. Animal Frontiers

PUBLISHED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Webb, EC, Morris, SM, Casey, NH & O’Neil, HA. (2004). Influence of dietary ß-agonist and vitamin D supplementation on the tenderness of loin samples from feedlot steers, 2nd Joint Congress of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa and the South African Society of Animal Science, 28 June – 1 July 2004, Goudini, South Africa, p. 63.  (Short paper)

Maqhashu, A., Mphaphathi, M.L., Sebei, P.J., Raphulu, T, Ramukhithi, F.V., Nthakheni, N.D., Bovula, N., Mapholi, N.O., Nephawe, K.A., O’ Neill, H.A. and Nedambale, T.L. 2019. Influence of age and body condition score on oestrous synchronization response in Bapedi ewes. Full paper accepted by All Africa Conference in Animal Agriculture, Accra, Ghana from 28 July to 2nd August 2019.

NON-REFEREED SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS OR POPULAR SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

O’Neill, H.A. 2018. Water article in Nguni Journal.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS

O’Neill, H.A. & Casey, NH, 2003. The effects of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride (Zilmaz®) on the Dietary N-requirements of feedlots steers and the nutritional and quality characteristic of meat components. GSSA/SASA Joint Congress. Christiana, 13 – 16 May 2002.(Poster)

O`Neill, H.A., & Webb, E.C. 2012. Using pHu as predictor of meat tenderness between breeds subjected to 24 hours and 3 hours ante mortem feed withdrawal. South African Journal of Animal Science (Poster).

Maqhashu, A., Mphaphathi, M.L., Sebei, P.J., Raphulu, T, Ramukhithi, F.V., Bovula, N., Mapholi, N.O., Nephawe, K.A., O’ Neill, H.A. and Nedambale, T.L. 2019. Reproduction performance of Bapedi ewes following oestrous synchronisation and natural mating in different conservation farms. South African Society for Animal Sciences, Bloemfontein South Africa from 10-12 June 2019

T. Mudzungwane, H.A. O’Neill & M.D. Fair. Proposing the use of percentile graphs to set minimum breed standards for scrotal circumference in Drakensberger bulls in phase C and D performance testing. South African Society for Animal Sciences, Bloemfontein South Africa from 10-12 June 2019.

T. Sako, H.A O’Neill, T. Sedumedi, T. Jonker & M.D Fair. Preliminary results: pH profile in meat of Tankwa feral goats reared under natural conditions. South African Society for Animal Sciences, Bloemfontein South Africa from 10-12 June 2019.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS NATIONAL

Catecholamines and the definition of animal behaviour and stress responsiveness. H.A. O’Neill. South African Society for Animal Sciences, Bloemfontein South Africa from 10-12 June 2019.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS

O’Neill HA, Webb EC, Frylinck L, Strydom P. The stress repconsiveness of three different beef breed types and the effect on ultimate pH and meat colour. InProceedings of the 52nd International Congress on Meat Science and Technology, Ireland, Dublin 2006.

O`Neill, H.A., Neser, F.W.C. & Elago, B.T. Fibre quality influences faecal glucocorticoid metabolites of South African Mutton Merino sheep. 70^th Annual meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science, 26-30 August 2019

TECHNICAL REPORTS

O’Neill, H.A., 2003. The effect of CLA on broiler carcass quality: A Review. Technical report for BASF.

SUPERVISION:  COMPLETED STUDENTS B-TECH, HONS, M- AND/OR D STUDENTS

1. PhD Animal Science by Ayanda Maqhashu: Characterization and evaluation of reproductive performance in Bapedi sheep breed

2. MSc Agric Animal Science by Benita Tonateni Elago: Measuring of faecal cortisol metabolites to determine levels of stress associated with fibre inclusion rate and fibre quality in Ovis aries (South African Mutton Merino sheep)

3. MSc Agric Animal Science by Thandululo Mudzungwane: Proposing the use of percentile graphs to set minimum breed standards for scrotal circumference in Drakensberger bulls in phase C and D performance testing

4. MSc Agric Animal Science by Thabang Sako: Meat quality characteristics of the Tankwa feral goat of Carnarvon, Northern Cape

PAST INVOLVEMENT IN RESEARCH

Meat science projects on Impala (Mara Research Station) and Springbok (Karoo), research on Kosher vs Halaal slaughtering and meat quality, Vitamin D supplementation and meat quality.