Stable Animal Feed for Safe Human Food.

The focus of this research group is the evaluation of plant derived lipids as animal feed ingredients with the aim of improving the health properties of food of animal origin. The aim is to increase the use of plant oils and other lipid containing plants in animal feeds. That will create increased demand for oilseeds and other lipid containing plants produced in the semi-arid regions of South Africa to the benefit of farmers and the rural economy as a whole. Extensive collaboration is taking place between researchers from the Food Science, Animal Science, Microbiology, Plant Science and Soil Science divisions of the UFS. University of the Free State researchers are also collaborating with researchers from the University of Fort Hare, University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Agricultural Research Council in Pretoria. Results from several research projects demonstrated that plant derived lipids can successfully improve the health properties animal products like chicken, eggs and beef, as demonstrated by the following research outputs.

Research Outputs:

Peer Reviewed Articles:

Mapiye C, Chimonyo M, Dzama K, Hugo A, Strydom PE, Muchenje V. 2011. Fatty acid composition of beef from Nguni steers supplemented with Acacia karroo leaf-meal. Journal of Food Composition and AnalysisVolume 24, Issue 4-5, Pages 523-528.

Moyo B, Masika PJ, Hugo A, Muchenje V. 2011. Nutritional characterization of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 10(60), pp. 12925-12933.

Shimelis H, Mashela P, Hugo A.2011. Genotype by environment interaction of seed and oil yield in vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica). Industrial Crops and Products, 33(3), 756-760.

Shimelis H, Hugo A. 2011. Determination of selection criteria for seed yield and seed oil content in Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica). Industrial Crops and Products, 33(2), 436-439.

Rani ZT, Chimonyo M, Hugo A, Marume U, Muchenje V 2011. Effect of parity on the proximate composition and fatty acid profile of milk from Nguni cattle grazing on natural pastures. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(43), 8647-8653.

Congress Contributions:

Moyo B, Masika PJ, Hugo A, Muchenje V. 2011. Fatty acid composition of chevon from goats supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf meal. Poster presented at the 57^th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, August 7-12, Ghent, Belgium.

Hugo A, Els SP, Bothma C, De Witt FH, Van der Merwe HJ. 2011. Effect of different dietary fat sources on fatty acid composition, fat stability and sensory acceptability of chicken breast meat. Poster presented at the 57^th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, August 7-12, Ghent, Belgium.

Booyens KE, Einkamerer OB, Hugo A, van der Merwe HJ, Slippers SC, Fair MD. 2011.The effects of dietary inclusion of a bioflavonoid antioxidant and fat sources differing in fatty acid saturation level on fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of lamb. Poster presented at the 44^th Biannual Congress of the South African Association of Animal Science, 11-14 July 2011. University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

King EJ, Hugo A, de Witt FH, van der Merwe HJ Fair MD. 2011. Effect of dietary fat source on fatty acid profile and lipid oxidation of eggs. Poster presented at the 44^th Biannual Congress of the South African Association of Animal Science, 11-14 July 2011. University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

King EJ, Hugo A, de Witt FH, van der Merwe HJ Fair MD. 2011. Effect of dietary lipid saturation on production performances of layers. Poster presented at the 44^th Biannual Congress of the South African Association of Animal Science, 11-14 July 2011. University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

de Witt FH, Hugo A, King EJ, Els SP, van der Merwe HJ, Fair MD. An evaluation of conventional and high oleic sunflower oil in poultry diets. Paper presented at the 44^th Biannual Congress of the South African Association of Animal Science, 11-14 July 2011. University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.