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A significant proportion of the African continent is conducive for animal agricultural production, due to its historical experience and available resources to accommodate and nurture various indigenous and exotic animal species and breeds. With food security being a global challenge, animal products can play an important role as nutrient dense food sources in human diets, particularly in Africa. However, this does not seem to reach its full potential in practice, due to numerous reasons that have not been adequately addressed. Animal welfare reservations can be highlighted as one of the major contributing factors to the curbed progress. The consequences have been scientifically proven to affect product quality and market access. However, in the African community, the concept of animal welfare has not been fully embraced. While there are international animal welfare standards in the developed world, there are inherent factors that hinder adoption of such initiatives in most developing regions, particularly among communal farmers. These include cultural norms and practices, social ranking, socio-economic status, available resources, information dissemination and monitoring tools. Therefore, there is need to harmonize what is internationally required and what is feasible to accommodate global variability. The protocols followed to ensure and evaluate farm animal welfare require regular investigation, innovation and a sustainable approach to enhance animal productivity, efficiency and product quality. Additionally, investing in animal wellbeing and health, as well as empowering communities with significant knowledge, has a potential to improve African livelihoods and contribute to food security. This review seeks to highlight the concept of animal welfare in relation to livestock and food production in African conditions.

The study examined essential oils (EO) extracted from Artemisia afra and Bidenspilosa leaves for bioactive phytochemicals and their antioxidant activities on pH and lipid oxidation of ground porkdu...

Droëwors are traditional South African salted and dried sausages, made without nitrites/nitrates and non- fermented. Different meat sources (beef, game and ostrich) are traditionally used in droëwors processing, while the use of pork is uncommon, as it is said to lead to rancidity. The first part of the study analysed the physico-chemical composition of commercially available beef, game and ostrich meat droëwors (n = 20). On average, they were composed of 26.3–29.2 g/100 g moisture, 41.3–44.0 g/100 g protein, 26.2–33.1 g/100 g fat and 5.9–6.5 g/100 g ash and 5.0–5.4 pH. Water activity (0.76–0.82) was sufficiently low to ensure shelf stability at ambient temperatures. In the second part beef and pork droëwors were formulated in accordance with these results and with similar fat content, dried for 2 days (30 °C, 40% relative humidity) and stored for 26 days (25 °C, 50% relative humidity); measuring moisture, water activity, pH and lipid oxidative stability (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) weekly. At day 5, moisture and thus water activity of pork droëwors was slightly higher compared to beef ones and fat and ash content slightly lower (P ≤ 0.05) despite similar weight loss. Even with slightly less fat, TBARS in pork droëwors were significantly higher after drying and throughout storage (3.83 vs 0.99 mg MDA equivalents/kg dry matter at a maximum).

The potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) to limit lipid oxidation in nitrite‐free unfermented dry pork sausages (droewors) was investigated. Total phenolic compounds, α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene content of MLP was quantified. Droewors with no additives, 0.75 g/100 g MLP or 15 mg/kg vitamin E (VE) oil were processed and sampled after drying (3 days) and during 56 days of storage. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of droewors made with MLP were lower until day 10. The effects of 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/100 g MLP on TBARS, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the α‐tocopherol, γ‐tocopherol, and β‐carotene content of droewors were assessed during drying and 7 days of storage. MLP inclusion significantly increased FRAP, α‐tocopherol, and β‐carotene content. From the end of drying, TBARS of droewors formulated with MLP were significantly lower compared to droewors formulated without MLP. Increasing the MLP inclusion level had no significant effect on TBARS. Practical applications: The research assesses and demonstrates the potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) as a natural additive to inhibit the rate and extent of lipid oxidation in unfermented dry pork sausages (droewors) with no nitrites/nitrates added. The inclusion of MLP in pork droewors at levels ranging from 0.5 to 2 g/100 g significantly increased the antioxidant activity (FRAP) and quantity of antioxidant vitamins (α‐tocopherol, and β‐carotene) in the product. Higher inhibition of lipid oxidation (TBARS) was observed in droewors with MLP added compared to the positive (vitamin E oil) and negative (no additives) controls. The different MLP inclusion levels used in the study resulted in similar lipid oxidation inhibition. Therefore, the findings show that the application of 0.5 g/100 g MLP is sufficient to decrease lipid oxidation in pork droewors and could potentially be applied to other types of dry‐cured sausages for this purpose.

Meat has been an important component of the human diet for centuries as a rich source of essential nutrients required for development, growth and maintenance. In addition to its nutritional value, meat production and processing provide employment and income generation in both commercial and informal farming sectors. However, in recent times, the sustainability of meat production, as well as the quality and safety of meat products has come under intense scrutiny as a result of the negative implications of livestock farming and meat consumption on the environment and human health, respectively. These concerns have become increasingly important to consumers and significantly influence consumption trends and the viability of the meat industry. Meat quality, safety and nutritional composition are influenced by the wide range of conditions to which meat-producing animals are exposed from ‘farm to fork’. Hence, a complete understanding of meat and factors affecting it at every stage of the production chain is beneficial for the control and enhancement of meat quality. Additionally, adopting a systems approach is key to minimizing the negative implications of the meat industry on the environment and health. Current farming conditions are characterized by increasingly variable weather patterns and a diminishing natural resource base. As such, determining environmentally friendly, climate resilient and sustainable production systems is crucial. Pre- to post-slaughter processes tailored to maximize carcass yields, minimize losses and prevent health risks are essential. Furthermore, there is a growing need among consumers for transparency and detailed information on meat production and composition. Research that links the dynamics involved in all stages of meat production is necessary to sustain the positive role of meat in the human diet and to maximize the contribution of meat towards the alleviation of food insecurity, while easing the impact on the environment. Keywords: Consumer perceptions, diet and nutrition, environmental health, food security, human health, livestock production

Research on the use of various parts of the Moringa oleifera Lam. plant (M. oleifera) as a nutritional and neutraceutical resource for human and animal diets has increased in recent years, emanating from the widespread use of the plant in traditional cuisines and medicinal remedies in several regions of the world. Analytical studies have identified M. oleifera as an important source of essential nutrients; rich in protein, essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, with a relatively low amount of antinutrients. It is also a rich source of other bio active compounds including flavonoids and phenolic compounds; with several studies detailing demonstrated in vitro and in vivo functional properties, most substantially, antioxidant activities. Moringa oleifera consumption has been reported to improve the health status, feed conversion efficiency, growth performance and product quality of several livestock species, at dietary inclusion rates generally not exceeding 5% of total dry matter intake. Fortification of processed foods with M. oleifera has been reported to increase nutritional value, some organoleptic properties, oxidative stability and product shelf life; with a notable need for further analytical and consumer studies in the development of these products. There is a paucity of literature detailing clinical studies, nutrient bioavailability, toxicity and the mode of action of the bioactive compounds to which the health claims associated with M. oleifera consumption are attributed. Many of these are not yet fully understood; therefore more research in these areas is required in order to fully utilize the potential benefits of this plant in human and livestock nutrition.

The effect of dietary inclusion of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) on the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of finisher pigs, physico-chemical meat quality, fatty acid (FA) composition and shelf life of pork was investigated. A six-week feeding trial was conducted with 24 Large White x Landrace gilts aged 14 weeks. Each pig was housed individually and randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments, containing 0%, 2.5%, 5% or 7.5% MOLM, with six replicates per treatment. Feed intake was measured daily, pig liveweight was measured weekly, and average daily gains (ADGs) and FCR were calculated. Pigs were slaughtered at 20 weeks old and measurements of backfat thickness, pH45min and pH24h were taken. Muscularis longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle samples from each carcass were analysed for physico-chemical quality. Muscle, subcutaneous fat and feed samples were analysed for FA composition and health lipid indices of atherogenicity (AI) and thrombogenicity (IT) were calculated. A 10-day shelf-life study was conducted, during which instrumental and sensory meat colour and odour were assessed. Pigs fed 7.5% MOLM had significantly higher average daily feed intakes (3.56 kg/day) than pigs fed 0%, 2.5% and 5% MOLM (3.05, 3.14 and 3.07 kg/day, respectively). The FCR of pigs fed 0%, 2.5% and 5% MOLM did not differ significantly (3.34, 3.44 and 3.22, respectively). However, the FCR of pigs fed 7.5% MOLM was significantly poorer (3.78). No significant differences were observed for carcass and physico-chemical quality traits. MOLM inclusion improved shelf life, as meat samples from MOLM-fed pigs exhibited significantly prolonged acceptability of colour and odour during 10 days of refrigerated storage. Although the n-6 : n-3 FA ratios of the dietary treatments containing MOLM were significantly improved (T1 = 35.45, T2 = 22.08, T3 = 14.24, T4 = 15.90), no significant differences were observed for this ratio in the fat composition of the meat or subcutaneous fat samples between treatments. A significant reduction in intramuscular fat and stearic acid content was observed with increasing levels of MOLM. However, all other FA profiles, ratios and health lipid indices did not differ significantly across treatments. In conclusion, up to 5% MOLM may be included in finisher pig feed with no negative effect on feed conversion efficiency, carcass and meat quality traits, and may improve shelf life of pork. However, inclusion levels of 7.5% MOLM may lower FCR. The MOLM inclusion significantly improved the FA composition of the feed, but did not produce the desired improvements in FA composition of meat, probably because of the prominence of fat deposition by de novo lipogenesis in finisher pigs rather than direct incorporation of dietary fatty acids.Keywords: Moringa oleifera, anti-nutrient factors, fatty acid ratios, pork colour, pork odour