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Item Application of PCR technique to detect polymorphism of the KRTAP1.1 gene in three sheep breeds - A review(IntechOpen, 2021) Itenge, Theopoline OmaganoThe quality of wool and pelt products depends on the quality of the wool and pelt grown on farm. Genes coding for the proteins involved in the structural components of wool fibre; keratin intermediate filaments (KRTs) and keratin keratinassociated proteins (KAPs) have been extensively researched. The KAPs form a matrix in which the KRTs are embedded. In sheep, KRTAP1.1 (previously B2A) is one of the four genes encoding proteins that make up the KAP1.n family. The ovine KRTAP1.1 gene is clustered with the KRTAP1.3 and KRTAP1.4 genes on chromosome 11. In this chapter, the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) – Applied Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) typing method used to detect polymorphism in the KRTAP1.1 gene is reviewed. Three length variation KRTAP1.1 alleles; named A, B and C, of the lengths 341 base pair, 311 base pair and 281 base pair, respectively have been reported in three sheep breeds; Romney sheep of New Zealand, Merino sheep of New Zealand and Swakara sheep of Namibia. Genetic variation within the KRTs and KAPs can be further exploited to determine as to whether such variation impacts on wool quality. The presence of genetic variation within KRTs and KAPs offers opportunities for the development of gene markers affecting wool and pelt quality traitsItem Utilising encroacher bush in animal feeding(Springer, 2023) Mupangwa, Johnfisher; Lutaaya, Emmanuel; Shipandeni, Maria Ndakula Tautiko; Kahumba, Absalom; Charamba, Vonai; Shiningavamwe, Katrina LugamboLivestock production is a major economic and livelihood activity in Namibia which contributes at least 75% to total agricultural output. The industry faces challenges including prolonged droughts, increased production costs, bush encroachment, variable climatic conditions and disease outbreaks. Bush encroachment and prolonged drought spells pose a major concern as they result in reduced carrying capacity of rangelands. The encroacher woody browse plants are potential animal feeds as they provide considerable amount of biomass from leaves and small twigs as well as pods that provide nutrients to ruminant livestock during the long dry season. Converting the biomass from the encroacher bushes into livestock fodder is one best management practice of controlling bush encroachment while increasing the availability of ruminant feeds sustainably without competing with human food production. Our chapter provides data on the nutritional content of encroacher bushes in different seasons and feeding value of bush-based feeds as an alternative feed resource for ruminant livestock. The chapter presents the opportunity and evidence that shows that utilising encroacher bush-based feeds in ruminant livestock feeding results in animal growth and the production of quality carcasses that contribute to human protein food. We conclude that the utilisation of rangeland encroacher bush species in sub-Saharan Africa in bush-based feeds provides sufficient nutrients to support improved ruminant livestock production and contributes to rangeland ecosystems restoration