The biosynthesis, chemistry, structural features and functionality of spongin as a halogenated scleroprotein of keratosan demosponges are still paradigms. This review has the principal goal of providing thorough and comprehensive coverage of spongin as a naturally prefabricated 3D biomaterial with multifaceted applications. The history of spongin's discovery and use in the form of commercial sp...

Luffa aegyptiaca (Luffa sponge gourd) is increasingly seen as both a source of vegetative nutrition and as a source of the “luffa” used as to exfoliate during bathing. As such, the commercial growing of Luffa aegyptiaca is increasingly being investigated using more intensive farming methods. Two factors traditionally used to promote / speed germination and emergence of vegetable seeds is invest...

Biological control of parasitic nematodes of livestock is currently under development and represents another tool that may be integrated into helminth parasite control strategies. This paper presents a brief introduction to commercial sheep farming in South Africa and currently available nematode parasite control methods. These include the FAMACHA clinical assay, strategies of pasture managemen...

An alternative speci¢cation for the trend component of crop yield growth is developed and applied to maize yield data for Zimbabwe's large-scale farming sector. This accounts for permanent regime shifts as new technologies are discovered but allows gradual absorption as adoption follows a di¡usion path. Econometric methods are used to estimate the timing and importance of innovations, as well a...

Avian TB is a contagious, chronic disease which affects a wide range of birds and mammals. All avian species are susceptible to infection to some degree, however the domestic chicken and sparrows are considered to be extremely susceptible. Despite having a worldwide distribution, Avian Tuberculosis amongst commercial poultry farmers has declined considerably over the years due to advances in bi...

Fifty one dairy buffaloes in their last two months of gestation were selected at seven peri-urban commercial farms located within a radius of 70km around Peshawar. These animals were monitored from parturition until 150 days post-partum. After parturition, rectal examination of reproductive organs was carried out. Estrus detection was made through visual signs and use of intact bulls. Milk samp...

Imagine a world in which any protein, either naturally occurring or designed by man, could be produced safely, inexpensively and in almost unlimited quantities using only simple nutrients, water and sunlight. This could one day become reality as we learn to harness the power of plants for the production of recombinant proteins on an agricultural scale. Molecular farming in plants has already pr...

The first cases of rabies in jackals were reported in 1952, several months after the introduction of domestic dog rabies to Zimbabwe (Foggin, 1988; Swanepoel et al., 1993). A small number of cases were reported during the following years, until 1965 when a large epidemic started in the Mashonaland East area. Since then, several distinct epidemics have been reported. Jackal rabies was reported p...