African Journals Online
The Zimbabwe Science News

ABSTRACTS Volume 33(2)

Animal Science in Zimbabwe: Strategies and Solutions

The late J. H. Topps*

* See note in editorial

Formerly of the Department of Agriculture, University of Aberdeen, 581 King Street, Aberdeen AB15 8HX, Scotland, UK.

Animal Science involves a scientific understanding of farm livestock. The subject is made up of a number of scientific disciplines such as nutrition, genetics, physiology and a few others such as microbiology, which are of lesser importance but which are increasing in relevance. It is acceptable therefore, to teach and review Animal Science by considering each of these disciplines. Unfortunately, this treatment of the subject may well mask wholly or partially important interactions between the disciplines although an attempt will be made to discuss those of the greatest importance. An alternative way to write a comprehensive review is to base it on type of livestock, viz. beef cattle, dairy cattle, pigs, etc. (Ndlovu, 1994a) so this approach is also incorporated in this paper.

The fishes of Zimbabwe: A century of change

Brian Marshall

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe,

P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare.

The advent of colonial rule in Zimbabwe, marked by the arrival in 1890 of the British South Africa Company's settlers, began a series of changes to the country's fish fauna. These changes are entirely man-made and have accelerated during the last 100 years, along with the growth of the human population in the area. This paper briefly outlines these changes, with some comments on possible developments in the future.