EDITORIAL

Guest editorial

Voster Muchenje

Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa. E-mail address: vmuchenje@ufh.ac.za

This supplementary issue of the South African Journal of Animal Science (SAJAS) presents selected keynote lectures and papers from the 45^th South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) congress which was held at the International Convention Centre in East London from the 9^th to the 12^th July, 2012. The theme of the congress attended by more than 237 delegates from South Africa and overseas was "Animal science in a continuous state of change". The relevance of this theme is evidenced by the pressure being exerted on animal production by the continuously changing world in which we live. These pressures create novel socio-ecological environments which may have negative effects on sustainable animal production.

Continuous changes in the environment and the economy on a national, regional and global scale and an escalating global population requires us to, much like nature, adapt to the changing conditions in order for animal production to remain sustainable. There is also an increasing need for research to generate accurate information on the potentially negative effects that animal production may have on the environment such as pollution, greenhouse gas emission and rangeland degradation (Webb, 2013).

The key notes by the invited speakers and theatre and the poster presentations by the delegates tackled issues concerning climate change and animal science, meat science, animal breeding and genetics, developing agriculture, reproduction, ruminant nutrition, monogastric nutrition and animal welfare and health. The presentations provided insights on these issues from a South African perspective (Naudé, 2012) and presented novel approaches that our seasoned and upcoming African animal science researchers are developing to potentially provide solutions to challenges in animal production.

The congress was an insightful and memorable event and recognition for a commendable job goes out to the organising committee: Alan Grenfell, Voster Muchenje, Jean Rust, Patrick Masika, Tina Rust, Ntosh Faku, Nandipha Ndudane-Tyumra, Robin Meeske, Dorothy Kingman and Akho Skenjana.

Many thanks are extended to the sub-editors and reviewers, who I cannot mention for professional reasons, for the hard-work and efforts which contributed to the compilation of this special issue and the congress scientific programme.

The support of the SASAS Council and the SAJAS, Editor-In-Chief, Professor J.B.J. van Ryssen, in developing this supplementary issue is also highly appreciated.

Many thanks for assistance with proof reading and typesetting are extended to Carlos Nantapo, Lizwell Mapfumo and Felicitas Mukumbo. Extreme gratitude is also extended to all of the delegates and authors whose presence and participation made the congress a successful and worthwhile event.

Finally, many thanks go out to our sponsors for their generous support: ATS Consulting and Management Services, BKB, Boran Cattle Breeders' Society of South Africa, Chemuniqué, Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Elanco, Evonik, Kemin, Molatek, Monti Foods, Nguni Cattle Breeders Society and the University of Fort Hare.

References

Naudé, R. T. 2012. The importance of a holistic approach by the animal scientist involved in research, teaching and practise. Appl. Anim. Husb. Rural Develop. 5, 7-15.         [ Links ]

Webb, E. C. 2013. The ethics of meat production and quality - a South African perspective. S. Afr. J.         [ Links ]