Once classified under the genus Acacia as Acacia erioloba, this hardy tree is also called the giraffe thorn, mokala tree, or kameeldoring in Afrikaans. Occurring across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and the western reaches of Zimbabwe, the camel thorn thrives where few others can, extending its roots deep into arid terrain. It is also found in Angola, southwest Mozambique, Zambia and Eswatini, anchoring ecosystems that rely on its resilience. Now, a team of researchers from the North West University (NWU) has discovered that supplementing lamb feed with Vachellia erioloba leaf meal and ammoniated maize stover significantly enhances growth performance, improves meat quality and enriches fatty acid profiles.
The study, published in the Meat Science Journal, was conducted by Dr Getrude Manakedi Chelopo and Prof Upenyu Marume from the School of Agricultural Sciences and the Food Security and Safety research niche area at the NWU, in collaboration with Prof Arno Hugo from the Department of Animal Science at the University of the Free State. Their research focused on how Vachellia erioloba leaf meal, when incorporated into ammoniated maize stover-based finisher diets, impacts lamb production. The results show that lambs fed this enriched diet exhibited better weight gain, improved meat tenderness, and a healthier fat composition.
