Meat production from small ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa. 1. Carcass characteristics of Menz type sheep from Debre Berhan, Ethiopia. 2. A literature review on consumer preferences, meat and carcass quality characteristics and factors influencing meat production from small ruminants in sub-Saharan Africa

Blood levels of' P, Ca, Mg, total protein, urea and red and white blood cell counts were examined monthly for two years in Botswana goats in an attempt to establish normal values and to evaluete the effect of supplementation with drought relief cubes. Overall mean levels observed for the parameters were: Ca 9.19 ±1.77 mg/100 ml, P 5.35± 1.55 mg/10O ml, Mg 2.58 ±0.71 mg/100 ml, Cu 149.94 ± 71.14 ug/100 ml, total protein 7.49 ± 1.12 g/100 ml; urea 44.45 ± 1'7.15 mg/100 ml, RBC count 11.65 ± 1.98 millions/cu mm and WBC count 12.07 ± 3.15 thousands/cu mm. Supplemented goats showed significantly higher levels of Ca. P levels were unchanged. Supplemented goats also showed significantly lower levels of total protein and higher levels of WBC than did the control animals. All observations fell within the normal ranges quoted in the literature with the exception of total protein and urea which were a bit high. Condition scores of control and treated goats did not differ significantly, indicating that supplemental feeding of this kind was of minimal value under the environmental conditions imposed upon them in this study