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Dr. Muhammad Azher Bhatti
Norwegian University of Life Sciences

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0 Sensory Science
0 meat science
0 Consumer science
0 Economic modelling
0 Sheep farming

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Journal article
Published: 26 August 2021 in Sustainability
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Agriculture is vital to global food production. Around 550 million smallholding households produce most of the world’s food, and many rely on livestock rearing for a living. Smallholder farms must survive and thrive to maintain and increase food production. Baseline information is vital for further extension service interventions. The goal of this Malawian study was to collect quantitative baseline data on crop and livestock production, agriproduct sales, and other indicators through a household survey, and to compare the efficacy (in terms of income) of using the concept of “Lead and Follow” farmer training programs. The baseline study survey was carried out in 44 sections of 11 extension planning areas from Malawi’s five districts (Dowa, Kasungu, Mchinji, Mzimba, and Rumphi). In total, 1131 smallholder households were interviewed. Crop production, livestock farming, and providing casual labor for others were all identified as significant sources of income for smallholders, implying that all agriproducts (the whole-farm approach) is equally important for improving smallholder livelihoods. On the one hand, the whole-farm approach should improve smallholders’ resilience regarding climate change and poverty. Lower agriproduct sales, on the other hand, indicated that links to the market were frequently poor but an increased market focus should help smallholders sell their produce at a fair margin. In terms of best practices adoption, both Lead and Follow farmers adopted similar farm practices (crops and livestock) to increase income. In general, no significant difference in income was calculated from many farm enterprises for both Lead and Follow farmers. However, the income from pigs and firewood was significantly higher for Follow farmers than for Lead farmers. Lead farmers reported significantly higher off-farm income sources. Significant changes are proposed to the “Lead farmer extension approach”.

ACS Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Sosheel Solomon Godfrey; Ryan H. L. Ip; Chipo Kachiwala; Håvard Hovdhaugen; Liveness J. Banda; Moses Limuwa; Peter C. Wynn; Tormod Ådnøy; Lars Olav Eik. Diversity of Sources of Income for Smallholder Farming Communities in Malawi: Importance for Improved Livelihood. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9599 .

AMA Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti, Sosheel Solomon Godfrey, Ryan H. L. Ip, Chipo Kachiwala, Håvard Hovdhaugen, Liveness J. Banda, Moses Limuwa, Peter C. Wynn, Tormod Ådnøy, Lars Olav Eik. Diversity of Sources of Income for Smallholder Farming Communities in Malawi: Importance for Improved Livelihood. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (17):9599.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Sosheel Solomon Godfrey; Ryan H. L. Ip; Chipo Kachiwala; Håvard Hovdhaugen; Liveness J. Banda; Moses Limuwa; Peter C. Wynn; Tormod Ådnøy; Lars Olav Eik. 2021. "Diversity of Sources of Income for Smallholder Farming Communities in Malawi: Importance for Improved Livelihood." Sustainability 13, no. 17: 9599.

Journal article
Published: 18 April 2021 in Food Bioscience
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An attempt was made to improve the nutritional perception and textural stability of chocolate at higher tropical temperatures by developing a composite meat chocolate using meat protein powder and animal fat. The composite meat chocolate was fortified with calcium to reduce the cariogenicity (anticaries activity) and enriched with blueberry and raspberry extract (1%, 2% and 3%) as a preservative. The products were evaluated at 0, 2, 4, and 6 months of storage (25 ± 1 °C). Both, the protein and calcium content of the optimized meat chocolate increased (p < 0.05) by 93% and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in fat, carbohydrate and total calories was recorded without any increase (p > 0.05) in cholesterol content. Addition of blueberry and raspberry extracts, particularly at 3% level, improved (p < 0.05) the lipid oxidative [TBARS (mg malonaldehyde/kg), DPPH (% inhibition), total phenolic content (mg/g)] and microbial [free fatty acids (% oleic acid), total plate count (log10 cfu/g)] stability while improving the sensory quality and functional value of the products.

ACS Style

Manpreet Kaur; Sunil Kumar; Zuhaib F. Bhat; Alaa El-Din A. Bekhit; Muhammad A. Bhatti. Development of composite meat chocolate fortified with calcium and plant extracts. Food Bioscience 2021, 42, 101082 .

AMA Style

Manpreet Kaur, Sunil Kumar, Zuhaib F. Bhat, Alaa El-Din A. Bekhit, Muhammad A. Bhatti. Development of composite meat chocolate fortified with calcium and plant extracts. Food Bioscience. 2021; 42 ():101082.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Manpreet Kaur; Sunil Kumar; Zuhaib F. Bhat; Alaa El-Din A. Bekhit; Muhammad A. Bhatti. 2021. "Development of composite meat chocolate fortified with calcium and plant extracts." Food Bioscience 42, no. : 101082.

Research article
Published: 12 November 2020 in Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
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Although Norway is the largest sheep meat producer in Scandinavia and Norwegian Muslims are expected to double in population in the next decade, the overall local per capita red meat consumption is still low. Meanwhile, Norwegian Muslims’ purchasing preferences on lamb meat products have not been investigated. This paper presents the results of a choice-based conjoint survey which would help stakeholders to understand the niche Muslim immigrant halal meat market and potentially increase meat consumption. Post-hoc market segmentation was performed using latent class analysis, and factors affecting consumers’ purchase intentions were studied within each segment. Results show that purchasing halal meat from a butcher was the top preference while there was a higher willingness to purchase from national supermarkets among younger second-generation Pakistanis. In order to benefit from niche halal meat market, Norwegian supermarkets are recommended to adapt some of the services that halal butchers are offering to their consumers.

ACS Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Sosheel Solomon Godfrey; Ryan H. L. Ip; Mari Øvrum Gaarder; Shakar Aslam; Geir Steinheim; Peter Wynn; David L. Hopkins; Reinert Horneland; Lars Olav Eik; Tormod Ådnøy. An exploratory study of Muslim consumers’ halal meat purchasing intentions in Norway. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science 2020, 70, 61 -70.

AMA Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti, Sosheel Solomon Godfrey, Ryan H. L. Ip, Mari Øvrum Gaarder, Shakar Aslam, Geir Steinheim, Peter Wynn, David L. Hopkins, Reinert Horneland, Lars Olav Eik, Tormod Ådnøy. An exploratory study of Muslim consumers’ halal meat purchasing intentions in Norway. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science. 2020; 70 (1):61-70.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Sosheel Solomon Godfrey; Ryan H. L. Ip; Mari Øvrum Gaarder; Shakar Aslam; Geir Steinheim; Peter Wynn; David L. Hopkins; Reinert Horneland; Lars Olav Eik; Tormod Ådnøy. 2020. "An exploratory study of Muslim consumers’ halal meat purchasing intentions in Norway." Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science 70, no. 1: 61-70.

Journal article
Published: 01 July 2020 in Sustainability
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Norway has vast rangeland resources (292,361 km2) with an estimated carrying capacity of nearly four million sheep and lambs, twice the current number. However, the intensive production system currently applied has led to more concentrate dependency, resulting in heavier animals in addition to poorer utilization of rangelands and homegrown feed. Intensive feeding systems indirectly influence the sustainability of ecosystems by promoting intensive cropping that can deplete soil fertility and threaten landscape preservation and biodiversity. By contrast, extensive grazing systems can produce environmentally and animal-friendly food products and contribute to regulating soil health, water and nutrient cycling, soil carbon sequestration, and recreational environments. In this paper, the economics of current sheep feeding practices in Norway, using a linear programming model, were compared with more extensive systems which allow for higher usage of on-farm feed resources. Changes in current sheep farming practices have the potential to increase lamb meat production relative to mutton production, in addition to improving the year-round supply of fresh meat. The investigated alternatives, using the Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) breed, suggest that delayed lambing is useful only on farms with abundant pastures available for autumn feeding. Lambs achieve a better market price than hoggets and mature sheep. Therefore, based on the current Norwegian meat market and price offered per kilogram of meat for lamb, an increase in NWS lamb production improves farm profits. On the other hand, when the aim is on greater use of homegrown feed and rangelands, this can be achieved through hogget production, and the quantity of concentrates required can be reduced substantially.

ACS Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Lars Olav Eik; Geir Steinheim; Tormod Ådnøy; Reinert Horneland; Peter Wynn; David L. Hopkins; Leif Jarle Asheim. Rangeland Grazing Strategies to Lower the Dependency on Imported Concentrates in Norwegian Sheep Meat Production. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5340 .

AMA Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti, Lars Olav Eik, Geir Steinheim, Tormod Ådnøy, Reinert Horneland, Peter Wynn, David L. Hopkins, Leif Jarle Asheim. Rangeland Grazing Strategies to Lower the Dependency on Imported Concentrates in Norwegian Sheep Meat Production. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (13):5340.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Lars Olav Eik; Geir Steinheim; Tormod Ådnøy; Reinert Horneland; Peter Wynn; David L. Hopkins; Leif Jarle Asheim. 2020. "Rangeland Grazing Strategies to Lower the Dependency on Imported Concentrates in Norwegian Sheep Meat Production." Sustainability 12, no. 13: 5340.

Journal article
Published: 04 May 2020 in Sustainability
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The morphological and productive aspects of Norwegian sheep have developed over time and adapted to the diverse environment of the country. Before 1900, native Norwegian sheep were crossed with UK breeds to attain higher body weight and reproductive efficiency. Subsequent selection programs eventually led to the creation of the heavier (adults often >90 kg) Norwegian White Sheep (NWS), today constituting 70% of the recorded ewes. The modern Norwegian (White) Spæl (NS) sheep, mostly

ACS Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Lars Olav Eik; Geir Steinheim; Tormod Ådnøy; David L. Hopkins; Leif Jarle Asheim. Management Strategies to Improve the Economics of Sheep Farms in Norwegian Coastal and Fjord Areas—The Effect of Animal Size and Capacities for Rangeland Utilisation. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3713 .

AMA Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti, Lars Olav Eik, Geir Steinheim, Tormod Ådnøy, David L. Hopkins, Leif Jarle Asheim. Management Strategies to Improve the Economics of Sheep Farms in Norwegian Coastal and Fjord Areas—The Effect of Animal Size and Capacities for Rangeland Utilisation. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (9):3713.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Lars Olav Eik; Geir Steinheim; Tormod Ådnøy; David L. Hopkins; Leif Jarle Asheim. 2020. "Management Strategies to Improve the Economics of Sheep Farms in Norwegian Coastal and Fjord Areas—The Effect of Animal Size and Capacities for Rangeland Utilisation." Sustainability 12, no. 9: 3713.

Chapter
Published: 18 March 2020 in Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa
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Climate change affects food security and livelihood in Malawi, and the Food and Agricultural Organization emphasises the intensification of milk and meat production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Measures to increase the robustness of smallholder dairy production to better cope with the new challenges are urgently needed. A field experiment was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of supplementing lactating Zebu cows on performance of the cows and their offspring in Malawi. A total of 98 cows were included and allocated to experimental and control groups matched by parity, age of calves and geographical location of farm. The intervention was additional feeding during the dry season with 2 kg extra maize bran per cow per day and leguminous leaves (Gliricidia sepium). The experimental group in year one of the study (n = 28) received in total 114 kg additional leaves, and the experimental group (n = 21) received 240 kg extra leaves during the second year of study. The cows were followed for 15 consecutive months (experimental period). The outcome was reproductive performance, length of the lactation period and weight gain in calves. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimator was used to compare calving interval and lactation period between experiment and control groups. Additional feeding did not stimulate reproduction efficiency in this trial. However, it promoted the length of the lactation period. Multivariable linear models predicted increased growth in calves of cows fed the higher quantity of leguminous leaves. Body girth was numerically lower in male compared to female calves. This study reveals a potential for intensified and more sustainable meat and milk production through changes in feeding regimes.

ACS Style

M. A. Bhatti; W. Chanza; L. A. Kamwanja; S. Chikomola; M. Chipandula; A. Chikaonda; D. C. Jansen; S. Klevar; T. B. Klem; M. Stokstad; O. Reksen. Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive Performance, Lactation and Weight Gain in Calves. Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa 2020, 239 -248.

AMA Style

M. A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, L. A. Kamwanja, S. Chikomola, M. Chipandula, A. Chikaonda, D. C. Jansen, S. Klevar, T. B. Klem, M. Stokstad, O. Reksen. Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive Performance, Lactation and Weight Gain in Calves. Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa. 2020; ():239-248.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. A. Bhatti; W. Chanza; L. A. Kamwanja; S. Chikomola; M. Chipandula; A. Chikaonda; D. C. Jansen; S. Klevar; T. B. Klem; M. Stokstad; O. Reksen. 2020. "Effect of Dry Season Supplement Feeding of Malawi Zebu Cows on Reproductive Performance, Lactation and Weight Gain in Calves." Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa , no. : 239-248.

Chapter
Published: 18 March 2020 in Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa
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Smallholder Zebu cattle farming is of prime importance for the livelihood of Malawians, and optimising cattle reproductive efficiency represents one way to increase food production. The objective of this study was to determine the reproductive performance and associated factors in a cohort of Malawi Zebu cows (n = 100) across 36 smallholder farms for a 2-year period. The birth of a live calf was observed in 78 dams and stillbirths/late abortions in 5 cows, 14 cows were censored, and 3 cows did not calve throughout the study period. Median time from calving to resumption of luteal activity was 61 days. Mean calving interval was 457 days with 32% of the variation residing at herd level. A significant association was found between time from calving to conception (open days) and the presence of a breeding bull in a herd (156 versus 235 days) and between multiparous and primiparous cows (170 versus 220 days). Cows were screened three times, at 6-month interval, for antibodies against selected infectious agents. None were positive for Brucella spp., six were positive for bovine viral diarrhoea virus and two for N. caninum antibodies. No blood smears were positive for Babesia spp. or Theileria spp., but three were positive for Trypanosoma spp. Conclusively, this study indicated a low prevalence of the studied infections and a large potential for increased reproductive efficiency in Zebu cattle of this area. Particularly, the keeping of a herd-own bull, adequate breeding management and care of first parity cows seem to be key factors to increase reproductive efficiency and thereby food production from Malawi Zebu.

ACS Style

M. A. Bhatti; W. Chanza; S. Klevar; L. A. Kamwanja; T. B. Klem; D. C. Jansen; H. Holm; M. Chipandula; G. Njunga; M. Stokstad; O. Reksen. A Cohort Study of Reproductive Performance, Associated Infections and Management Factors in Zebu Cows from Smallholder Farms in Malawi. Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa 2020, 227 -238.

AMA Style

M. A. Bhatti, W. Chanza, S. Klevar, L. A. Kamwanja, T. B. Klem, D. C. Jansen, H. Holm, M. Chipandula, G. Njunga, M. Stokstad, O. Reksen. A Cohort Study of Reproductive Performance, Associated Infections and Management Factors in Zebu Cows from Smallholder Farms in Malawi. Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa. 2020; ():227-238.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. A. Bhatti; W. Chanza; S. Klevar; L. A. Kamwanja; T. B. Klem; D. C. Jansen; H. Holm; M. Chipandula; G. Njunga; M. Stokstad; O. Reksen. 2020. "A Cohort Study of Reproductive Performance, Associated Infections and Management Factors in Zebu Cows from Smallholder Farms in Malawi." Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource Sustainability in Africa , no. : 227-238.

Journal article
Published: 02 March 2020 in Small Ruminant Research
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This study compared the meat sensory profile of lambs (5 months old) and hoggets (17 months old) from two sheep breeds, Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Norwegian Spel (NS). The loin (left and right) samples (M longissimus thoracis et lumborum) from 50 carcasses were analysed for 23 sensory attributes by a trained sensory panel using quantitative descriptive analysis evaluated on an unstructured line scale from 1 (lowest intensity) to 9 (highest intensity). There was an effect (P < 0.05) of animal age on the attributes: odour (fried roasted, sheep and intensity), flavour (fried roasted, gamey, sheep, rancid and liver), hardness, tenderness, fatness, and coarse fibre structural unit. The loin muscles of lambs were scored significantly lower compared to that from the hoggets in all the sensory attributes except rancid odour, flavour, and juiciness. Sheep odour, hardness, and coarse fibre intensity differed between breeds (P < 0.05) – the NWS breed obtained a higher score than the NS breed. Meat from lambs of both breeds and the hogget NS breed was similar in tenderness while that from the NWS hoggets was scored lower by the panel. For the attribute hardness, lambs and hoggets were similar within each breed, except the NS hoggets were similar to NWS lambs. There was an interaction between animal age and breed (P < 0.05) for the fried roasted and gamey odour. The results indicate that animal age has a lower impact on eating quality for the NS breed than for the NWS breed. In the Norwegian scenario, the NS hoggets appear more suitable for supplying fresh out-of-season meat. Results should be confirmed with a larger sample size of both breeds.

ACS Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Mari Øvrum Gaarder; Geir Steinheim; David Laurence Hopkins; Reinert Horneland; Lars Olav Eik; Tormod Ådnøy. Lamb or hogget meat – A different sensory profile? Extending the fresh meat season in Norway. Small Ruminant Research 2020, 185, 106086 .

AMA Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti, Mari Øvrum Gaarder, Geir Steinheim, David Laurence Hopkins, Reinert Horneland, Lars Olav Eik, Tormod Ådnøy. Lamb or hogget meat – A different sensory profile? Extending the fresh meat season in Norway. Small Ruminant Research. 2020; 185 ():106086.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Azher Bhatti; Mari Øvrum Gaarder; Geir Steinheim; David Laurence Hopkins; Reinert Horneland; Lars Olav Eik; Tormod Ådnøy. 2020. "Lamb or hogget meat – A different sensory profile? Extending the fresh meat season in Norway." Small Ruminant Research 185, no. : 106086.

Review
Published: 14 March 2019 in Sustainability
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Norway is the largest sheep meat producer among Nordic countries with more than 1.3 million lambs and sheep slaughtered in 2017. The sheep industry is limited by the need for in-house feeding during the winter months. In summer, Norwegian sheep are mainly kept on rangeland pastures, with sufficient feed for almost double the current sheep population. Lambs are slaughtered over a three- to four-month period from September to December with a peak in September–October, providing a surplus of lamb, much of which is subsequently frozen, followed by eight months during which fresh produce is in limited supply. Norwegian consumers eat an average of 5.4 kg of sheep meat per person per year, much of which is purchased as a frozen product. The Muslim (4.2% of the population) preference for year-round halal meat, with an increased demand on the eve of the Muslim meat festival (Eid al-Adha), has the potential to boost demand, particularly in Oslo. This paper provides an overview of the Norwegian sheep farming system, the current market value chains, and the potential to meet the demand for halal meat in Norway (specifically during the Muslim meat festival—Eid al-Adha) to the advantage of both consumers and sheep farmers.

ACS Style

Muhammad Bhatti; Thomas Williams; David Hopkins; Leif Asheim; Geir Steinheim; Michael Campbell; Lars Eik; Peter Wynn; Tormod Ådnøy. Adapting Seasonal Sheep Production to Year-Round Fresh Meat and Halal Market in Norway. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1554 .

AMA Style

Muhammad Bhatti, Thomas Williams, David Hopkins, Leif Asheim, Geir Steinheim, Michael Campbell, Lars Eik, Peter Wynn, Tormod Ådnøy. Adapting Seasonal Sheep Production to Year-Round Fresh Meat and Halal Market in Norway. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (6):1554.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muhammad Bhatti; Thomas Williams; David Hopkins; Leif Asheim; Geir Steinheim; Michael Campbell; Lars Eik; Peter Wynn; Tormod Ådnøy. 2019. "Adapting Seasonal Sheep Production to Year-Round Fresh Meat and Halal Market in Norway." Sustainability 11, no. 6: 1554.