Dissertations / Theses: 'Livestock farming'

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Wong, Fung-yee, and 王鳳兒. "Planning for the livestock farming [in] Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1989. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31257598.

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Wong, Fung-yee. "Planning for the livestock farming [in] Hong Kong /." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1989. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B1275173X.

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PERRICONE, VERA. "NEW TECHNOLOGICAL AND NUTRITIONAL APPROACHES IN LIVESTOCK FARMING." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/709026.

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The livestock sector is facing a huge challenge trying to meet the increasing demand of animal products. To this end several efforts have been done to enhance animals’ performances, and nutrition provides a valuable asset. Animals’ performances can indeed be boosted through nutritional approaches, including both the application of technologies in a context of ‘precision nutrition’ and the administration of novel feed additives or feedstuffs with beneficial effects on animals’ health. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate 1) the proficiency of feeding systems for dairy cows (1st trial) and the suitability of sensor technology to ensure the fulfillment of cows’ nutrients requirement (2nd trial), and 2) the effectiveness of feed additives to improve animals’ health and consequently their performances (3rd and 4th trial). The first study investigated some aspects connected to the mixer wagon, and their influence on the preparation of the total mixed ration (TMR) for dairy cows. We evaluated how loading levels, cutting time, mixing time and their interaction can affect the homogeneity of the TMR along the feeding alley. The uneven distribution of the TMR along the feeding alley does not allow each animal to receive the same well-balanced diet, with the risk of not satisfying the nutritional requirements, finally impairing productive performances. Even though we identified the most efficient combination of loading levels, cutting, and mixing time, variations in the distribution of DM and NDF were observed, pointing out the necessity to investigate which other factors are influencing TMR preparation and distribution. In the second study we developed a system based on a microwave resonance sensor to optimize TMR preparation. Silages represent a large proportion of feeds included in the TMR, but their nutrient supply (on as fed basis) can vary among time due to moisture content fluctuations. For this reason, if their inclusion rate in the mixer wagon is not adjusted according to the actual dry matter (DM) content, ensuring the proper provision of nutrients, the delivered TMR might be different from the diet formulated by the nutritionist, with the risk of unfulfilling animals’ requirement. The sensor performed a real-time measurement of silages DM content during their loading in the mixer wagon and suggested a correction of their inclusion rate. Our hypothesis was that, adjusting the silages as fed inclusion rate according to the real DM content, the final TMR delivered to the animals would have been closer to the target diet. The employment of the sensor reduced the error in silages DM content loads, however the final TMR was not closer to the formulated diet compared to the TMR conventionally prepared. The lack of result was attributed to errors in the loading of dry feedstuffs (concentrates), which can equally affect TMR composition. Our results thus highlight the necessity of systems to improve the accuracy of TMR preparation. The third study was dedicated to the evaluation of the effectiveness of pomegranate rinds and green tea leaves extract on broiler chicken health and performances. We assessed the potential of the product to improve blood antiradical activity, as a way to increase animals’ defence against oxidative stress. We further investigated the effect on cecal microbiota, observing a positive modulation of beneficial bacterial population, such as Lactobacillaceae. Despite the positive results observed for health-related parameters, growth performances were not enhanced. Lastly, in the fourth study we investigated the effect of nucleotides supplementation to weaning piglets. Nucleotides play a fundamental role in the development of gastrointestinal mucosa and immune system, but due to the high demand in critical moments (i.e. weaning) and the reduced de novo synthesis, their supplementation might be beneficial for the animals. However, we did not observe positive effect of nucleotides supplementation on animals’ immune response, probably due to the optimal conditions where the animals were raised, which minimized the stress usually associated with weaning. Overall, these results contributed to the investigation of technological and nutritional approaches to improve the efficiency of animal feeding. However, further investigations are required to deepen our knowledge about the limitations that have been observed.

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Yee, Wallace Man Shek. "Food safety, consumer trust in livestock farmers and purchase likelihood." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1826/820.

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Food safety is an important issue facing consumers, the food industry and the government. Since consumers cannot themselves easily assess food safety risks, their perception of food safety is in part a matter of trust in the food chain. This study focuses on livestock farmers and investigates the causal relationship between the factors which determine consumer trust regarding food safety and in turn their purchase likelihood. The main research questions are: 1) What are the key factors which build consumer trust in this context? 2) What are the contributions of these factors to building consumer trust? 3) Is there any relationship between consumer trust and purchase likelihood? By integrating theories developed in several disciplines, six factors, namely: providing information, competence, integrity, benevolence, credibility and reliability were identified to have a strong influence on consumer trust in livestock farmers. An exploratory study in the form of face-to-face interviews was carried out to clarify the main concerns of livestock husbandry practices, and to identify the items to measure the causal factors of consumer trust in livestock farmers regarding food safety. Because the objectives set out in this study could not be achieved by using multiple regression, which could not handle latent variables, the conceptual model was tested with a quota sample of 194 individuals in the form of a Structural Equation Model using LISREL 8.30. It was proved successful in identifying the effects of the causal factors of trust to build consumer trust and in turn to affect purchase likelihood. The factor ‘providing information’ was identified to be a key factor by which trust is built and the features that lead to trust, namely: ‘competence’, ‘integrity’, ‘credibility’, ‘reliability’, and ‘benevolence’ were identified to be factors to build trust in livestock farmers. Representatives of the livestock industry were approached to confirm the relevance of the study and facilitate the interpretation of the findings. Though there is a limitation of its generalisation due to the sampling method, there is evidence that these factors are important to building consumer trust in livestock farmers regarding food safety. The evidence also suggests that there is a strong relationship between trust and consumer purchase likelihood. The research confirms that livestock farmers could draw benefit from strategies to increase their trustworthiness and in turn positively influence consumers’ purchasing decision. This study recommends further research to apply this model in other industries where the suppliers have little contact with consumers. The differences in trust building between cultures and the communication channels that livestock farmers representatives should used are also suggested for further study. Future research on how the food industry should respond to the change in consumer trust during periods of concern about food safety is also recommended. These are valid topics for future research and will provide potential benefits for consumers and food industry as a whole.

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Bramwell, Stephen George. "Mixed crop-livestock farming systems for the Inland Northwest, US." Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University, 2008. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Fall2008/s_bramwell_120308.pdf.

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Thesis (M.S. in soil science)--Washington State University, December 2008.
Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 15, 2009). "Department of Crop and Soil Science." Includes bibliographical references.

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Lieber, Matteo Johann <1997&gt. "Industrial livestock farming in China: economic, environmental, and ethical implications." Master's Degree Thesis, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10579/19881.

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In recent years, the rising food demand triggered by an increasing population, the acceleration of the urbanization rate, and rising incomes due to economic growth have caused a transformation in China’s agricultural sector and induced the nation’s current dietary shift from plant-based to animal-based food. The rapid growth of the industrial livestock farming sector to feed the country’s population and the associated exploitation of animals have not only raised ethical concerns but have also been called into question for their harmful impact on the environment. The debate of a more ethical treatment of animals and the questions about the harmful consequences of livestock farming on the environment are now more relevant than ever before. China has to face the difficult task of reconciling the two conflicting demands for animal food products and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, many of the ethical concerns regarding the systematic mass exploitation of animals to feed the country have remained unanswered. This thesis aims to examine the systematic exploitation of animals in China by analyzing the country’s meat consumption, industrial livestock production, and the associated environmental consequences and ethical issues. It aims to provide a better understanding of the human-animal relations in China and explore whether the current treatment of animals induced by the nation’s rapid economic growth is environmentally and morally sustainable.

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Ramisch, Joshua Joseph. "Cattle, cotton, and carts : livestock and agricultural intensification in southern Mali." Thesis, University of East Anglia, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.267525.

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A year-long case study of nutrient cycling within an agro-pastoral community of southern Mali revealed substantial differences in nutrient balances between households and between settlement sub regions of the study area. Inter-household differences should, in great part, bb attributed to differential access to livestock products such as manure and animal traction (both ox-ploughs and donkey carts). Exchanges of manure, carts, and ploughs between owners and non-owners of livestock account for the different levels of access. Exchanges within the settlement sub-regions were more numerous than those between them, had exchanges between e pastoral Fulani and the other communities were limited. The farming systems of the sub-regions presented three patterns of agricultural intensification: 1) cotton-centred rotations sing ploughs and carts to increase yields on perm - anently cultivated sites at the core of the village and in the adjacent hamlets,2 ) cotton-centred rotations on sandiers oils of the village periphery supported largely by intensive hand cultivation with the borrowing of carts to transport nutrients,and3 ) cereal-centred cultivation of small fields heavy manure by large cattle herds owned and managed by Fulani, with plough-ownerships seeming to ensure that household labour could remain available for herding. None of these models of intensification correspond fully with the owner/manager operation of a "mixed farm" and suggest that the potential for better crop-livestock integration in the sub-humidz one may be under-estimated and mis-represented by the "mixed farming" model. Although the overall nitrogen balance of the region after the 1996 cropping year was -8.2 kg N/ha, the different systems described above are associated with significantly different balances:the villa.g1 >. e core and hamlet cores were- 3.2 and- 4.7 kg N/ha, the village periphery- 21.4 kg N/ha, and the Fulani system+ 23.3k g N/ha. Phosphorus and potassium were in positive balance throughout the study area. 0 The different degrees of crop-livestock integration associated with each sub-region suggest that the importance of soil fertility problems must be understood with reference to local algro-pastoral practice. The growing livestock population and the presence of transhumant Fulani pastoralists in the sub-humid zone are key components of these practices and must not be excluded. The access of different actors to key resources such as manure, animal traction, pasture and crop-land deten-nine the ability to increase agricultural production and the degree to which agricultural intensification will mine the soil of nutrients. b ateg eneralisations about the extent of Regional or national studies that make aggregate nutrient loss misrepresent the soil fertility of the region, and risk feeding into an unrealistic" crisis narrative".

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Ferrari, S. "Scientific methodology for sound labelling in relation to precision livestock farming." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/157889.

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The analysis of animal sounds and vocalizations allows the interpretation of stress, behaviour or disease pattern in a non invasive way, and it might be used to assess welfare, management as well as health status and social adaptation (e.g. hierarchies ). Farm sanitary level especially is crucial for modern livestock farming where high animal density affect health. Monitoring animal health is vital for the sustainable management of a farm but it’s often difficult to apply punctually. The results of a low monitoring are increased disease rate, increased pharmacologic costs and decrease in quality and quantity of productions. In Italians intensive farming realities the main issue is given by respiratory pathologies , the second in incidence and prevalence after enteric diseases. Coughing is one of the most frequent presenting symptoms of many of them and it is a sudden air explosion in the airways followed by a characteristic sound. Being cough one of the body's defence mechanisms against respiratory infections, it can be a sign of disorder or infection of the respiratory system. It has been identified as an index for over 100 diseases and experienced physicians, in human medicine, can identify an infection based on the cough sound. But the importance of coughing as a means of prognosis refers also to animals: it has been shown that pig vocalisation is directly related to pain and classification of such sounds has been attempted; it is also common practice by veterinarians to assess cough sounds in pig houses for diagnostic purposes. However, this last approach cannot be used as a continuous monitoring and early warning for infections in pig houses since it is time limited and subjective. In this regard, there have been attempts to identify the characteristics of coughing in animals. More objective and automated detection of respiratory diseases in pig houses should be possible by on line sound analysis of cough monitoring. To develop automatic algorithms for pig cough recognition, experiments and well-labelled cough data are needed. The arguments exposed in this thesis are: (1) the attained results in cough recognition and classifications, (2) definition of methodology to label cough data and sound data in general in field condition, (3) the achieved results for sound source localization by sound analysis, (4) the steps toward the creation of an algorithm for automatic sounds recognition and localization, (5) the creation of a “labelling tool”. The first issue suppose that changes in cough character may have a considerable value in identifying the mechanisms of airway pathology present in respiratory diseases. The cough sounds gives information about the patophysiological mechanisms of coughing by indicating the structural nature of the tissues during pathology that leads to certain patterns of cough. Signal processing allowed to identify the peculiar features, in time and frequency domain, of different sound groups. Comparisons were based on the Root Mean Square (RMS) normalized pressure, the peak frequency (frequency with maximal energy content) and the duration of the signals (in s). The second argument developed is sound labelling which is fundamental for the steps of sound analysis, modelling and for the creation of the algorithm. Labelling is a manual procedure, based on acoustic analysis combined with visual spectral analysis, which is used to extract cough sounds from the entire recordings. In this thesis labelling is done manually, offline by the operator to extrapolate only those sounds that the visual observation of the spectrogram and the auditive confirmation classified as cough attacks. In this way we have obtained a database of various coughs sounds. For the third issue on sound localization an algorithm based on the “Time Difference of Arrival” (TDOA) of the signal in 7 microphones is proposed. It is shown that this computationally efficient method provides acceptable accuracy levels for the specific application. In the forth point of this discussion the time domain characteristics of sound signals have been investigated to evaluate their value to automatically classify sick coughs. The instantaneous energy of the signal is used to detect and extract individual sounds from a continuous recording and their duration is used as a pre–classifier. The sick cough identification algorithm is based on Auto Regression (AR) analysis of the signal and has been shown that the AR parameters of sick pig cough signals form a separate cluster from that of other sounds. The proposed localization algorithm is based on the time difference of arrival (TDOA) between the sound as received by 7 microphones. This technique is the first application for combined online cough recognition and localization presented in the relevant literature and can pose as a starting point for further research. The last subject of this thesis is the result of the effort to study sound characteristics and particularly cough sound features and it is concretised in a pc program called Labelling tool capable of automatic sound extraction from continuous recordings. Subsequently to the results obtained the bioacoustic approach may be directly applied to intensive farming systems where its efficiency will be tested along with the effect it can have on animal welfare, faster animal treatment, reduction of antibiotics and therefore pig health. By applying the system in the stables farmers will be provided of automatic cough counting and coughs positions visualization which will automatically monitor the spread of respiratory diseases and eventually contribute to early diagnosis of the disease bringing to antibiotics use reduction by means of selective, early treatment.

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Goncalves, Vitor Salvador Picoa. "Livestock production in Guinea-Bissau : development potentials and constraints." Thesis, University of Reading, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.259470.

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Van, Rooyen Jacques. "Livestock production and animal health management systems in communal farming areas at the wildlife-livestock interface in southern Africa." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/60128.

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Development of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) in southern Africa depends, among other, on the ability of stakeholders to find practical and sustainable solutions for wildlife‐livestock integration in the conservation landscape. Due to the presence of buffalo Syncerus caffer in most of the TFCAs in southern Africa, foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) has to be controlled in susceptible livestock species sharing the rangelands with wildlife. Conventional FMD control measures act as an additional burden on communal livestock producers and may hamper rural development and wildlife‐livestock integration even further. However, commodity‐based trade in the form of an integrated approach to the control of both food safety and disease risk along the entire beef value chain has been proposed as a more favourable alternative for ensuring market access for beef produced at the wildlife‐livestock interface. Such a non‐geographic based approach could allow for trade to continue despite high risk of FMD if appropriate disease risk and food safety measures are implemented by farmers and subsequent role players along the value chain and hence, could promote greater wildlife‐livestock compatibility.
The objective of the present study was to analyse beef production, health and trade systems of farmers at the wildlife‐livestock interface within foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) protection zones in order to identify challenges, risks and limitations that may limit compliance with proposed commodity‐based trade prerequisites as well as value chain participation. Based on the findings of this study a holistic, integrated approach is proposed at the village level that could be implemented to serve as an incentive for equitable participation by farmers whilst 1) addressing the risks and limitations of a farming system, 2) ensuring greater wildlife‐livestock compatibility, and 3) promote consistent market access by fulfilling the requirements of an integrated value chain approach based on commodity‐based trade standards.
A farming systems approach was used to investigate beef production, health and trade systems in FMD protection zones mainly within the Zambezi Region (ZR) of Namibia, which is situated within the KAZA TFCA (Kavango‐Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area), but also the Mnisi study area (MSA) in South Africa adjacent to the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). A combined qualitative and quantitative approach was used to assess and describe farmers’ perceptions in selected study areas about beef production, trade, and wildlife conservation. Secondary data obtained from state veterinary services, the Meatco abattoir in Katima Mulilo, as well as previous studies were analysed and modelled to describe spatial‐temporal trends in trade as well as cattle distribution in relation to resource availability.
The results indicate that beef production systems in some of the most remote areas of the ZR as well as in the MSA resemble a typical low‐input low‐output production system, mainly due to the high level of risk farmers had to cope with and the limited opportunity to offset losses. The major challenges within livestock farming in all the areas studied were animal diseases, grazing competition, predation, stock theft and contact with wildlife, although the importance of each varied between study areas. Herd size effect in the MSA significantly explained the variation in attitude towards trade, production and management of cattle between farmers with below average and farmers with above average herd sizes. In the MSA, home slaughter contributed significantly more to direct household food security in households with larger herd sizes than in households with smaller herd sizes, and in the ZR farmers with smaller herd sizes were discouraged from participation in formal trade.
The attitudes and perceptions of farmers In the ZR towards wildlife and conservation often varied between survey areas as a consequence of the variation in the geophysical properties of the landscape, proximity to conservation areas, as well as the form of the interface with conservation areas. The perceived spatial‐temporal movement of buffalo varied between survey areas in the ZR. However, the frequency and nature of buffalo‐cattle interaction was generally high and intimate. Most farmers associated buffalo with risk of disease, especially FMD, but some were more concerned about grazing competition and the negative effect on husbandry practises. Farmers readily deployed traditional risk mitigation tactics in the form of kraaling at night and herding at day to control the movement of their animals and to reduce risks. Herding was found to be a potential strategy to specifically mitigate cattlebuffalo contact despite the lack of evidence that an overall strategic approach to herding exist. Although the majority of farmers in the ZR were in favour of conservation and its benefits, the negative impact of increasing wildlife numbers on farmers’ attitudes was an indication that the generally positive sentiment was changing and may in future deter conservation efforts.
Indications are that the cattle population in the ZR at its estimated density and distribution had reached the ecological capacity of the natural resource base in the ZR and animal performance and survival was therefore subjected to increased variability in resource availability linked to climate change. The cattle population’s existence at ecological capacity and the inability of farmers to offset the loss of condition in the dry season with supplementary feed were reflected in the changes in carcass quality and grades across seasons. However, there was sufficient forage produced in the ZR to sustain animal performance to some extent throughout the year, but those areas with surplus forage existed beyond the assumed grazing range around villages and perennial rivers where most cattle and wildlife concentrate. The future ability of farmers to access such underutilised grazing resources in order to strategically counter the negative consequences of climate change and growing wildlife numbers could be an important coping and risk management mechanism linked to commodity‐based trade and sustained animal quality.
Regular FMD outbreaks had a significant impact on the consistency with which the Meatco abattoir in the ZR operated between the years 2007‐2011, with negative consequences to both farmers and the abattoir itself. It was found that the formal trade system in the ZR discriminated against farmers with below average herd sizes, and that the disposition held by farmers with smaller herd sizes are most significant in areas further than approximately 55km away from quarantine camps. Vegetation type and possible contact with buffalo or previous FMD outbreaks in the area did not significantly affect market participation nor off‐take rates at a crush‐pen level in the ZR. The negative effect that distance from a quarantine station had on formal off‐take rate and the level of sales to Meatco at crush‐pen level, was the most significant in the winter months and crush‐pens situated beyond 55km from a quarantine station. The results indicate that the trade range of the Meatco abattoir was less than its trade threshold which contributed to its struggle to sustain throughput and profitability.
Finally the loss of income farmers experienced in both the ZR and the MSA during simultaneous FMD outbreaks in the year 2012 was quantified, as well as the impact it had on livelihoods in the ZR. A commodity‐based trade approach may have reduced the impact on farmers’ income significantly. However, we farmers are unable to comply with the proposed requirements for mitigating risk and ensuring food safety and quality in such communal systems in the absence of interventions to build the necessary capacity and awareness. It is recommended that at the wildlife‐livestock interface such as those investigated in this study, an integrated value chain approach to trade could serve as a catalyst to incentivise and enable farmer participation in holistic, integrated rangeland and livestock management practises that will promote conservation and rural development.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
The Institute for Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
University of Pretoria
National Research Foundation of South Africa
Veterinary Tropical Diseases
PhD
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Rushton, Jonathan. "Quantitative methods for the economic assessment of smallholder crop-livestock farming systems." Thesis, University of Reading, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.336682.

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Kuiper, Saskia Marijke. "Is there a future for livestock farming in Southern Namibia's communal lands?" Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4776.

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Delve, Robert James. "Implications of livestock feeding management for soil fertility in smallholder mixed farming systems." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.312167.

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Ledda, C. "A NEW BIOREFINERY MODEL FOR LIVESTOCK FARMING: MICROALGAE CULTIVATION FOR ANIMAL SLURRIES VALORIZATION." Doctoral thesis, Università degli Studi di Milano, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2434/252234.

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Development of livestock farming sector poses serious concerns on its environmental impact due to the production of huge volume of slurries characterized by high concentrations of organic and mineral pollutants, mainly in the form of ammonia, phosphates and carbon compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possibility to use microalgae as a biological tool for the depuration of such wastewaters, assimilating the nutrients and producing an added value biomass to be used in different sectors such as the food and feed, nutraceutical and bioenergy. Chapter 1 deals with the study of a digestate treatment plant characterized by a series of physical-chemical treatments which depurate the liquid fraction of the digestate through membrane technology (ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis) allowing to discharge 50% of the slurry as clean water and to produce ammonium sulfate and nutrients-rich solids/concentrates usable as fertilizers. The ultrafiltration step produces also a clear permeate still rich in soluble nutrients that could be further used as a growth medium for microalgae production. Chapter 2 intended to demonstrate the possibility to integrate microalgae production with this system, helping to reduce the cost of slurry treatment and improving the energy balance of the process. The tolerance of the microalga Scenedesmus sp. to the permeate was evaluated, results demonstrating that percentage upper than 10% inhibited the growth of this microalga, but below this value productivity up to 124 mg L-1 d-1 could be obtained. The composition of the culture medium also influenced the biomass composition, with protein, carbohydrate and lipid content being a direct function of ammonia concentrations. It was then demonstrated that integrating microalgae production with anaerobic digestion it is possible to produce 166-190 t y-1 of microalgal valuable biomass. Chapter 3 focused on the possibility to exploit a wild microalga strain (Chlorella sp.), isolated in the farm, to improve the depuration of the digestate and the two digestate liquid fraction after centrifugation and ultrafiltration. The results demonstrated that digestate could not support a good growth, as the other two liquid stream, because of low light availability in the culture. Ultrafiltrate, on the other hand, resulted in the best biomass productivity (0.21 g L-1d-1) comparable to that obtained in a synthetic medium. All the streams were depurated with ammonia, phosphorus and COD reduction up to 98%, 99% and 70% respectively Besides these encouraging data it has been found that only 30% of the nitrogen were successfully incorporated in the microalgal biomass due to stripping processes, posing serious environmental concerns on the process In Chapter 4 astaxanthin-producer Haematococcus pluvialis was cultivated in a treated swine slurry with low-cost cascade filters. Although this microalga is slow-growing and very susceptible to contamination, it showed a sustained growth (up to 60 mg L-1 d-1 of biomass) in the waste stream reducing all the pollutants present in the wastewater. Moreover it accumulated a good amount of astaxanthin, improving the overall feasibility and sustainability of the process.

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McCormick, Finbar. "Stockrearing in Early Christian Ireland." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.253177.

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Bahlo, Christiane. "Open data and interoperability standards : opportunities for animal welfare in extensive livestock systems." Thesis, Federation University Australia, 2021. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/177520.

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Extensive livestock farming constitutes a sizeable portion of agriculture, not only in relation to land use, but in contribution to feeding a growing human population. In addition to meat, it contributes other economically valuable commodities such as wool, hides and other products. The livestock industries are adopting technologies under the banner of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) to help meet higher production and efficiency targets as well as help to manage the multiple challenges impacting the industries, such as climate change, environmental concerns, globalisation of markets, increasing rules of governance and societal scrutiny especially in relation to animal welfare. PLF is particularly dependent on the acquisition and management of data and metadata and on the interoperability standards that allow data discovery and federation. A review of interoperability standards and PLF adoption in extensive livestock farming systems identified a lack of domain specific standards and raised questions related to the amount and quality of public data which has potential to inform livestock farming. A systematic review of public datasets, which included an assessment based on the principles that data must be findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) was developed. Custom software scripts were used to conduct a dataset search to determine the quantity and quality of domain specific datasets yielded 419 unique Australian datasets directly related to extensive livestock farming. A FAIR assessment of these datasets using a set of non-domain specific, general metrics showed a moderate level of compliance. The results suggest that domain specific FAIR metrics may need to be developed to provide a more accurate data quality assessment, but also that the level of interoperability and reusability is not particularly high which has implications if public data is to be included in decision support tools. To test the usefulness of available public datasets in informing decision support in relation to livestock welfare, a case study was designed and farm animal welfare elements were extracted from Australian welfare standards to guide a dataset search. It was found that with few exceptions, these elements could be supported with public data, although there were gaps in temporal and spatial coverage. The development of a geospatial animal welfare portal including these datasets further explored and confirmed the potential for using public data to enhance livestock welfare.
Doctor of Philosophy

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Mrad, Meriam. "LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS AND FARMING STYLES: GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT, LANDSCAPE AND BIODIVERSITY, VENETO REGION, NE ITALY." Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Padova, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/11577/3427338.

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Traditional farming systems have been abandoned to the favour of intensified agricultural practices, due to environmental, structural, economic, and socio-political constraints. Consequently, mountain landscape and biodiversity were seriously affected. The aims of this PhD thesis were to study the widespread of the abandonment phenomenon, in particular in the Alpine area, in order to understand its driving forces. The first chapter was about farming abandonment in the mountain and marginal European areas, the main factors that leads to such event, the major consequences and possible solutions, focusing in particular on landscape and biodiversity issues. The second contribution was dealing with structural and productive features of the traditional farming sector in the Belluno province, where we have identified the main livestock production systems as well as the major farming styles. Our focus was mainly on landscape and open areas maintenance. The third chapter was set up in order to identify and study the main management systems of the summer pastures in the Veneto region as well as their economic convenience/inconvenience. Finally, the fourth contribution was about the different farming styles existing within the summer pastures of the Veneto region. Data were gathered by means of on-farm questionnaires, regarding technical, productive and non productive features. For statistical analysis, we used a multivariate approach through a non-hierarchical K-means clustering technique, to classify both farming systems and styles. A X2 was used to compare between farming systems within the study areas. In the Belluno province, 65 farms were considered for the study, and we were able to cluster the livestock production system into 6 different groups: 1- Intensive beef cattle; 2- Extensive beef cattle; 3- Large sheep and goats; 4- Small sheep and goats; 5- Intensive dairy cattle; 6- Extensive dairy cattle. Intensive systems were production-oriented, with large herds and modern structures, machineries and equipment, whereas the traditional ones were managed in a marginalised way due to obsolete and inadequate structures and equipment, but diversifying their production through on farm cheese making and mixed farming. These latter have proven to maintain more the pastures and meadows respect to the intensive systems, especially when the topographical conditions become harsh and hard. In the Alpine and sub-alpine part of the Veneto region, however, on the basis of 485 summer pasture units, we identified 7 different management systems: 1- Milk production; 2- Cheese production; 3- Agritourisms; 4- Disadvantaged; 5- Dry and replacement cows; 6- Dry cows and Small ruminants; 7- Long summering. The productive systems (Clusters 1, 2 and 3) were mainly targeting production, processing, and product retail, however, the non productive ones (Clusters 4, 5, 6, and 7), were mainly holding dry and replacement animals and were not interested in production or transformation. These different systems proved to concentrate spatially in different portions of the territory, showing the linkage between farming system and territory. Regarding the farming styles, in the Belluno province, we identified 4 different ways of farming: 1- Forced farmer; 2- Innovative/Organic farmer; 3- Innovative; 4- Traditionalist. Farming styles were distributed across all livestock systems, indicating the lack of a linkage between the assignment of a farm to a livestock system and the way the farm is managed. In the Alpine area of the Veneto region, however, we identified other 4 different farming styles: 1- Young traditionalist; 2- Mature traditionalist; 3- Young businessman; 4- Mature businessman. Businessmen were those prevailing the diversification of their production to increase the farm income, however, traditionalists were those maintaining a traditional farming with low economic motivation and toward product transformation and retail. In general, we found that the variability of livestock production systems in mountain areas is high, they differ not only in production practices but also in the ability to maintain landscape. Moreover, within a given livestock system, farms might be managed with different styles, which implies that public support as well as policy decisions should take into consideration these features and integrate the definition of livestock systems with the assessment of farming styles in order to better define the aid strategies of the entire mountain farming sector. Keywords: Livestock production systems, Farming styles, summer pastures, Alps.
I sistemi agricoli tradizionali sono stati abbandonati a favore di pratiche agricole più intensive, per motivi ambientali, strutturali, economici e socio-politici. Di conseguenza, il paesaggio montano e la sua biodiversità sono stati gravemente colpiti. Gli obiettivi di questa tesi di dottorato sono stati di studiare la diffusione del fenomeno di abbandono, in particolare nella zona alpina, al fine di comprenderne le cause. Il primo capitolo era relativo all’abbandono dell’agricoltura e in particolare della zootecnia nelle aree montane e marginali Europee, considerando i principali fattori, conseguenze e possibili soluzioni. Un interesse particolare era dedicato al cambiamento del paesaggio e della biodiversità. Il secondo contributo riguardava gli aspetti strutturali e produttivi della zootecnia tradizionale nella provincia di Belluno, dove abbiamo identificato i principali sistemi produttivi così come gli stili aziendali più importanti. Il nostro interesse era principalmente mirato verso il paesaggio e il mantenimento delle aree aperte. Il terzo capitolo aveva come scopo di identificare i sistemi di gestione delle malghe della regione del Veneto e la loro sostenibilità economica tramite lo sviluppo di un indice economico di vantaggio/svantaggio. In fine, il quarto contributo riguardava i diversi stili di gestione delle malghe del Veneto. I dati sono stati raccolti per mezzo di questionari con visita diretta, riguardando le caratteristiche tecniche, produttive e non produttive delle aziende/malghe. Per l'analisi statistica, abbiamo utilizzato un approccio multivariato attraverso la tecnica di clustering K-means non-gerarchico, per classificare sia i sistemi di allevamento che i stili. Un X2 è stato utilizzato per confrontare tra i sistemi di allevamento all'interno delle aree di studio. Nella provincia di Belluno, 65 aziende sono state considerate per lo studio, e siamo stati in grado di raggruppare i sistemi di allevamento in 6 diversi gruppi: 1- Bovini da carne intensivo; 2- Bovini da carne estensivo; 3- Ovicaprini grandi, 4- Ovicaprini piccoli, 5- Vacche da latte intensivo, 6- Vacche da latte estensivo. I sistemi zootecnici intensivi sono orientati verso la produzione, con mandrie di grandi dimensioni, strutture ed attrezzature moderne, mentre quelli tradizionali sono stati gestiti in modo estensivo a causa di strutture obsolete ed attrezzature inadeguate, ma diversificano la loro produzione attraverso la produzione di formaggio ed allevamenti misti. Questi ultimi hanno dimostrato di mantenere di più i prati e pascoli rispetto ai sistemi intensivi, soprattutto quando le condizioni topografiche diventano dure e difficili. Nell'area alpina e sub-alpina della regione Veneto, tuttavia, sulla base di 485 malghe, abbiamo individuato 7 diversi sistemi di gestione: 1- Malghe con produzione di latte, 2- Malghe con produzione di formaggio, 3- Agriturismi, 4- Malghe svantaggiate; 5- Malghe di vacche in asciutta o da rimonta; 6- Malghe di vacche in asciutta e piccoli ruminanti, 7- Malghe di lunga monticazione. I sistemi produttivi (cluster 1, 2 e 3) mirano la produzione, trasformazione e vendita al dettaglio dei prodotti, tuttavia, quelli non produttivi (cluster 4, 5, 6 e 7), erano principalmente malghe che caricano animali in asciutta e quindi non sono interessate alla produzione o trasformazione. Questi diversi sistemi hanno dimostrato una concentrazione spaziale nelle diverse parti del territorio, mostrando il legame tra sistemi di gestione delle malghe e territorio. Per quanto riguarda gli stili di allevamento, in provincia di Belluno, abbiamo individuato 4 stili diversi: 1- Agricoltore forzato; 2- Agricoltore innovativo/biologico, 3- Innovativo; 4- Tradizionalista. Gli stili di allevamento sono stati distribuiti in tutti i sistemi zootecnici, che indica la mancanza di un collegamento tra l'assegnazione di un’azienda appartenendo ad un sistema di allevamento e il modo in cui l'azienda è gestita. Nella zona alpina della regione Veneto, tuttavia, abbiamo individuato altri 4 stili diversi di allevamento: 1- Tradizionalista giovane; 2- Tradizionalista maturo, 3- Imprenditore giovane, 4- Imprenditore maturo. Gli imprenditori sono stati quelli che miravano la diversificazione della loro produzione per aumentare il reddito aziendale, tuttavia, i tradizionalisti sono stati quelli che hanno mantenuto i sistemi di allevamento tradizionali e che hanno una bassa motivazione economica e verso la trasformazione e la vendita dei prodotti. In generale, la variabilità dei sistemi zootecnici di produzione è alta nelle zone di montagna, essi differiscono non solo nelle tecniche di produzione, ma anche nella capacità di mantenere il paesaggio e le aree aperte. Inoltre, all'interno di un determinato sistema di allevamento, le aziende potrebbero essere gestite con stili diversi, il che implica che il sostegno pubblico, nonché le decisioni politiche dovrebbero prendere in considerazione queste caratteristiche e integrare la definizione dei sistemi di gestione con la valutazione degli stili di allevamento, al fine di definire meglio le strategie di sostegno di tutto il settore agricolo montano.

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18

Fryganas, Christos. "Investigations into the chemical analysis and bioactivity of plant proanthocyanidins to support sustainable livestock farming." Thesis, University of Reading, 2017. http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/74120/.

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Proanthocyanidins (PA) in some forage legumes have been linked to contradictory effects in animal health and nutrition. Ruminants fed with PA-containing plants do not suffer from bloat and can also reduce gastrointestinal parasite infections, improve protein use efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Plants have a wide range of PA contents and compositions. Therefore, screening tools are required to determine the optimal contents and types to exploit PA bioactivities on farms. This research initially focused on the identification and isolation of PAs with contrasting characteristics from various plant species. These samples were then used to develop novel methods such as UPLC-ESI-MS/MS and 13C HSQC NMR for extractable PAs and 13C CPMAS NMR for PAs within plants, and to probe structure-activity relationships. These PAs were also subjected to complementary analytical methods, which demonstrated that depolymerisation techniques can provide quantitative information on PA contents and compositions and mass spectrometric techniques on molecular distributions. These analyses revealed an enormous range of molecular profiles. This diversity, however, led to good but not excellent correlations between the degradation methods. It also affected mass spectrometric and liquid-state NMR responses. In particular, there were some discrepancies between thiolysis-HPLC and UPLC-ESI-MS/MS results of sainfoin PA extracts. For solid-state NMR, the PAs from model plants proved too homogeneous for the analysis of the highly complex PAs in sainfoin plants. Nevertheless, this method could rank accessions on the basis of PA composition and discriminated between plant organs via signature spectra. Therefore, final decisions on which of these methods to use will depend on the research objectives and sample numbers. Finally, anti-parasitic assays discovered that the in vitro exsheathement inhibition of the abomasal parasite, Haemonchus contortus was dependent on the average molecular size of purified PA mixtures. In addition, collaborative studies showed that prodelphinidins or PA size also affected some anti-parasitic and ruminal fermentation results.

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Murithi, Festus Meme. "Economic evaluation of the role of livestock in mixed smallholder farms of the central highlands of Kenya." Thesis, University of Reading, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.266341.

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Bendaoud, Mohamed Lahbib. "Modelling crop-livestock farming systems in semi-arid areas; A case study in North West Syria." Thesis, University of Reading, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.515760.

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21

Banerjee, Soma. "Investigations on the potentialities of crop-livestock-fish integrated farming system for the marginal farmers in terai region of West Bengal." Thesis, University of North Bengal, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1453.

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22

Samuel, Tefera Alemu. "Re-harmonizing the Changes in Livestock Mobility, Land Use and Sedentarization in Hamer, Southwestern Ethiopia." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/199428.

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Kyoto University (京都大学)
0048
新制・課程博士
博士(地域研究)
甲第19104号
地博第178号
新制||地||61(附属図書館)
32055
京都大学大学院アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科アフリカ地域研究専攻
(主査)教授重田眞義, 教授太田至, 准教授山越言, 助教佐川徹
学位規則第4条第1項該当

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23

Johansson, Nicklas. "Effekter av kameraövervakning av boskap hos sex lantbrukare i Sverige." Thesis, Karlstads universitet, Handelshögskolan (from 2013), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-70935.

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Bakgrund: Lantbruket står inför stora framtida utmaningar som t.ex. stora befolkningsökningar och minskade jordbruksarealer. Ett förslag för att lösa en del av problemet och öka effektiviteten inom lantbruket är att implementera och använda olika digitala tjänster och produkter. Ett av koncepten för den digitala tekniken som har lyfts fram av bland annat EU är Smart farming. Konceptet är brett och innefattar många olika tekniska lösningar, varav en av dessa är kameraövervakning av boskapsdjur. Frågeställning: Har de lantbrukare som använder kameraövervakning av boskapsdjur upplevt en förändring av sin livskvalitet och har användningen av tekniken medfört några ekonomiska effekter? Metod: Ett kvalitativt angreppssätt valdes där sex lantbrukare intervjuades i semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultat: De medverkande lantbrukarna var överlag positiva till kameraövervakningssystemen och flera av lantbrukarna anser att tekniken möjliggjort att de kunnat spara tid och att djur i viss utsträckning kunnat räddats. Flera av lantbrukarna menar också att användandet av kameraövervakningssystemen lett till positiva effekter gällande deras livskvalitet, där det framför allt var möjligheten att kunna spendera mer tid med familj och ökad flexibilitet som var bidragande. Slutsatser: Undersökningens resultat tyder på att kameraövervakningssystemen kan spara tid och pengar för lantbrukarna och att den upplevda livskvaliteten förbättras. Den grupp respondenter i undersökningen som upplevde störst effekter av kameraövervakningen var mindre lantbruk. Kameraövervakningen användes till flera olika ändamål, t.ex. brottsförebyggande, kalvning, personalsäkerhet, övervakning av foderbord, lösdrift samt gård och ägor.

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Kassa, Belay Habtemariam. "Livestock and livelihood security in the Harar highlands of Ethiopia : implications for research and development /." Uppsala : Dept. of Rural Development Studies, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, 2003. http://epsilon.slu.se/a388-ab.html.

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25

Tukana, Andrew, University of Western Sydney, of Science Technology and Environment College, and School of Environment and Agriculture. "A study of biogas digesters as an animal waste management tool on livestock farming systems in Fiji." THESIS_CSTE_EAG_Tukana_A.xml, 2005. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/632.

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Ever since 1976, livestock farmers in Fiji have been intrigued about biogas digesters as an animal waste management measure, but the concept has never evolved into one that is sustainable. Renewed interest came in 1997 after a better Chinese Modified Dome (CMD) design was established, with this came government funding, however by 2002, some failure was also observed. This study set out to investigate the reasons why biogas digesters have never been established as a sustainable concept, its effectiveness as an animal waste management tool and what changes if any, can be made to try and influence the further development of the concept in Fiji. In order to achieve the objectives, which were simply obtaining the answers to the questions presented above, several different approaches had to be followed. This study was the first on biogas digesters in Fiji and it was unique in the sense that the major component dealt with the social aspects of farmers in relation to their biogas digesters. Basically the study was carried out in two parts - desktop studies and field studies. Desktop studies were done to better understand the situation while the field studies included semi-structured interviews with the farmers as well as the collection of biophysical data. Twelve outcomes are presented in chapter 7 of this paper. Two in particular are the improvement of construction and maintenance, which can only come about through training. The research questions are also answered in chapter 7, with recommendations put forward on possible directions to take in terms of trying to influence the development of the concept in Fiji
Master of Science (Hons)

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Tukana, Andrew. "A study of biogas digesters as an animal waste management tool on livestock farming systems in Fiji." Thesis, View thesis, 2005. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/632.

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Ever since 1976, livestock farmers in Fiji have been intrigued about biogas digesters as an animal waste management measure, but the concept has never evolved into one that is sustainable. Renewed interest came in 1997 after a better Chinese Modified Dome (CMD) design was established, with this came government funding, however by 2002, some failure was also observed. This study set out to investigate the reasons why biogas digesters have never been established as a sustainable concept, its effectiveness as an animal waste management tool and what changes if any, can be made to try and influence the further development of the concept in Fiji. In order to achieve the objectives, which were simply obtaining the answers to the questions presented above, several different approaches had to be followed. This study was the first on biogas digesters in Fiji and it was unique in the sense that the major component dealt with the social aspects of farmers in relation to their biogas digesters. Basically the study was carried out in two parts - desktop studies and field studies. Desktop studies were done to better understand the situation while the field studies included semi-structured interviews with the farmers as well as the collection of biophysical data. Twelve outcomes are presented in chapter 7 of this paper. Two in particular are the improvement of construction and maintenance, which can only come about through training. The research questions are also answered in chapter 7, with recommendations put forward on possible directions to take in terms of trying to influence the development of the concept in Fiji

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Tukana, Andrew. "A Study of biogas digesters as an animal waste management tool on livestock farming systems in Fiji /." View thesis, 2005. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20060502.151953/index.html.

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Thesis (M. Sc.) (Hons) -- University of Western Sydney, 2005.
" A thesis presented to the School of Environment and Agriculture, University of Western Sydney, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Honours)." Includes bibliography : leaves 165 -175, and appendices.

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28

Van, der Merwe Schalk. "Is commercial livestock farming environmentally viable within the Orange and Fish River catchment area (OFCA) of Southern Namibia?" Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4811.

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Includes bibliographical references.
There are neither historical nor current baseline information relating to the productivity of the OFCA veld and a definite link between the current crisis and the possibly that it is suffering from the effects of having farmed the OFCA veld into a state of durable suboptimal productivity remains to be conclusively established. This current study has been undertaken in order to investigate such a possible link, and to reach a more definite conclusion with regards to the contribution of negative environmental feedback which may have arisen from commercial farming. Specifically, the study investigates the relationship between commercial livestock grazing regimes, possible associated resource degradation (losses in veld productivity and adverse structuring of botanical communities due to livestock grazing effects), and the current productive crisis within the sector.

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PHAM, HUONG GIANG. "Study on material cycles and waste management of an integrated crop-livestock-fish farming system in suburban Hanoi, Vietnam." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/199483.

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30

Olbrich, Roland [Verfasser], and Stefan [Akademischer Betreuer] Baumgärtner. "Environmental Risk and Sustainability: The Case of Commercial Livestock Farming in Semi-Arid Rangelands / Roland Olbrich. Betreuer: Stefan Baumgärtner." Lüneburg : Universitätsbibliothek der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 2012. http://d-nb.info/1034147544/34.

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31

Gedikoglu, Haluk McCann Laura. "Adoption of nutrient management practices." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/6614.

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Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 17, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Thesis advisor: Dr. Laura McCann. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Wendlandt, Sarah [Verfasser]. "Comparative molecular analysis of Staphylococcus aureus from intensive livestock farming with emphasis on LA-MRSA of poultry origin / Sarah Wendlandt." Hannover : Bibliothek der Tierärztlichen Hochschule Hannover, 2014. http://d-nb.info/1054407479/34.

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33

Van, der Merwe Sarel Johannes. "The impact of pastoral farming and wildlife management practices on lion-livestock interactions in the Kgalagadi-South region of Botswana." Thesis, Bloemfontein : Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/118.

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Thesis (D. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009
All over the African continent south of the Sahara Desert, African lion numbers are plummeting to levels where, over large areas of their remaining distribution range, extinction has become a real threat. The main reason for the decreasing numbers is the increasing conflict between livestock farmers and lions. Lions are forced to kill livestock where their natural prey has been squeezed out by livestock and associated farming practices, and the farmers find it necessary to protect their livelihoods, often through the indiscriminate killing of lions. In the Kgalagadi-South region of Botswana, lion/livestock interactions present a challenge to livestock owners and wildlife managers alike. The relatively low ecological carrying capacity and occupied lion habitats in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) force some expelled young adult and sub-adult lions southwards into the adjoining Wildlife Management Area (WMA) KD/15, which separates the KTP and the communal grazing area. This WMA most likely also contains resident prides. Some of these predators sporadically enter the livestock grazing area. Similarly, large stock often enters the WMA. It is mostly these boundary transgressions that result in livestock killing, and the reaction of livestock owners often leads to the killing of lions. To gather information concerning the nature and extent of the situation, two questionnaires were prepared with the assistance of the Department of Biostatistics of the University of the Free State, South Africa. One questionnaire targeted livestock owners while the other was aimed at wildlife officials of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Botswana and SANParks in South Africa. Both covered the five-year period 2002-2006. A trial run was carried out to adjust to problem-specific circumstances before fieldwork commenced. Fieldwork was done during four consecutive seasons – in January, February, April and December 2007. Thirty livestock respondents and 13 wildlife officials were interviewed during the first two excursions into the study area. The third visit was to plot the cut-line between the WMA and the grazing area (by means of a Global Positioning System or GPS) and to make first-hand observations regarding movement over the cut-line. During all four visits the environmental (including grazing) conditions and density and distribution of wildlife and stock were observed in both the WMA and the grazing areas. The information gathered points towards a seemingly unsolvable situation. The exceptionally high daytime temperatures and food scarcity, brought about by erratic rainfall, overgrazing near boreholes, generally low carrying capacity and low phosphorus (P) levels, force large stock, i.e. cattle, horses, donkeys and mules, to graze far away from the safety of the cattle-posts during the cool hours of the night, thus making kraaling impractical. Such circumstances enhance exposure to lion predation especially in or near the WMA and the KTP fence. Some lions also penetrate deep into the grazing areas, especially in the arid western part of the study area. This study revealed certain weaknesses in current wildlife and livestock management practices in the study area, the sum of which put both farmers and the lion population under extreme pressure. Most of these shortcomings can be rectified without drastic invasive methods. Such adjustments can result in improved livestock and wildlife utilisation and protection of the lions. For example: the placement of mixed phosphorus and salt licks near cattle-posts to fulfil the need for vital micro and macro elements; addressing unnecessary livestock losses, which contribute to a lower income and less tolerance towards predation (e.g. botulism, which may stem from stock chewing on bones in their desire for more phosphorus, and losses to black-backed jackal, Canis mesomelas, in poorly maintained kraals); more drinking troughs at boreholes to prevent unnecessary shoving and minimise energy waste; and the introduction of more bulls to herds to increase the calving percentage. The study further concluded that there is little reason why stockowners should consider protecting lions. It suggests that significant value can be added to the wildlife (and the protection of lions) in the specific area by making farmers and other local residents share in the relatively untapped ecotourism potential of the area.

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34

Lippmann, Jens. "Abluftführung in der Legehennenhaltung." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2011. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-70234.

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Zur Klimagestaltung in Legehennenställen werden primär Unterdrucklüftungssysteme mit einem Luftwechsel nach dem Strahllüftungsprinzip entlang der Querachse des Stalls eingesetzt. Zur besseren Frischluftversorgung im Tierbereich werden zunehmend Unterdrucklüftungssysteme mit einem Luftwechsel nach dem Tunnelprinzip entlang der Längsachse des Stalls eingesetzt. Im Projekt werden die beiden Luftwechselvarianten verglichen, um Kenndaten zu ausgewählten Stallraumlasten sowie zum Luft- und Volumenstrom für die Varianten zu bestimmen und hieraus Bewertungen zu Staub-, Geruchs- und Ammoniakemissionen abzuleiten. Die Ammoniakemissionen sind bei der Tunnellüftung gegenüber Strahllüftung niedriger, die Staubemissionen sind dagegen bei der Strahllüftung geringer. Für die Geruchsemissionen wurden keine Unterschiede festgestellt. Die Voliereblöcke erzeugen im Stallraum Strömungsbarrieren und werden von der Frischluft weitgehend umströmt. Hierdurch entstehen deutliche Luftwechselunterschiede zwischen dem frei durchströmbaren Stallraum und dem Innenbereich der Voliereblöcke.

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35

Onyango, Alice Anyango [Verfasser], and Uta [Akademischer Betreuer] Dickhöfer. "Contribution of smallholder ruminant livestock farming to enteric methane emissions in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya / Alice Anyango Onyango ; Betreuer: Uta Dickhöfer." Hohenheim : Kommunikations-, Informations- und Medienzentrum der Universität Hohenheim, 2018. http://d-nb.info/1156920612/34.

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36

Hyvärinen, Olli. "Long-term Vegetation Change Before and After Converting from Livestock farming to Game Ranching in Asante Sana Game Reserve, South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/28930.

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Although wildlife production is widely considered beneficial for semi-arid environments, few studies have reported on the long-term environmental effects of converting from livestock production to game ranching. Asante Sana Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape has centuries old land use history, during which it was cultivated and heavily overgrazed by domestic livestock with associated loss in vegetation productivity and subsequent soil erosion. After 1996 game ranching was adopted in the reserve, with observed positive results on vegetation productivity. This thesis investigates the long-term (1987-2017) spatial and temporal change in vegetation in the reserve. It documents the change in vegetation types and cover using Landsat Top of Atmosphere (TOA) reflectance multispectral data and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI). Correlative relationships between vegetation cover and different drivers (e.g. rainfall, fire and stocking density) are explored using generalized linear mixed models and the implications of the findings for reserve management are discussed. The results show that the relative area of Thicket has increased over time at the expense of Grassland and Shrubland while Bare-ground has expanded into Shrubland and Thicket. A ground-truthing exercise revealed a significant (p<0.01, R2 = 0.6) positive relationship between the vegetation cover estimated on the ground and satellite derived SAVI values, suggesting that SAVI can be used as a proxy for vegetation cover. Overall vegetation productivity increased over time, with the greatest increases in Thicket and Cultivated land and the lowest in Shrubland and Bare-ground. Grassland and Riverine thicket experienced surprisingly small increases in productivity, which can be explained by high prevalence of grazing ungulates and elephants in areas of Grassland and Riverine thicket respectively. Rainfall, burning and stocking numbers all had an effect on productivity in the reserve. Rainfall had clearly the strongest influence, supporting the non-equilibrium theory for semi-arid rangelands. The management can undertake restoration actions such as tree thinning, erosion control and prevention as well as fencing off affected Grassland and Riverine thicket. A long-term ecological monitoring programme should be established for the reserve for improved understanding of the vegetation dynamics so that effective evidence-based management decisions can be undertaken.

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Casten, Carlberg Carl Johan, and Elsa Jerhamre. "Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture : Opportunities and Challenges." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Avdelningen för datorteknik, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-443576.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in different parts of society for providing decision support in various activities. The agricultural sector is anticipated to benefit from an increased usage of AI and smart devices, a concept called smart farming technologies. Since the agricultural sector faces several simultaneous challenges, such as shrinking marginals, complicated pan-European regulations, and demands to mitigate the environmental footprint, there are great expectations that smart farming will benefit both individual farmers and industry stakeholders. However, most previous research focuses only on a small set of characteristics for implementing and optimising specific smart farming technologies, without considering all possible aspects and effects. This thesis investigates both technical and non-technical opportunities and hurdles when implementing AI in Swedish agricultural businesses. Three sectors in agriculture are scrutinized: arable farming, milk production and beef production. As a foundation for the thesis, a literature review revises former research on smart farming. Thereafter, an interview study with 27 respondents both explores the susceptibility and maturity of smart farming technologies and provides examples of technical requirements of three chosen applications of AI in agriculture. Findings of the study include a diverse set of aspects that both enable and obstruct the transition. Main identified opportunities are the importance smart farming has on the strategic agendas of several industry stakeholders, the general trend towards software technology as a service through shared machinery, the vast amount of existing data, and the large interest from farmers towards new technology. Contrasting, the thesis identifies main hurdles as technical and legislative challenges to data ownership, potential cybersecurity threats, the need for a well-articulated business case, and the sometimes lacking technical knowledge within the sector. The thesis concludes that the macro trend points towards a smart farming transition but that the speed of the transformation will depend on the resolutions for the identified obstacles.

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Kaltz, Andrea, Johannes Jacob, Steffen Pache, Henning Andreae, and Horst-Günter Kath. "Stickstoffdynamik im Umfeld von Rinderanlagen." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2011. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-62927.

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An zwei sächsischen Rinderanlagen in Waldnähe wurde zwei Jahre lang der Einfluss der Ammoniakemission auf die räumliche und zeitliche Dynamik der Stickstoffbelastung im Umfeld der Betriebe durch Messung von Immission, Deposition und Transmissionsbedingungen untersucht. Zur Anwendung kam eine neue Methode, die auf Basis kontinuierlicher Messungen von Ammoniakimmissionen und meteorologischen Parametern die Rückrechnung auf anlagenbezogene Emissionen ermöglicht. Dabei wurden zwei Messverfahren bewertet: DOAS-Trasse und Passivsammler. Alle Messpunkte im Umfeld der Betriebe zeigten einen deutlich erhöhten Ammoniumanteil am anorganischen Stickstoffeintrag. An den Referenzpunkten im Freiland wurden ca. 15 kg/(ha a) höhere Stickstoffdepositionen als an den Dauerbeobachtungsflächen des ländlichen Hintergrunds ermittelt. Die Stickstoffgesamtdeposition lag an allen Messpunkten deutlich über den für Nadelwald definierten empirischen Critical Loads. Dennoch sind die Wälder bisher nicht geschädigt.

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Hashe, Luvuyo E. "The role of the state and the environment in indigenous livestock farming: a case study of Debe Marela, Middledrift area, Eastern Cape." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/372.

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The study focused on the role of the State and the environment in indigenous livestock farming in Debe Marela in Middledrift. Although communal farmers in the area used ethnoveterinary medicines to treat and prevent animal diseases, they also widely used conventional medicines, as these often provided a remedy to animal diseases. The livestock farmers believed in indigenous knowledge which empowered them in using herbs to a certain extent, but the latter was preferred. The Department of Agriculture has featured as a support institution and although livestock farmers in the area have participated in and benefitted from state programmes, they believe that they needed more interventions such as visits from veterinary surgeons, Extension Officers and Animal Health Technicians. The study therefore attempts to address the gaps highlighted in the work of other researchers.

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Giersberg, Mona Franziska [Verfasser]. "Collection of biometric data as an animal based approach for the assessment of minimum space requirements in livestock farming / Mona Franziska Giersberg." Hannover : Bibliothek der Tierärztlichen Hochschule Hannover, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1136159762/34.

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41

Jemaa, Tasnim. "Stratégies d'adaptation des systèmes d'élevage ovins et modes d'utilisation des parcours en Tunisie Centrale." Thesis, Montpellier, SupAgro, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016NSAM0025/document.

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Le développement de l’agriculture en Tunisie Centrale a favorisé l’expansion des cultures au détriment des terres de parcours et du secteur de l’élevage. L’arboriculture surtout d’oliviers, s’est développée grâce à la privatisation des terres collectives. En conséquence, il y a une régression de la superficie des parcours steppiques qui a été amplifié par très forte augmentation démographique dans les années 1970-90. En revanche, le cheptel national a connu une importante croissance, bien que pour la majorité des troupeaux, la végétation pastorale couvre à peine 20 % des besoins alimentaire des animaux. Ce taux a chuté de façon très importante et de façon continue depuis 1995. Cette évolution induit une double problématique de vulnérabilité de la majorité des élevages : la dépendance à la disponibilité et prix des aliments concentrés ; les aléas météorologiques dont dépend les différentes sources de pâtures. Notre questionnement généralement porte sur la diversité des voies d’adaptations à ces facteurs de transition et les différences de vulnérabilité selon les choix d’adaptation des éleveurs. Nos travaux confirment que la chute de la couverture alimentaire par la végétation des parcours est de l’ordre de 80 % en 6 ans. Cette contribution des parcours à l’alimentation des parcours repose essentiellement sur les parcours améliorés, qui représentent 75 % de la superficie des parcours collectifs et domaniaux. La gestion par les services de l’Etat de l’accès à ces parcours permet une utilisation saisonnière, évitant des charges trop importantes. Cette régulation, imposée au travers du paiement d’un droit d’accès et d’un contrôle par des agents de l’Etat présents sur le terrain, semble plutôt bien fonctionner, d’un point de vue préservation de la ressource.Les parcours naturels (non gérés par les services de l’Etat) sont quant à eux très peu fréquentés. Cette très faible utilisation est le reflet de décisions individuelles des éleveurs face à l’état de ces parcours. Le passage d’un système pastoral à un système agropastoral, voir à territoire essentiellement de cultures s’avère une réalité, dans le cadre d’une transition de quelques décennies. Nos travaux permettent d’estimer que les concentrés constituent de 13 à 24 % de la matière sèche ingérée par les brebis, selon les 3 types d’élevage naisseurs. Le reste de l’ingéré correspond à des fourrages, distribués : foin, cactus… ; ou pâturés : chaumes de céréales, céréales sinistrées, déprimage, repousses ou végétation des parcours. Un système agriculture-élevage émerge nettement qui produit 3 agneaux par brebis en deux ans. Nos études sur l’identification des différentes formes d’adaptation, révèlent des pistes pour trouver des voies alternatives de gestion des parcours aptes à maintenir le renouvellement des ressources pastorales et de créer des nouvelles stratégies agropastorales
The Tunisian agriculture development is supporting the expansion of cultivated area in favor to the grounds of rangeland relative to the breeding sector. The arboriculture especially olive-trees was developed thanks to the privatization of the collective grounds. In addition a significant demographic increase amplified strongly the regression surface regression of the steppe rangeland between 1970 and 1990. On the other hand, the national livestock showed a considerable growth, while the pastoral vegetation covers hardly 20% of the food needs of the animals for the majority of the herds. Since 1995, this rate is decreasing significantly and continuously, This evolution induces double problems vulnerability of the majority of the breeding. In fact is depending on the availability and the price of concentrated food and the weather risks which various sources on grazing are depending. Our questioning is related to the diversity of the adaptation ways to these heavy transition factors and the differences in vulnerability of the adaptation of the stock breeders. Our study confirms that the rangeland vegetation is covering about 80% of the food needs during six years. This contribution is primarily resulting to the improved rangeland, which are accounting for 75% of the surface of the collective and domanial rangeland. The state management of the rangeland access allows a seasonal use which is avoiding important loads. From a safe guarding point of view of the resource this law which is imposed through the payment of the right of the access and the control by the government officials, seems to be functional. The natural courses which are not managed by the services of the State, are very little attendedThis low use is the reflection of the individual decision of the stock breeders ending on the state of these courses. The transition from a pastoral system to an agropastoral system proves to be carried out appeared in very few decades. Our work showed that, for the three considered types of breeding naisseurs, 13 to 24% of the dry matter introduced by the ewes is provided by the concentrates. The rest of the introduced corresponds to fodder, distributed: hay, cactus…; or grazed: cereal thatches, cereals disaster victims, déprimage, push backor vegetation of the courses. A system of agriculture-breeding is clearly emerging is: producing three lambs per ewe in two years

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42

Gerber, Pierre. "Putting pigs in their place : environmental policies for intensive livestock production in rapidly growing economies, with reference to pig farming in Central Thailand /." Zürich : ETH, 2006. http://e-collection.ethbib.ethz.ch/show?type=diss&nr=16696.

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43

Kumbirai, Kaguru Tinashe. "Characterisation of the production and consumption of milk in the communal livestock production sector of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3066.

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The study was conducted in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa with the objective of characterising milk production and consumption among the communal households. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data through a single visit survey between June 2014 and May 2015. The study was undertaken in five randomly selected communal districts using a multi – stage area probability sampling method. Household sample size was calculated using a statistical methodology through a fixed formula based on a rural population size of 4410000, at a confidence level of 95 percent. A total of 500 households were selected with a sample size of 20 households in 5 communities within five different communal districts within the province. Half of the total sample size was used to represent the number of non-milk producing households (250) to get a true reflection on consumption profiles for nonproducers. Across the province the average communal family size was between 5-10 members with a monthly income of ZAR1340 per household. On average, pasture land size of the sampled households was 1 ha, with a range of 0.25-1.7 ha. The numbers of animals per species found in the studied province was highest for sheep (310) followed by cattle (227) and goat (87). Average livestock holding per household in the study area was 9.85 TLU (Tropical Livestock Unit). According to the respondents the predominant milking livestock numbers were between 1-3 animals milking per household. In the studied area traditional hand milking of livestock was the major milking practices at 12 percent in goats, 15 percent in sheep and 45 percent in cattle milk production. Consumption was the predominant reason for milk production recorded at 27 percent across the province. Milk production was 43 percent most preferred in cattle followed by 32 percent in goat and least at 29 percent in sheep across the province. In general, from the study it was noted that the majority (38 percent) of the respondents across the province indicated 0-5mins as the time it took to milk most milk producing livestock. The majority of the milking practices was done (37 percent) predominantly once a day, followed by 2 percent twice daily across the province. The daily milk production was on average (0.45±1.07) 2-5 litre in cattle, (4.86±0.814) 0-1litre in goats and (2.62±0.42) 0-1 litre sheep per producing house hold with in the province The monthly raw milk consumption in the province was (2.20± 1.42) 2-5 litres of cattle milk, (4.78±0.79) 2-5 litres of goat milk and (4.98±0.69) 2-5 litres of sheep milk per consuming household.

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Riofrío, Ordóñez Carlos Andrés. "Economics of introducing forage and livestock into alternative crop rotation systems during the transition to organic agriculture." Thesis, McGill University, 2006. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=98779.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the economic feasibility of alternative crop rotations and to determine the economic implications of including forages and livestock during the transition to organic agriculture in Nova Scotia. The rotation systems were distinguished by: (i) frequency of forage in the rotation, (ii) source of nutrient supply, and (iii) type of farming operation. The economic analysis was divided in two parts. The first part analysed data from a four-year crop rotation experiment, using enterprise budgeting and statistical methods to compare differences among rotations under different treatments. The second part involved the development of a multi-period linear programming (LP) model to simulate a commercial operation.
The results from the statistical analysis suggest that crop enterprise net returns tended to be higher in forage-based rotations and in the livestock systems compared to cash crop rotations and the stockless system. Results from the LP model suggest that including forages and beef cattle during the transition to organic agriculture can provide considerable economic benefits, especially when crops were grown under ruminant compost.

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Manlay, Raphael. "Organic matter dynamics in mixed-farming systems of the West African savanna: a village case study from south Senegal." Diss., Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (ENGREF), 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/71623.

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Organic matter (OM) is a multi-purpose tool in West African smallholder mixed-farming systems, but its supply has been decreasing for several decades. To assess the viability of a mixed-farming system of south Senegal, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P; available in soil and noted POD) budgets (stocks and flows) were thus quantified.The village territory of the study showed a ring-like organisation with growing intensification of fertilization and cropping practices from the periphery (bush ring) to the compounds (compound fields).Stocks in plant and soil averaged 54.7 tC, 2.63 tN and 43.5 kgP ha 1 in old fallows. They were 97, 29 and 251 % higher than in the bush cropped fields, plant biomass accounting for nearly all of the rise. C, N and P amounts recorded in the soil of compound fields were higher than those of the bush field, but the increase was restricted mainly to the 0 10 cm layer. However, the rather weak response of local sandy soils to management can be interpreted only by reassessing the bio-thermodynamical signification of soil organic carbon cycling in the maintenance of the integrity of local agroecosystems.Manageable stocks of the whole village territory were estimated to 29.7 tC, 1.52 tN and 28.6 kgP ha 1 in 1997. Carbon was stored mainly in soil. Livestock, crop harvest and wood collecting were responsible for respectively 59, 27 and 14 % of the C uptake on the village territory. As a result, large C flows were set towards the compound ring (3.8 tC ha 1 y 1). N and P depletion of the system amounted to 4 kgN and 1 kgP ha 1 y 1, suggesting that the system was close to nutrient balance.Under current demographic growth rate, C depletion may reach 0.38 tC ha 1 y 1 and C demand may double during the next three decades. Without any intensification of farming practices, the viability of the system might soon be called into question.

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Anguzza, Umberto. "A method to develop a computer-vision based system for the automaticac dairy cow identification and behaviour detection in free stall barns." Doctoral thesis, Università di Catania, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10761/1334.

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In this thesis, a method to develop a computer-vision based system (CVBS) for the automatic dairy cow identification and behaviour detection in free stall barns is proposed. Two different methodologies based on digital image processing were proposed in order to achieve dairy cow identification and behaviour detection, respectively. Suitable algorithms among that used in computer vision science were chosen and adapted to the specific characteristics of the breeding environment under study. The trial was carried out during the years 2011 and 2012 in a dairy cow free-stall barn located in the municipality of Vittoria in the province of Ragusa. A multi-camera video-recording system was designed in order to obtain sequences of panoramic top-view images coming from the multi-camera video-recording system. The two methodologies proposed in order to achieve dairy cow identification and behaviour detection, were implemented in a software component of the CVBS and tested. Finally, the CVBS was validated by comparing the detection and identification results with those generated by an operator through visual recognition of cows in sequences of panoramic top-view images. This comparison allowed the computation of accuracy indices. The detection of the dairy cow behavioural activities in the barn provided a Cow Detection Percentage (CDP) index greater than 86% and a Quality Percentage (QP) index greater than 75%. With regard to cow identification the CVBS provided a CDP > 90% and a QP > 85%.

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Ahmad, Tusawar Iftikhar. "The role of rural women in livestock management : socio-economic evidences from diverse geographical locations of Punjab (Pakistan)." Phd thesis, Université Toulouse le Mirail - Toulouse II, 2013. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00933784.

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In rural Punjab of Pakistan, women from small farm families have a huge role to play in realizing the potential that the country has in livestock sector to flourish. The study presents the current socio-economic condition of women livestock raisers, the extent and nature of their participation in livestock management activities, the impact of women's participation on their families' welfare, and the factors affecting their participation in livestock management activities. The type and size of the family, respondent's age, distant location of the village from the city, and the overall developmental status of the district had their impact on different aspects of rural women's status. At each of the three geographical levels, women respondent's participation level in livestock management activities was multiple of that of their husbands' level. Cultural norms, gendered division of labor, availability of family labor, and the physical condition of the participant were found more operative in determining the nature and level of participation of the family labor in livestock management activities. Participation of the family labor, various aspects of women's status, livestock related factors, and economic factors were the main causes identified as the factors affecting women's participation in livestock management activities. Improving women's role in livestock management and production is essential in improving overall family's health, education, income, and food security. The results signify the need for geographical targeting and the importance of using a gendered approach in the agricultural development programs.

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Mogale, Moneri Sanah. "The use of indigenous knowledge in beef cattle husbandry in Tshebela Village, Limpopo Province." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1959.

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Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017
There is a gap in the literature about the role and relevance of Indigenous Knowledge and beef cattle welfare in many parts of the Limpopo province. This gap is relevant because many marginalised cattle owners use indigenous knowledge in their day to day management of beef cattle. The aim of the study is to investigate the use of IK methods on beef cattle husbandry in Tshebela village in the Capricorn district of the Limpopo province as a contribution to filling the void identified above. The objectives of the study were as follows:  -To investigate the IK methods used in beef cattle husbandry in the area of the study;  -To assess if beef farmers use IK to identify medicinal plants to cure beef cattle;  -To investigate farmers‘ perceptions and attitudes on the use of IKS on beef cattle husbandry in the area of study. A qualitative methodology that was used was primarily phenomenological in design. A purposive sampling technique was used and twenty seven (27) traditional beef farmers, two (2) local herbalists were recruited as participants. Data was collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and observations. An interpretative phenomenological-based analysis was used to surface the role and relevance of indigenous knowledge in beef cattle husbandry. The findings suggest that indigenous knowledge is used by cattle owners alongside modern knowledge and that communal farming posed some challenges to the farmers.

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Condotta, Isabella Cardoso Ferreira da Silva. "Automatic assess of growing-finishing pigs\' weight through depth image analysis." Universidade de São Paulo, 2017. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/11/11152/tde-03082017-093143/.

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A method of continuously monitoring weight would aid producers by ensuring all pigs are gaining weight and increasing the precision of marketing pigs thus saving money. Electronically monitoring weight without moving the pigs to the scale would eliminate a stress-generating source. Therefore, the development of methods for monitoring the physical conditions of animals from a distance appears as a necessity for obtaining data with higher quality. In pigs\' production, animals\' weighing is a practice that represents an important role in the control of the factors that affect the performance of the herd and it is an important factor on the production\'s monitoring. Therefore, this research aimed to extract weight data of pigs through depth images. First, a validation of 5 Kinect ® depth sensors was completed to understand the accuracy of the depth sensors. In addition, equations were generated to correct the dimensions\' data (length, area and volume) provided by these sensors for any distance between the sensor and the animals. Depth images and weights of finishing pigs (gilts and barrows) of three commercial lines (Landrace, Duroc and Yorkshire based) were acquired. Then, the images were analyzed with the MATLAB software (2016a). The pigs on the images were selected by depth differences and their volumes were calculated and then adjusted using the correction equation developed. Also, pigs\' dimensions were acquired for updating existing data. Curves of weight versus corrected volumes and corrected dimensions versus weight were adjusted. Equations for weight predictions through volume were adjusted for gilts and barrows and for each of the three commercial lines used. A reduced equation for all the data, without considering differences between sexes and genetic lines was also adjusted and compared with the individual equations using the Efroymson\'s algorithm. The result showed that there was no significant difference between the reduced equation and the individual equations for barrows and gilts (p<0.05), and the global equation was also no different than individual equations for each of the three sire lines (p<0.05). The global equation can predict weights from a depth sensor with an R2 of 0,9905. Therefore, the results of this study show that the depth sensor would be a reasonable approach to continuously monitor weights.
Um método de monitoramento contínuo da massa corporal de suínos auxiliaria os produtores, assegurando que todos os animais estão ganhando massa e aumentando a sua precisão de comercialização, reduzindo-se perdas. Obter eletronicamente a massa corporal sem mover os animais para a balança eliminaria uma fonte geradora de estresse. Portanto, o desenvolvimento de métodos para monitorar as condições físicas dos animais à distância se mostra necessário para a obtenção de dados com maior qualidade. Na produção de suínos, a pesagem dos animais é uma prática que representa um papel importante no controle dos fatores que afetam o desempenho do rebanho e o monitoramento da produção. Portanto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo extrair, automaticamente, dados de massa de suínos por meio de imagens em profundidade. Foi feita, primeiramente, uma validação de 5 sensores de profundidade Kinect ® para compreender seu comportamento. Além disso, foram geradas equações para corrigir os dados de dimensões (comprimento, área e volume) fornecidos por estes sensores para qualquer distância entre o sensor e os animais. Foram obtidas imagens de profundidade e massas corporais de suínos e crescimento e terminação (fêmeas e machos castrados) de três linhagens comerciais (Landrace, Duroc e Yorkshire). Em seguida, as imagens foram analisadas com o software MATLAB (2016a). Os animais nas imagens foram selecionados por diferenças de profundidade e seus volumes foram calculados e depois ajustados utilizando a equação de correção desenvolvida. Foram coletadas, ainda, dimensões dos animais para atualização de dados existentes. Curvas de massa versus volumes corrigidos e de dimensões corrigidas versus massa, foram ajustadas. Equações para predição de massa a partir do volume foram ajustadas para os dois sexos e para as três linhagens comerciais. Uma equação reduzida, sem considerar as diferenças entre sexos e linhagens, também foi ajustada e comparada com as equações individuais utilizando o algoritmo de Efroymson. O resultado mostrou que não houve diferença significativa entre a equação reduzida e as equações individuais tanto para sexo (p <0,05), quanto para linhagens (p <0,05). A equação global pode predizer massas a partir do volume obtido com o sensor, com um R2 de 0,9905. Portanto, os resultados deste estudo mostram que o sensor de profundidade é uma abordagem razoável para monitorar as massas dos animais.

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Brandão, Tiago de Castro. "Factors influencing foraging site selection by the endangered egyptian vulture in the Douro region of Portugal - Spain." Master's thesis, Universidade de Évora, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/31190.

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Abstract A good understanding of species’ movement ecology and feeding behaviour is essential for conservation managers and policy makers to make informed decisions. In this study, through the analysis of GPS data from tagged individuals, as well as interview with local farmers, we aim to identify and characterize the preferred sites, as well as identifying some potential threats to an endangered old-world vulture, the Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758), in a transborder region between Portugal and Spain (Douro Internacional). Results from the GPS data show that the tagged individuals have preference to forage in Spain and in sites associated with livestock presence. We were also able to study the coprophagy behaviour of this species through the interviews, and identified the risks associated with this feeding behaviour as behaviour path of exposure path to harmful veterinary pharmaceuticals; Resumo: Fatores que influenciam seleção de locais de alimentação pelo Abutre-do-egipto na região do Rio Douro de Portugal-Espanha Uma boa compreensão da ecologia do movimento e do comportamento de alimentação das espécies é essencial para que os gestores da conservação e os decisores políticos tomem decisões informadas. Neste estudo, através da análise de dados GPS de indivíduos marcados, bem como de entrevistas com agricultores locais, pretendemos identificar e caracterizar os locais preferidos, bem como identificar algumas ameaças potenciais a um abutre do velho mundo ameaçado, o Abutre-do-Egipto Neophron percnopterus (Linnaeus, 1758), numa região fronteiriça entre Portugal e Espanha (Douro Internacional). Os resultados dos dados do GPS mostram que os indivíduos marcados têm preferência em procurar alimento em Espanha e em locais associados à presença de gado. Conseguimos também estudar o comportamento de coprofagia desta espécie através das entrevistas, e identificámos os riscos associados a este comportamento de alimentação como forma de exposição a fármacos veterinários nocivos à espécie.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Livestock farming'

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