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Effect Of Concrete Slats, Three Mat Types And Out-Wintering Pads On Performance And Welfare Of Finishing Beef Steers, Bernadette Earley, John Mcnamara, Stephen Jerrams, Edward G. O’Riordan

Articles

The objective was to investigate the effect of placing mats on concrete slatted floors on performance, behaviour, hoof condition, dirt scores, physiological and immunological variables of beef steers, and to compare responses with animals on out-wintering pads. Continental crossbred beef steers [n = 360; mean (±SD) initial live weight 539 kg (42.2)] were blocked by breed and live weight and randomly assigned to one of five treatments; (1) Concrete slats alone, (2) Mat 1 (Natural Rubber structure) (Durapak Rubber Products), (3) Mat 2 (Natural rubber structure) (EasyFix), (4) Mat 3 (modified ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam structure) and (5) Out-wintering …

Opuntioid Cacti Management Guide: Best Practice Information For Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia And Opuntia Species In Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Key points:

• Australia does not have any native cacti.
• Opuntioid cacti impact on Australia environmentally, agriculturally and aesthetically, as well as posing a risk to animal welfare and human safety.
• Invasive cacti are drought resistant and hardy, surviving in low rainfall environments.
• All species spread vegetatively through the rooting of cladodes (stem segments), fruits or flowers. Some species also spread by seed.
• Opuntioid cacti vary significantly in their form and habit, ranging from low-growing shrubs under 50 cm to erect trees up to approximately 6 m tall.
• Australian rangelands are especially vulnerable to cacti invasion.
• The cost of control often …

A Performance Study Of Apis Mellifera With Dietary And Forage Restrictions During Spring Colony Establishment In Lyon County, Kentucky, Dominique Wood

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

One-third of our worldwide fruit, nut and vegetable production is completely dependent on the existence of pollinators. Commercial honey bees, Apis mellifera, have an annual economic value of $15 billion in the U.S. Additionally, their honey is valued at $150 million annually. In Fall 2006, commercial beekeepers observed sudden mass disappearances of whole colonies. By Spring 2007, the condition, dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), raised environmental and fiscal concerns while the cause(s) continued to be sought. Forensic examinations of hive samples did not reveal a singular cause of CCD. The results pointed to a collection of detrimental factors affecting …

Evaluating The Long Term Effects Of Continuous Broiler Litter Applications On Residual Soil Fertility And Yields Of Corn And Soybean Crops, And A Side Experiment Studying The Residual Copper Fertilization Effects On These Crops, Jesse Lee Gray Mr.

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The increasing cost of commercial fertilizers and the availability of animal waste that has high nutrient content have led to producers utilizing animal waste such as poultry litter in their fertility programs. This increased use has raised concerns as to what are the optimum rates to apply to meet crop needs and how will long term use at high rates of litter effect soil test levels of nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium. The objective of this study was to address these concerns. This study has been ongoing since 1997 with treatments of zero to seven tons of litter …

Subsistence Farmers' Perceptions Of Pluralistic Agriculture Extension In Northern Ghana, Amos Kwame Egyir Baah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2013, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture of the Republic of Ghana implemented a reformed food and agriculture sector development policy (FASDEP II) to reduce poverty among the poorest subsistence farmers in the nation. These extension efforts have been unsuccessful. The purpose of this ethnographic case study was to understand the perceptions of subsistence farmers in the Savelugu-Nanton District (SND) who participated in FASDEP II on how the program had affected their ability to meet their subsistence needs. The theoretical framework of collaborative advantage was used to analyze farmers' opinions of how the decentralized, pluralistic extension policy did or …

Caseous Lymphadenitis Management In Goats, C. Kim Chapman, Matthew J. Kennedy

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Caseous Lymphadenitis, an infectious disease of sheep and goats and gives information on managing the disease.

Equine Infectious Anemia, Karl H. Hoopes

All Current Publications

This fact sheet gives information on equine infectious anemia, a blood-borne infectious viral disease of horses, donkeys, and mules. It describes transmission, clinical disease, diagnosis and control.

Weaning Strategies In Beef Cattle To Reduce Stress, Matthew Garcia, Kerry Rood, Clark Israelsen

All Current Publications

This fact sheet considers weaning strategies for beef cattle, including the advantages and disadvantages of fenceline weaning, and twostep weaning.

Relationship Between The California Drought And Almond Demand, Wayne E. Lacy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Areas of California's Central Valley are sinking at rates up to 1 foot per year due to subsidence caused, in part, by the state's years-long drought, challenging growers to locate additional water sources for their crops. Supply and demand theory guided this correlational study. The purpose of the study was to examine the financial impact of drought on almond demand. This study included annualized historical almond industry data for the United States (N = 97), downloaded from a United States Department of Agriculture database. The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the model was capable of predicting almond …

Perceived Threats To Food Security And Possible Responses Following An Agro-Terrorist Attack, Lamesha Lashal Craft

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks exposed vulnerabilities to U.S. homeland security and defense, leading U.S. officials to analyze threats to domestic and international interests. Terrorist attacks against food and water supplies (agro-terrorism), were deemed a national security threat because of the assessed fear, economic instability, and social instability that could occur following a food shortage. Research indicated a comprehensive response plan does not exist across the federal, state, and local levels of government to mitigate the public's possible responses to a perceived threat to food security and food shortages following an agro-terrorist attack. This ethnographic case study analyzed the …

Impact Of The Zambian Agricultural Policy On Grain Trade, Onesphore Karuho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The agricultural sector in Zambia is supported through the government use of public expenditure programs to spur the production and subsidize the consumption of key grains to stabilize prices. Previous research has documented the effects of public spending on agriculture in terms of food prices and food security. The effects of government spending on the trade of key grains, however, is not well understood. As such, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the impact of agricultural policy on the agricultural trade. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of Zambian agricultural policy on grain trade. A …

Education And The Development Of On-Farm Identity: Dairy Farm Women's Experiences, Amy Leigh Spangenberg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women throughout the world have found emancipation through education. Yet, there has been no research on the role that education plays in dairy farm women's primary, on-farm identity development and how farm women's identities develop. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine dairy farm women's perceptions of previous learning (education) and its influence on their primary, on-farm identity development. The feminist standpoint theory provided the framework for this study. A homogeneous, purposeful sample of 10 active dairy farm women were interviewed using individual, face to face, semistructured questions to answer the question: What are dairy farm women's perceptions …

Identification Of A Strain Of High Yieldacetic Acid Bacteria From Ferment And Its Acid-Producing Characteristics, Lu Mengyao, Liu Shuliang, Hu Kaidi, Zhang Aiqing

Food and Machinery

A strain of high yield acetic acid bacteria LMY-1 was isolated from 10 kinds of ferment samples by isolation and purification, the acid qualitative and quantitative screen for producing. The strain was identified as Acetobacter cibinongensis by analysis of morphology, physiological and biochemical indicators and identification of 16S rDNA. The growth and acid-producing characteristics of strain LMY-1 was studied by fruit and vegetable culture medium with apple, pear and cucumber. Results, the optimum acid temperature for strain LMY-1 was 30 ℃； In 4 mL/100 mL ethanol content, strain LMY-1 produced the highest acid amount (22.72 g/L), higher than strain CICC7015(Acetobacter …

Determination Of Acetaldehyde In Wine By Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Wei Xiaoqun, Zheng Xuan, Guo Qingyuan, Ling Li, Zeng Guangfeng, Huang Jin, Cai Chun

Food and Machinery

A method for determination of acetaldehyde in wine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was established, in which the influence factor on the detected results were studied, such as extraction agent, desorption pH, derivatization reagents. As a result, the limit of determination (LOD) of vanillin and ethyl-vanillin was 0.12 mg/kg. linearity range was 0.2～100.0 mg/kg(R²=0.999 4), The spiked recovery was between 89.3%～113.0%, and the RSD ranged from 1.28%～9.42%(n＝6). This method was applicable for determination of acetaldehyde in wine.

Research Progress On Physiological Activities And Its Mechanismof Beta-Cryptoxanthin, Sheng Ran, Sun Zhigao, Huang Qiaojuan, Hao Jingmei, Fang Ming, Yu Fengsheng

Food and Machinery

The beta-cryptoxanthin is composed of multiple prenyl units, belonging to the oxidation of carotenoid. It widely exists in persimmon, citrus and other plants, and also can be produced by microbial fermentation..Based on beta-cryptoxanthin, the mechanism of its absorption and physiological activities was reviewed, in order to provide reference for improving research and clinic application of beta-cryptoxanthin.

Why We Still Need To Worry About Bees, Meaghan Lee Callaghan

Capstones

American honey bees, and other native bee species, are still in decline, though the specter of colony collapse disorder may be fading behind us. Colony decline, the loss of bees overwinter experienced across the country at a quarter to third lost per hive (sometimes more), is now expected. Losses can include those from colony collapse disorder. The author discusses the different causes for colony decline and speaks to bee health scientists and local beekeepers. Read more at: http://www.meaghanleecallaghan.com/capstone/index.html

Department For Agriculture And Food – Northern Beef Futures: Valuing Security Of Supply, Department Of Agriculture And Food Wa

Animal production and livestock published reports

The DAFWA-NBF project is committed to identifying growth and value creation opportunities for the WA Beef industry and have engaged PwC to estimate the value of increased security of supply.

A joint PwC/NBF team have developed a WA beef value chain model to better understand the industry’s potential and establish the potential value associated with changes in the security of supply.

Results indicate that, over a five to twelve year timeframe, the WA Beef industry might have the potential to grow cattle disposals, double revenue to $1.2B and increase profit by $0.5B.

A diversified market which includes Japan and China …

Investigating The Practices And Needs Of Agricultural Researchers At The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Leslie M. Delserone, Andrea L. Dinkelman

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Faculty Publications

University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Libraries was one of 19 libraries participating in a national study, initiated by Ithaka S+R, of the research practices and needs of agricultural researchers. Two UNL Libraries faculty members participated in this study by interviewing 11 UNL agricultural scholars during the summer of 2016. The ethnographic research approach revealed four core themes explored in this UNL-specific report: interdisciplinarity and collaborations; scientific communication practices; scientific research data; and challenges and opportunities. Illustrated by the sample of faculty comments presented here, the themes have direct implications for the UNL Libraries, while in other cases these point to concerns …

Residual Effects Of Nitrogen Fertilization On Soil Nitrogen Pools And Corn Growth, Meghan E. Moser

Open Access Theses

Given the dynamic nature of soil nitrogen (N), inorganic N fertilization to corn (Zea mays L.) has potential to alter N pool balance by creating an accumulation or depletion of soil N. Current corn N recommendations in the common corn-soybean rotation of Indiana strive to find the best N rate that maximizes producer profit. Increasing our understanding of soil N will inform producers if they should adjust fertilizer rates for corn to influence maintenance of organic N and Carbon. Our objective was to determine residual N effects from fertilized corn in a corn-soybean rotation by measuring (1) soil N …

Farm Work Injuries Among A Cohort Of Children In Kentucky, Usa, Steven R. Browning, Susan C. Westneat, Deborah B. Reed

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Children residing on farms with livestock may be at an increased risk for work-related injuries, compared to children who work on other commodity farms. This study characterizes children's work tasks on Kentucky farms and assesses whether children who work on beef cattle farms are at an increased risk for farm work injuries. The results of a cohort study of children aged 5-18 years (N=999 at baseline) working on family farms in Kentucky, followed for two consecutive years after an initial enumeration five years previously, found that 70% of the children were involved in animal-related chores. Across all age groups, children …

Design And Plan Of A Modified Hydroponic Shipping Container For Research, John A. Houtman

Open Access Theses

As the world’s population continues to increase, food production will need to increase in order to meet the predicted rise in food demand. However, with increased pressure on cropland available from environmental effects and urbanization, new innovative methods of crop production need to be researched in order to increase agricultural production with limited land. This research focuses on the design of a single form of urban agriculture that is considered Zfarming and has the potential to produce quality urban agricultural produce through ground-based measures. This project produced detailed step-by-step analysis of the design process, develop variability within the modified hydroponic …

Measuring The Effect Of Cold Storage, Captive Supply, And Concentration On The Marketing Margin In The U.S. Pork Industry, Yuhang Liu

Open Access Theses

This study investigates the implication of key decision variables at the control of processing firms in a concentrated industry. Succinctly, the decisions examined affect the firm's ability to buffer short run supply and demand fluctuations through storage and access to an alternative source of specialized inputs essential to production. What makes them different in the context of this research is a focus on high-throughput processing plants where capacity utilization can result in cost efficiencies and a high degree of market concentration where adjustments in quantity demanded of the specialized input can affect its price and where adjustments in the quantity …

A Unique Perspective On The Demand For Livestock Product Attributes, Elizabeth S. Byrd

Open Access Dissertations

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the social and environmental impacts of the foods they purchase. Both choice experiments and best-worst scaling (BWS) methodology have been used to elicit consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for food attributes and the relative importance of food attributes to consumers. The dissertation consists of four essays. Chapter 2 presents a formal law review article exploring the laws associated with wild game harvest, consumption, and inspections. The remaining three essays (Chapters 3-5) each address an extension or application of choice experiment and/or BWS methodology focused on credence attributes of meat products. Two online surveys were used …

The Relationship Between Protein And Phosphorus Digestion And Retention In Growing Pigs And Broiler Chickens, Pengcheng Xue

Open Access Dissertations

Xue, Pengcheng. Ph.D., Purdue University, December 2016. The Relationship between Protein and Phosphorus Digestion and Retention in Growing Pigs and Broiler Chickens. Major Professor: Dr. Layi Adeola. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between protein and P digestion and retention in growing pigs and broiler chickens. The methodology of determining the digestibility of AA and P and the effect of dietary N and P on the digestion and retention of these two nutrients were investigated.

An experiment was conducted in growing pigs to investigate the additivity of AID or SID of CP and AA in mixed …

The Effect Of Lupinus Albus And Calcium Chloride On Growth Performance, Body Composition, Plasma Biochemistry And Meat Quality Of Male Pigs Immunized Against Gonadotrophin Releasing Factor, Karen Moore, Bruce P. Mullan, Jae Cheol Kim, Frank R. Dunshea

Animal production and livestock research articles

Two hundred and ninety-four pigs were used to assess the effect of two ingredients (Lupinus albus (albus lupins) or a combination of calcium chloride and sodium tri-polyphosphate (mineral salts)) on growth performance, body composition and objective meat quality of pigs immunized against gonadotrophin releasing factor (immunocastrates) and entire male pigs in the late finishing phase. Pigs fed mineral salts ate less feed than those fed the control diet with no effect on growth rate (p > 0.05), backfat (p > 0.05) or fat deposition (p > 0.05). Pigs fed albus lupins had a reduced feed intake (p < 0.001 for all time periods), lower growth rate (p < 0.001 for all time periods), lower backfat (p < 0.005) and decreased fat deposition (p < 0.001 for all time periods) compared to those fed the control diet or mineral salts. From day (d) 0–28 pigs fed mineral salts had a better feed conversion ratio (p = 0.001) than those fed albus lupins who in turn had an improved feed conversion compared to the control diet. Immunocastrates had thicker backfat than entire males at the end of the experiment (p < 0.001), however, feeding albus lupins to immunocastrated males reduced backfat thickness to similar to entire males fed the control diet (p = 0.01). With the exception of the increased muscle pH at 45 min post-exsanguination in mineral salts and albus lupins compared with the control diet (p = 0.03) there was no effect of diet on objective pork quality. Pork from IC males had a higher ultimate pH (p < 0.001), was lighter (L*; p = 0.003), more yellow (p = 0.008) and had a higher drip loss (p < 0.001) compared to entire males. Albus lupins show potential in reducing the increase in feed intake and backfat associated with immunocastration. Mineral salts may be useful in situations where a reduction in feed intake and an improvement in feed conversion is desired and reducing fat deposition is not the objective.

Characterization Of Ground Nozzles For Pesticide Applications, Ryan Henry

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pesticide applications are a common component of crop production systems in the United States (US). For row crop systems (e.g. corn, soybean, or wheat), pesticides are applied by ground, aerial, or chemigation methods. The exact method of pesticide delivery is not universally regulated/ prescribed in the US, and the equipment and application technique are largely defined by the individual applicator. A wide variety of choices and decisions must be made by applicators to result in a successful pesticide application. Examples of these choices include proper active ingredient(s), carrier volume and equipment (e.g. nozzle type, spacing, and operating pressure) selection while …

Successful Secondary Agricultural Programs Outside The Classroom: A View Of Champions, Andrew Bolton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to study select secondary agricultural education programs and determine common traits among these programs which lead them to be successful in a number of different areas including: Career Development Events (CDE) winners, Leadership Development Events (LDE) winners, agricultural science fair winners, chapters of elected state FFA officers, proficiency award winners, national chapter awards, and state fair market show results. This study utilized a modified Delphi approach consisting of three rounds to reach consensus on the importance of traits related to successful SAE and FFA programs. Many traits were identified but the most important traits …

Bioenergy And Carbon Farming Opportunities In The Pilbara, Robert Sudmeyer, Kim Brooksbank, David Rogers

Bulletins 4000 -

The Pilbara region covers 270 000 square kilometres of north-west Western Australia. Its main agricultural land use is pastoralism, with beef cattle grazing native pastures. Currently, only 24km² is under irrigation, with irrigated fodder the principal crop, but this could expand to 100km². This expansion has the potential to significantly broaden the economic base of the Pilbara.

Irrigation and the opportunities for changing land use and management may facilitate greater participation in the carbon economy by Pilbara land managers. Bioenergy feedstocks could be sourced from purpose-grown crops or agricultural wastes. Carbon farming activities may be facilitated by …

Deployment And Evaluation Of An Active Rfid Tracking System For Precision Animal Management, Brian Barnes

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A better understanding of animal space utilization in current livestock facilities could lead to improved facility design and animal health. This study was conducted to determine whether an active RFID tag tracking system could accurately provide animal locomotion data on an individual animal basis. The system is composed of four sensors, located in the corners of a swine pen, and compact tags, which attach to the animals and transmit a signal. The sensors use the tag signals to determine 3-D positions in real-time. A data acquisition system was developed to capture raw data from the system software into a database …

Effect Of Smooth Bromegrass Management On Grazing Cattle Dung Decomposition, Co2 Flux, And Soil Nutrient Movement, Bradley D. Schick

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Rapid nutrient cycling improves forage quality and livestock production in pastures. Interseeding legumes may be a strategy to enhance N cycling, but effects of dung excreted from cattle grazing pastures with legumes on dung decomposition rates and soil N cycling have not been studied. Our objective was to evaluate how dung excreted from cattle grazing legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures affects dung chemical composition, dry matter decomposition, CO­₂ flux, and N availability in soil. Freshly deposited dung from yearling steers grazing legume-interseeded, N-fertilized, and unfertilized pastures was collected and placed as pats in …