Agribusiness Commons^™

Livestock Statistics Western Australia Prices Of Livestock Sold At Midland Auctions, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, R. L. Taylor

All other publications

Livestock prices are shown as monthly weighted average prices calculated from saleyard auction prices, Prior to July 1989 Midland auctions were reported on by the Western Australian Department of Agriculture's Livestock Market Reporting Service, Since July 1989, prices are derived from a weekly summary of sales prepared under contract to the Department of Agriculture by Nicholls Independent Livestock Information Service ,

Livestock slaughterings and production are derived from Australian Bureau of Statistics Catalogue No. 1305.5.

Bunk Attendance Of Feedlot Cattle Monitored With Radio Frequency Technology, D. J. Gibb, T. A. Mcalllister, C. Huisma, R. D. Wiedmeier

Management and Monitoring of Farm Animals Collection

Bunk attendance of 72 feedlot cattle (412 ± 23.6 kg) was monitored for 86 d using radio frequency technology. Late morning and late afternoon were confirmed as primary ad libitum feeding periods. The system detected differences (P < 0.005) in feeding behaviour in response to level of feeding and frequency of meals.

Linkages Between Regulated And Unregulated Markets: The Case Of Milk Supply In Kenya, Wayne H. Howard, Ian Mcdonald

Agribusiness

Linkages between the regulated and unregulated dairy markets in Kenya were examined using an econometric model of the fluid milk intake for eight processing plants. Counter-intuitive results were obtained: an increase in the regulated price was significant in decreasing intake in the regulated market, indicating that a price increase in the regulated market also increased price and quantity supplied in the unregulated market. Lagged rainfall was a proxy for available feed and was highly significant in explaining milk intake in the regulated market.

Initial Test Of A Farrowing Crate With Inward-Sloping Sides, D. Fraser, P. A. Phillips, B. K. Thompson

Housing and Confinement of Farm Animals Collection

A farrowing crate was designed with sides spaced well apart (1150 mm) at the sow's standing height but angled inward near the floor to restrict the sow's lying area and to prevent the sow from dropping suddenly onto one side. Survival and body-weight data were collected for 20 farrowings in the prototype crate and for 18-20 farrowings in each of 3 other crate types. No significant differences were found in stillbirth rate, other deaths to 14 days, or average piglet weight gains, but gains were somewhat more variable in one of the conventional designs which interfered with the piglets' access …

Dynamic Adjustment In The U.S. Dairy Industry, Wayne H. Howard, Richard C. Shumway

Agribusiness

A dual model is used to examine the dynamic structure of the U.S. dairy industry. Properties implied by the theory of the competitive firm and independent adjustment of two quasi-fixed inputs, labor and herd size, are tested and not rejected. Instantaneous adjustment, however, is soundly rejected for each quasi-fixed input. Input adjustment to optimal levels is estimated to take about two years for labor and ten for cows. Quality adjustments of the labor and cow series do not fully embody the technological change that has occurred in this industry over the study period.

Miscellaneous Production 23/87 - Animal Production In The Spinifex And Shrubland Regions Of Western Australia, D. Burnside

Animal production and livestock published reports

The role of the Rangeland Management Branch is to promote the sustained economic use of the rangeland resource. It provides research and extension services to the pastoral industry, provides advice on the condition of the range resource to Government and provides technical information on rangelands to other rangeland managers. A principal objective to be met in fulfilling that role is the development and promotion of economically efficient place systems that conserve the rangeland resource. At the inaugural Pastoral Soil Conservation Districts Conference in Meekatharra in May 1987, pastoralist delegates emphasized the importance of achieving that objective within the various soil …

Preference Tests Of Ramp Designs For Young Pigs, P. A. Phillips, B. K. Thompson, D. Fraser

Housing and Confinement of Farm Animals Collection

Preference experiments were used to identify features of ramp design that influence the voluntary use of ramps by young pigs. In seven experiments, groups of pigs, aged 7-8 wk, were given free access to four different ramps simultaneously. The animals' behavior was monitored to identify the amount of time spent on the ramps and the number of pigs that failed to use specific designs. Slope, in the range of 20-32° from the horizontal, had a major influence on the pigs' behavior, with the shallower slopes attracting more use than steep ones. Pigs preferred ramps with angle-iron cleats (cross-laid on the …

Present Net Worth And Internal Rate Of Return: A Note On Equivalence In Use, K. A. Blatner, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

Present net worth and internal rate of return are frequently used for ranking investment alternatives. The relative merits and limitations of the two criteria are discussed at length in numerous journal articles and texts. For analysts wishing to present consistent project comparisons, the issue is not which criterion is superior, but when are they equivalent. In this article, conditions for equivalence in use are outlined under alternative assumptions. Although the conditions appear complex, they are not unduly restrictive.

Miscellaneous Publication 11/88 - Manjimup Horticultural Research Centre - A Guide To Activites, David Johnston

Horticulture published reports

Within the south-west of Western Australia, in the area encompassed by Bunbury, Margaret River, Albany and Manjimup, the horticultural industries have become of major importance to economic viability and employment opportunities.

The Manjimup Shire grows45 percent of the State's potatoes, 50 per cent profits cauliflowers and 32 per cent profits apples. Other important crops are onions, beans and peas for processing and Chinese cabbage. A range of other horticultural crops are produced on a small scale.

The recent establishment of an Edgell-Birds Eye processing plant at Manjimup will provide a further significant boost to the region. By 1992 this plant …

Northern Agricultural Region, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

All other publications

Western Australia has about 10 per cent of Australia's farmers and accounts for 15 per cent of the nation's gross value of rural production. In 1987/8 8, the State's gross value of rural production exceeded $3 billion, 9 per cent of the State's GDP.

The agricultural sector is an important employer in Western Australia, directly employing nearly 5 0, 000 people, and more than 100,00 p e o p l e i n associated industries. Agriculture is a major contributor to W A' s export earnings, accounting for 30 per cent of the State's overseas earnings.

The Department of Agriculture's …

Computer Model Can Help Wool Producers, K M S Curtis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

No abstract provided.

Zack : A Computerized Farm Budgeting Program, Mark G. Stevens, Alan Peggs

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Developed by the Department of Agriculture, ZACK enables farmers to throw away their pencils, rubbers, calculators and cash-flow forms and use a computer to prepare their annual farm plans and cash-flow budgets.

Making The Most Of Our Floral Resources, Julie A. Pegrum

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In the past decade, floriculture has attracted wide interest across Australia as a new and innovative export industry. Our temperate climate and southern hemisphere location gives Australia the opportunity to become a supplier of cut flowers and foliage and potted plants to world markets. Sales of single-stemmed flowers such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums dominate international trade. However, there is a demand for flowers which are uniquely Australian, particularly those which flower when production in the northern hemisphere winter is limited

Looking At Lupins - Lupin Management In The South Eastern Wheatbelt, W. L. Smart, M. M. Ralph, J. M. Liddle, R.. D. Ramm, C. J. Robinson, E. W. Armstrong

Grain and other field crops research reports

In the past couple of years research into lupins has increased substantially particularly in the fields of weed control, seeding rates, and control of diseases such as brown leaf spot and pleiochaeta root rot. This report is a summary of the lupin trials in the Lake Grace advisory area as well as a guide to better lupin farming.

Information And Herd Health Management Practices In Texas Dairies, Wayne H. Howard, Thomas O. Knight, Richard C. Shumway, Robert W. Blake, Michael A. Tomaszewski

Agribusiness

The dissemination of information by extension agents on dairy management practices used to control mastitis and the reception and use of that information by producers are investigated. Producers are surveyed to determine current practices used. The relationship between milk yield, somatic cell count, management practices, and producer and production characteristics is estimated. Subjective probabilities are elicited from "expert," extension agents, and producers concerning the impact and cost of various management practices. Subjective marginal value products and marginal input costs are computed and compared for the respondent groups. Stochastic dominance is used to rank the relative importance of the practices as …

Australian Co-Operation With The National Agricultural Research Project Thailand Farming Systems Research - Future Directions, B J. Gorddard

All other publications

CONTENTS

Farming Systems Research - Future Directions - Introduction by Mr B. Gorddard

The CIMMYT Approach to Farming Systems Research Dr L. Harrington

The Relationship of FSR to Discipline and Component Technology Research: Dr D. Ivory

A Cropping Systems Technology Development Process: The Basis for Improving Links Between Research and Extension Through FSR. : Mr Iain A. Craig

Extension - Research : A Natural Linkage Mr B. Gorddard

Follow-up Discussion with FSRI: - Dr L. Harrington - Mr B. Gorddard - Dr D. Ivory

Vegetable Budgeting Handbook Manjimup Region 1986-87, Peter Eckersley

Horticulture published reports

This handbook is designed as a guide

i) to help growers cost out or budget for their own or alternative enterprises, and use correct methods for calculating benefits and costs of alternative actions. production, and

ii) to help advisers and lending agencies prepare and review budgets.

WARNING - The budgets herein do not purport to represent the average profitability of each crop. It is the reader's responsibility to use the information in them correctly.

The Manjimup region here includes Pemberton, Nannup, Bridgetown and Donnybrook.

Unit production costs vary widely within any farming district. Low-cost production requires the right levels and …

Farming Systems Research In North East Thailand And The Role Of The Farming Systems Research Institute, David A. Ivory, Australian Co-Operation With The National Agricultural Research Project.

All other publications

At head of title : Australian Co-operation with the National Agricultural Research Project Thailand.

The North-East region of Thailand occupies about 30 percent of the Kingdom. Within this region, crop production is the most important farming activity, accounting for 80 percent of farm income. The most important crop is rice, which occupies 75 percent of the total crop area. Farmers in the region are generally poor with per capita incomes only 65 percent of the national average.

Kununurra Region - Land Utilization Report - 1984 Dry Season - 1984/85 Wet Season And 1985 Dry Season In The Ord River Irrigation Area, S. Sandover

Natural resources published reports

Kununurra Region

3rd edition

A small experimental farm was first established on the Ord River in 1941. This farm was relocated in 1945 to what is now known as the Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

The first stage of the Irrigation Scheme which included the Diversion dam was completed by 1963 and by 1966, 31 irrigated farms had been established.

In 1967 the second stage was commenced and by 1972 the main dam had been completed.

Cotton was the major crop until 1974. In the wet season of that year 3642 hectares was devoted to cotton. Various crops such …

Extension - Research A Natural Linkage, Bryan Gorddard

All other publications

A discussion paper prepared for the Department of Agriculture, Thailand, by ACNARP - the Australian Cooperation with the National Agricultural Research Project, The project is concerned with the decentralisation of the Department of Agriculture through the development of nineteen new research centres, and the upgrading of the quality of agricultural research within the Department in order to generate more relevant information for farmers. Responsibility for extension in Thailand rests with a separate Department of Agricultural Extension. Improved linkage between the Departments is therefore a high priority objective of ACNARP.

At head of title : Australian Co-operation with the National Agricultural …

Australian Agriculture - A Broad Introduction, Peter Mckerrow

All other publications

Australia's rural sector confines to be a major economic force in country areas and to make an important contribution to the national economy.

The rural sector is dynamic in nature and its resilience will ensure it will continue to meet challenges and remain a viable and important sector.

Contribution To A Concept Of Behavioral Abnormality In Farm Animals Under Confinement, U. A. Luescher, J. F. Hurnik

Agribusiness Collection

Farm animals housed in close confinement often engage in activities that do not occur with animals maintained in traditional and more complex environments. Many of these activities consist of species-typical motor patterns directed towards unsuited or inappropriate objects, or performed as vacuum activities. For example, piglets fed from a trough from day 2 to day 21 after parturition display much nosing. of penmates and ear sucking (DeBoer and Hurnik 1984). Similarly, confined veal calves in crates may lick their pelage excessively, or, when housed in groups, may suck the naval area of penmates; laying hens and broilers often engage in …

The Case For Intensive Farming Of Food Animals, Stanley E. Curtis

Agribusiness Collection

Our world is still a hungry place. At the same time, the number of people worldwide who grow food for themselves continues to dwindle. Most U.S. citizens have never set foot on a farm or harvested one mouthful-let alone a lifetime's worth-of daily bread. Yet our farmlands and climates and our agricultural and food industries are this nation's ultimate resources. By increasing productivity, our farmers and the scientific and business endeavors that support our nation's food production, processing, and distribution have proved to be able and reliable husbands of these precious resources. But make no mistake: The challenge to increase …

The Case Against Intensive Farming Of Food Animals, Linda D. Mickley, Michael W. Fox

Agribusiness Collection

The well-being of American agriculture is indeed a complex subject, fraught with interrelationships, predictions, recriminations, and at times, high emotionalism. In this paper, we will be concentrating on several aspects of the entire picture that we feel are fundamental to the issue of animal welfare in modern agriculture. First, we will take a brief look at two farm animal species maintained in very restrictive systems, that is, battery-caged laying hens and tethered and/or crated brood sows.

Next, the human costs in terms of occupational diseases and consumer health hazards will be considered. Finally, some humane alternatives to the factory systems …

Horsebreakers, Tamers, And Trainers: An Historical, Psychological, And Social Review, Sharon E. Cregier

Equines Collection

To my knowledge, there has been no organized synthesis describing the historical development of horse handling, management, lore, and training. This discussion offers, in capsule form, some of the historical, psychological, and social considerations which might be taken into account when evaluating horse-handling skills.

First, I would like to describe the natures of the emotional and psychological bonds between man and horse. I will also look at the consequences of various types of bonding on horsemanship or management. We can increase our understanding of the role of the horse in our history and lives by thus seeing how the animal …

The Psychology And Ethics Of Humane Equine Treatment, Sharon E. Cregier

Equines Collection

The effect on animals of man-induced stressors, such as the disruption of herd bonds, stabling, medication procedures and the like, has been the subject of increasing investigation. Obvious and shocking abuses against animals, bullfighting, certain training practices in the racehorse industry, and rodeo events such as wild horse races, steerbusting or calf-roping, are readily recognized and have, in some instances been stopped. (Steerbusting refers to roping, from horseback, of running cattle in such a manner as to flip the animal backward or jerk it down, knocking the wind out of the animal and occasionally breaking ribs, vertebrae, and neck.)

However, …

Atrophic Rhinitis In Pigs, A R. Mercy

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Severe atrophic rhinitis in pigs recurred recently in Australia after an apparent absence of some 20 years. The first of these recent cases occurred in a Westerm Australian herd in late 1984 and since then six other local herds have reported the disease. Severe atrophic rhinitis has also been seen recently in South Australia.

Atrophic rhinitis is a complex disease which causes degeneration of the nasal cavity, twisting of the snout and sometimes occasional bleeding from the nose.

It occurs only in pigs and severely affected animals may have a slower growth rate.

Australian Co-Operation With The National Agricultural Research Project Thailand Computing Needs For The Thai Department Of Agriculture, Colin Edwards

All other publications

No abstract provided.

Communication Networks And The Adoption Of Three Farn Practices, P. W. Fry, F. K. Goss

All other publications

The report commences with a discussion of the diffusion and adoption model, and illustrates some of the research observations and practical outcomes that have emerged in recent years, An overview of social network research is presented as a means of understanding communication exchanges and providing data relevant to the diffusion debate. The communication and adoption studies are then reported in three separate sections in the order they were conducted. (A map of the location of the survey areas is shown in Figure I ) . The objectives, survey method, results and a summary are presented for each study.

A background …

Documentation Of Whole-Farm Model For The Eastern Wheatbelt Of Western Australia, Ross S. Kingwell, David J. Pannell, David. A. Morrison

Grain and other field crops published reports

The Eastern Wheatbelt Model (EwM) is a hypothetical farm model, intended to be representative of farms in the eastern wheatbelt region. It is a model of an 'average' farm in an 'average' season. Nevertheless it is possible to substitute the resource mix of a 'real' farm for the •average' and to substitute various types of season for the 'average'.

Assumptions of 'average' farm resources and •average' season are based on opinions by WADA researchers and advisers. For the EWM, researchers and advisers at Merredin prescribed average resources for an eastern wheatbelt farm receiving a 300 mm average rainfall including 210 …