Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 Attainment Of Humane Housing For Farm Livestock, D.G.M. Wood-Gush

Agribusiness Collection

In discussing animal welfare it is very easy for the discussion to become bogged down by misunderstandings. Commonly the first misunderstanding arises over the definition of animal welfare. In the content of this article we will take it for granted that any definition includes the physical well-being of the animal as well as ensuring that the animal can fulfill much of its genetically controlled behavioral repertoire. The second misunderstanding arises when the political and scientific assessments of the subject are meshed together. In a scientific assessment, the aim should be to examine welfare problems strictly from what we know about …

Cardiac Arrest Stunning Of Livestock And Poultry, Temple Grandin

Agribusiness Collection

A stunning method that will reliably render an animal insensible to pain and sensation prior to hoisting and bleeding is essential to prevent suffering. Cardiac arrest stunning is more effective than conventional electric stunning. In cardiac arrest stunning, an electric current is passed through both the brain and the heart to produce permanent insensibility. Since the animal is killed by the electricity it cannot revive during hoisting, bleeding, or slaughtering procedures. In contrast, conventional electrical stunning induces reversible insensibility for a short period of time.

Economics Of The Pacific Whiting, Merluccius Productus, Fishery, Eric Anderson

Economics Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) Interest in the economics of Pacific whiting, Merluccius productus, production and consumption has been simulated in recent years by expanding U.S. participation in the fishery formerly dominated by foreign fishing and processing. This has raised several questions within the U.S. fishing industry: 1) Will it be profitable for additional U.S. fisherman and processors to enter the fishery? 2) What configuration will the U.S. Pacific whiting industry take? and 3) What will be the nature of markets for Pacific whiting products? This paper summarizes the conclusions of several reports and studies which bear on these questions.

Hsus Exposes Livestock Transportation Cruelty

Close Up Reports

After a massive investigation covering nine months, twenty states, and more than 20,000 miles, The HSUS has documented that every day and every night, thousands of cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, and other animals are being crowded, beaten, electrically shocked, trampled--or even killed--during miserable journeys that ultimately end at the slaughterhouses of this country.

Animals are injured during loading, then forced to negotiate dark truck interiors, steep ramps, narrow doorways, sharp turns, and slippery flooring. They are loaded so hurriedly that they knock down or climb onto those animals ahead of them and are crowded so tightly that they injure or …

Stereotype Behaviour In Sows And Gilts Housed In Stalls, Tethers, And Groups, Judith K. Blackshaw, J. F. Mcveigh

Agribusiness Collection

Observations of sows and gilts in tethers, stalls, and groups showed two distinct types of behaviour: pre-feed behaviour when pigs were anticipating food, and after-feed behaviour. Sows and gilts tethered for the first time do not show pre-feed excitement, but this develops in 42 days which suggests that pre-feed behaviour is not stereotype, as suggested by the literature, but is a conditioned reflex.

The question of the importance of after-feeding behaviours which are often called stereotypies is examined. The total time occupied by these behaviours over 24 hours by tethered sows is 14.5 to 29.0%, by tethered gilts 1.4 to …

Psychological Aspects Of Slaughter: Reactions Of College Students To Killing And Butchering Cattle And Hogs, Harold A. Herzog Jr., Sandy Mcgee

Human Health Collection

This study examined the reactions of college students involved in slaughtering cattle and hogs as part of their jobs on a college work crew. The 27 students were surveyed on attitudes containing items toward slaughtering animals and toward different uses of animals. Nineteen were later interviewed. Some aspects of slaughtering were reported to be more bothersome than others. There was a relationship between the amount of experience of the subjects in slaughtering and also their general attitudes toward various uses of animals and their responses to several of the items on the questionnaire. The perceived benefits of the slaughtering experience …

Ethologic And Economic Examination Of Aviary Housing For Commercial Laying Flocks, D. W. Fölsch, Chr. Dolf, H. Ehrbar, T. Bleuler, H. Teijgeler

Agribusiness Collection

The result of our work shows that appropriate housing is necessary for intensively kept hens and that the housing has to correspond to the vital needs and the nature of the animals.

This is important for two reasons: a) the innate needs of the birds must be satisfied; b) for the proper development of the animal and successful egg production.

The housing facilities should allow the following functional cycles without restrictions:

Social organization: the structuring of a group or unit of animals.

Locomotion: walking, running, fluttering, flying.

Feeding behavior: search for food and water, food and water pecking, ground scratching, …

No Need To Be Boxed In: Group Pens And Grain For Veal Calves, Michael S. Mosner

Agribusiness Collection

My family has been in the wholesale veal business for 30 years. The basis of this business has been various breeds of female beef calves that are slaughtered at less than 500 lb. These calves are allowed to suck from cows and graze until they are ready for market. Beef calves, however, tend to vary in quality and quantity depending on the tjme of the year that they are purchased and raised. Generally, calves become scarce in the spring, when feeders are buying calves to put out on pasture. Then, in the summer and fall, large numbers of calves usually …

Euthanasia Of Day-Old Male Chicks In The Poultry Industry, Walter Jaksch

Agribusiness Collection

Humane killing of animals implies a painless death (euthanasia). This depends on the rapidity with which unconsciousness is achieved and the maintenance of this state until death occurs. Euthanasia methods for day-old chicks must also be economical and should not interfere with the use of the carcasses for animal food or fertilizer. Manual decapitation or dislocation of the neck are the best available manual methods of euthanasia. For larger numbers of birds, the literature recommends homogenization in a crusher. In the author's own experiments, the destruction of day-old chicks was most effectively carried out by poisoning with carbon dioxide (CO …

One Answer To The Confinement Pig Problem, Arthur Nehring

Human Health Collection

A new design for an intensive hog finishing operation is presented. The "maze deconfinement" system consists of a series of 4-walled concrete pens arranged in a T-maze within a confinement building that is designed to utilize solar energy. In addition to low cost and efficient use of energy, the system has the following advantages: higher feed conversion rate; less fighting among and injuries to hogs; some freedom for hogs to exercise and explore; decreased labor. The system has been in use on the author's farm since the end of 1976.

Behavior And Weight Loss Of Feeder Calves In A Railcar Modified For Feeding And Watering In Transit, T. H. Friend, M. R. Irwin, A. J. Sharp, B. H. Ashby, G. B. Thompson, W. A. Bailey

Agribusiness Collection

The behavior of 164kg Angus and Hereford calves was studied in a double deck 26m x 2.6m "jumbo" railcar equipped with feed and water. A 4,180 liter water tank positioned in the center of each deck divided the car into four compartments. Fifty head were loaded into the lower and upper forward compartment (252kg/m²floor space], each containing 675kg of hay in racks. The two rear compartments served as quarters for equipment and researchers. Two video cameras were mounted in the upper forward compartment containing calves. Behavior of the calves was monitored, with portions video taped during rail transport …

Livestock Behavior As Related To Handling Facilities Design, Temple Grandin

Agribusiness Collection

A knowledge of the behavior of different species of livestock as well as different breeds within a particular species is essential to the proper planning of a handling facility. An optimal facility should incorporate features which minimize stress on the animal and maximize the efficiency of movement from holding pen to slaughter area. Handler awareness of the animals' perception of critical distance flight zone and personal space requirements also reduces problems with balking and alarm behavior. Many improvements can be made with relative ease, thus enabling already existing facilities to upgrade their operations.

Bruises And Carcass Damage, Temple Grandin

Agribusiness Collection

Bruising and carcass damage is a major source of financial loss to slaughterhouses in the United States, approximately $46 million per annum. The absence of easily administered tests to determine where and/or when bruising occurs results in the slaughter plant absorbing carcass damage costs. Rough, abusive handling of livestock accounts for over half of all bruising. Injuries occur through overuse of persuaders, careless transport methods, and faulty equipment. Other elements relevant to carcass loss include branding cattle, abscesses, spreader and crippling injuries, sickness and death during extreme weather conditions, and carcass shrink. The 1979 regulations under the Humane Methods of …

Designs And Specifications For Livestock Handling Equipment In Slaughter Plants, Temple Grandin

Agribusiness Collection

Properly designed, maintained and operated livestock handling facilities are more humane and more efficient in ensuring a steady uninterrupted flow of livestock to the slaughter line, and will usually pay for themselves by reducing bruises, injuries and lost work time. Down time or lost work time in a large slaughter plant is expensive since a five minute delay can cost over $500 in lost meat production. Another benefit of good systems is increased safety for the employees; many serious accidents have occurred when agitated cattle turn and trample a handler.

Although specific recommendations vary for different species, certain general principles …

Mechanical, Electrical And Anesthetic Stunning Methods For Livestock, Temple Grandin

Agribusiness Collection

A good stunning method must render an animal unable to experience pain and sensation prior to hoisting and slaughter. The three basic types of stunning methods which are classified as being humane (i.e., painless) in the United States, Europe and other foreign countries are captive bolt (penetrating and nonpenetrating), electrical, and C02 (carbon dioxide) gas anesthesia.

The physiological mechanisms of stress are the same before and after the onset of unconsciousness. The release of epinephrine as a result of stress inducers has an effect on the quality of the meat and it is therefore desirable to use a stunning method …

The Effect Of Stress On Livestock And Meat Quality Prior To And During Slaughter, Temple Grandin

Agribusiness Collection

The effects of stress on cattle, pigs and sheep prior to slaughter are reviewed. Long-term preslaughter stress, such as fighting, cold weather, fasting and transit, which occurs 12 to 48 hours prior to slaughter depletes muscle glycogen, resulting in meat which has a higher pH, darker color, and is drier. Short-term acute stress, such as excitement or fighting immediately prior to slaughter, produced lactic acid from the breakdown of glycogen. This results in meat which has a lower pH, lighter color, reduced water binding capacity, and is possibly tougher. Psychological stressors, such as excitement and fighting, will often have a …

Problems With Kosher Slaughter, Temple Grandin

Agribusiness Collection

Ritual slaughter to produce kosher meat is rooted in the teachings and writings of the Talmud. However, the preslaughter handling features of modern systems, particularly the shackling and hoisting of large steers, contravene the basic message of humaneness included in the teachings. The throat-cutting of a live, conscious animal is relatively pain-free, provided that certain precautions are followed, but U.S. kosher plants need to install newly developed conveyor-restrainer systems to eliminate the abuses of shackling and hoisting. Conveyor-restrainer systems for large and small animals are discussed.

The Effect Of Straw On The Behaviour Of Sows In Tether Stalls, D. Fraser

Housing and Confinement of Farm Animals Collection

The behaviour of sows in tether stalls with and without straw was studied in two experiments. Sows lay down more when 1 kg of straw was provided daily, especially when it was chopped and mixed wet with the food (dietary effect). Sows without straw performed a variety of stereotyped oral and other activities which were greatly reduced by the provision of loose straw that could be chewed and manipulated throughout the day (recreational effect). Sows were frequently seen standing or sitting motionless with the head drooping, probably in a state of drowsiness. This behaviour was virtually eliminated by full straw …

Recent Senior Appointments In The Department Of Agriculture/ Pioneer Adviser Retires As Chief Of Wheat And Sheep Division, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

THE Department of Agriculture moves into the 1970s with many of its senior positions filled by officers appointed within the last few months of 1969. The new men replace personalities who have for many years dominated the agricultural scene in Western Australia—pioneers of scientific agriculture who, in their many years of service with the Department, helped to establish prosperous farming industries in many parts of the State. Later they were largely responsible for the tremendous agricultural development that took place from 1946 to 1969.

One of the Department of Agriculture's best known agricultural advisers was Mr. A. S. Wild, who …