Factors Influencing Farm Profitability

2014 ◽  
pp. 235-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeong Sheng Tey ◽  
Mark Brindal
2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 775 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Blumer ◽  
G. E. Gardner ◽  
M. B. Ferguson ◽  
A. N. Thompson

Variation in liveweight change in the ewe flock during periods of poor nutrition can affect farm profitability through the effects of liveweight loss on potential stocking rate, management interventions including supplementary feeding, and ewe and lamb survival and productivity. There is variation between individual animals in their ability to manage periods of poor nutrition, but the links between liveweight change and breeding values in the adult ewe flock have not been quantified. We analysed 5216 liveweight profiles for 2772 ewes managed over 3 years at eight sites across Australia, to define the relative effects of environment, reproductive performance and breeding values on liveweight change. The range in liveweight loss varied from 1.3 kg to 21.6 kg, and for liveweight gain from 0.4 kg to 28.1 kg. Site and year had the largest influence on liveweight change, which demonstrates that seasonal conditions and management were the most important factors influencing liveweight change. Liveweight loss was influenced by previous and current reproductive performance but these effects were small in comparison to the effects of site and year. There were mixed associations with sire breeding values for growth, fat and muscle depending on site. An increase in sire breeding values for fat by 1 mm was associated with a reduction in liveweight loss by up to 1.3 kg regardless of ewe breed, and this was more evident at sites where ewes lost a greater proportion of their liveweight. While management had the greatest effect on liveweight change, there appears to be scope to use breeding values to select sheep that will lose less weight during periods of poor nutrition in some environments.


Author(s):  
Julie A. Martini ◽  
Robert H. Doremus

Tracy and Doremus have demonstrated chemical bonding between bone and hydroxylapatite with transmission electron microscopy. Now researchers ponder how to improve upon this bond in turn improving the life expectancy and biocompatibility of implantable orthopedic devices.This report focuses on a study of the- chemical influences on the interfacial integrity and strength. Pure hydroxylapatite (HAP), magnesium doped HAP, strontium doped HAP, bioglass and medical grade titanium cylinders were implanted into the tibial cortices of New Zealand white rabbits. After 12 weeks, the implants were retrieved for a scanning electron microscopy study coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy.Following sacrifice and careful retrieval, the samples were dehydrated through a graduated series starting with 50% ethanol and continuing through 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, and 100% ethanol over a period of two days. The samples were embedded in LR White. Again a graduated series was used with solutions of 50, 75 and 100% LR White diluted in ethanol.


1965 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-347
Author(s):  
Robert Goldstein ◽  
Benjamin RosenblÜt

Electrodermal and electroencephalic responsivity to sound and to light was studied in 96 normal-hearing adults in three separate sessions. The subjects were subdivided into equal groups of white men, white women, colored men, and colored women. A 1 000 cps pure tone was the conditioned stimulus in two sessions and white light was used in a third session. Heat was the unconditioned stimulus in all sessions. Previously, an inverse relation had been found in white men between the prominence of alpha rhythm in the EEG and the ease with which electrodermal responses could be elicited. This relation did not hold true for white women. The main purpose of the present study was to answer the following questions: (1) are the previous findings on white subjects applicable to colored subjects? (2) are subjects who are most (or least) responsive electrophysiologically on one day equally responsive (or unresponsive) on another day? and (3) are subjects who are most (or least) responsive to sound equally responsive (or unresponsive) to light? In general, each question was answered affirmatively. Other factors influencing responsivity were also studied.


1950 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 194-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick W. Hoffbauer ◽  
Jesse L. Bollman ◽  
John L. Grindlay

2014 ◽  
Vol 222 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Sölle ◽  
Theresa Bartholomäus ◽  
Margitta Worm ◽  
Regine Klinger

Research in recent years, especially in the analgesic field, has intensively studied the placebo effect and its mechanisms. It has been shown that physical complaints can be efficiently reduced via learning and cognitive processes (conditioning and expectancies). However, despite evidence demonstrating a large variety of physiological similarities between pain and itch, the possible transfer of the analgesic placebo model to itch has not yet been widely discussed in research. This review therefore aims at highlighting potential transfers of placebo mechanisms to itch processes by demonstrating the therapeutic issues in pharmacological treatments for pruritus on a physiological basis and by discussing the impact of psychological mechanisms and psychological factors influencing itch sensations.


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