Integrated crop-livestock management practices, technical efficiency and technology ratios in extensive small-ruminant systems in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 201 ◽  
pp. 58-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bright O. Asante ◽  
Renato A. Villano ◽  
George E. Battese
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Livestock Management

A Survey of browse plants used in feeding small ruminants in the Komenda‐ Edina‐Eguafo‐Abrem district (K.E.E.A) of the Central Region of Ghana

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 196-203
Author(s):  
K. Agyeman ◽  
S. O. Apori
Keyword(s):  
Central Region ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Terminalia Catappa ◽  
Livestock Feeding ◽  
Browse Species ◽  
Livestock Farmers ◽  
Production Response ◽  
Selection Of

A study was carried out to identify species used as fodder by small ruminant farmers in the selected villages in the Komenda‐Edina‐Eguafo‐Abrem district of the Central Region of Ghana. Livestock farmers in fifteen communities were interviewed using questionnaires to obtain information on the personal background and livestock feeding and management practices. The main aim of the study was first to identify existing browse species and to determine problems associated with the use of those existing browse species. Some problems identified include harboring of insects, causing of abortion as well as causing bloat. The survey showed that Ficus exasperata, Ficus umbellate, Baphia nitida, Griffonia simplifolia, Antiaris africana, Terminalia catappa, Grewia carprinifolia, Pethecellobium dulceand Leucaena leucocephala were the main browse species that were used in the district to feed small ruminants. Other feedstuffs that were used in feeding animals such as Aspillia africana and Manihot esulentus tops (leaves and peels) were also identified. The level of browse usage showed that Ficus exasperata had the highest value of 66.7% and Terminalia catappa had the lowest value of 13.3%. Farmers in the district preferred Ficus exasperata which they perceived to promote the best production response in livestock. Various reasons were assigned for the selection of a particular browse plant. Farmers in the district may have to be helped to cultivate browse plant in order to sustain the availability and usage of  browse for livestock feeding due to the rateof destruction of browse (shrubs and trees) resulting from urbanization, use of stem of shrubs and trees for fuelwood and other livelihood activities and desertification arising from human related activities.

scholarly journals Measuring the Technical Efficiency of Certified Organic Rice Producing Farms in Yasothon Province: Northeast Thailand

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 6974
Author(s):  
Nalun Panpluem ◽  
Adnan Mustafa ◽  
Xianlei Huang ◽  
Shu Wang ◽  
Changbin Yin
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Returns To Scale ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Organic Rice ◽  
Certified Organic ◽  
Constant Returns To Scale

Rice production holds a significant position in the Thai economy. Although it is the world’s largest rice exporter, Thailand’s increase in rice production is the result of an expansion in the cultivation area rather than an increase in yield per unit area. The present study was designed to estimate the technical efficiency and its governing factors for certified organic rice-growing farms in Yasothon Province, Thailand. A data envelopment model was employed to assess the technical efficiency of 328 farmer groups. The data revealed that the average technical efficiency was 23% and 28% under constant returns to scale (CRS) and variable returns to scale (VRS) specifications, respectively. Farmers can reduce the use of machinery, fertilizer, seed, and labor as input factors by about 80.1%, 25.62%, 24.72%, and 19.15%, respectively, while still achieving the same level of output. Multiple regression analysis was applied to estimate factors that affect the pure technical efficiency score (PTES) in the test regions. Results show that household size, farm size, water source, market accessibility, health symptoms, income, and labor were highly related to the TES and the amount of organic rice production. The regression coefficients of the predictors show that the income was the best predictor of the PTES at a significance level of p < 0.05. It is concluded that the farmers can potentially increase their yields by up to 72%–77% under current management practices.

Influence of grazing and land use on stream-channel characteristics among small dairy farms in the Eastern United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 524-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genevieve Brand ◽  
Bruce Vondracek ◽  
Nicholas R. Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Farm Land ◽  
Production Methods ◽  
Channel Characteristics ◽  
Livestock Management ◽  
Farm Types

AbstractRotational grazing (RG) is a livestock management practice that rotates grazing cattle on a scale of hours to days among small pastures termed paddocks. It may beneficially affect stream channels, relative to other livestock management practices. Such effects and other beneficial effects on hydrology are important to RG's potential to provide a highly multifunctional mode of livestock farming. Previous comparisons of effects of RG and confinement dairy (CD) on adjoining streams have been restricted in scale and scope. We examined 11 stream-channel characteristics on a representative sample of 37 small dairy farms that used either RG or CD production methods. Our objectives were: (1) to compare channel characteristics on RG and CD farms, as these production methods are implemented in practice, in New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, USA; and (2) to examine land use on these farms that may affect stream-channel characteristics. To help interpret channel characteristic findings, we examined on-farm land use in riparian areas 50 m in width along both sides of stream reaches and whole-farm land use. In all states, stream-channel characteristics on RG and CD farms did not differ. Whole-farm land use differed significantly between farm types; CD farms allocated more land to annual row crops, whereas RG farms allocated more land to pasture and grassland. However, land cover in 50 m riparian areas was not different between farm types within states; in particular, many RG and CD farms had continuously grazed pastures in riparian areas, typically occupied by juvenile and non-lactating cows, which may have contributed sediment and nutrients to streams. This similarity in riparian management practices may explain the observed similarity of farm types with respect to stream-channel characteristics. To realize the potential benefits of RG on streams, best management practices that affect stream-channel characteristics, such as protection of riparian areas, may improve aggregate effects of RG on stream quality and also enhance other environment, economic and social benefits of RG.

An E. E. C. viewpoint on animal waste disposal

1982 ◽  
Vol 296 (1082) ◽  
pp. 333-339 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Production Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Animal Waste ◽  
Chemical Fertilizers ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Arable Crops ◽  
Administrative Action ◽  
Livestock Management

Livestock management practices have evolved considerably in the E. E. C. during the last two decades. The development of intensive confined rearing without using litter results in the production of vast quantities of animal waste slurries, which create serious disposal problems. Yet these wastes possess a fertilizing value that should be used as much as possible to replace increasingly expensive chemical fertilizers. The Commission of the European Communities sponsored a coordinated research programme on livestock effluents to assess the levels of fertilizing elements in slurries and to establish mathematical models aimed at predicting environmental effects as well as specifying the economic aspects of the land spreading of slurries, and to enable livestock production management to be included in the context of planning and regional policies. The main results obtained on the characterization of slurry and on its use for arable crops, grassland and forage crops are presented, together with some recommendations for administrative action.

Impact of Management Practices on Persistent and Residual Technical Efficiency - a Study of Swedish pig Farming

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 890-905
Author(s):  
Gordana Manevska-Tasevska ◽  
Helena Hansson ◽  
Katarina Labajova
Keyword(s):  
Technical Efficiency ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Pig Farming
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