scholarly journals A systematic approach to analyse the impact of farm-profiles on bovine health

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caspar Matzhold ◽  
Jana Lasser ◽  
Christa Egger-Danner ◽  
Birgit Fuerst-Waltl ◽  
Thomas Wittek ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study we present systematic framework to analyse the impact of farm profiles as combinations of environmental conditions and management practices on common diseases in dairy cattle. The data used for this secondary data analysis includes observational data from 166 farms with a total of 5828 dairy cows. Each farm is characterised by features from five categories: husbandry, feeding, environmental conditions, housing, and milking systems. We combine dimension reduction with clustering techniques to identify groups of similar farm attributes, which we refer to as farm profiles. A statistical analysis of the farm profiles and their related disease risks is carried out to study the associations between disease risk, farm membership to a specific cluster as well as variables that characterise a given cluster by means of a multivariate regression model. The disease risks of five different farm profiles arise as the result of complex interactions between environmental conditions and farm management practices. We confirm previously documented relationships between diseases, feeding and husbandry. Furthermore, novel associations between housing and milking systems and specific disorders like lameness and ketosis have been discovered. Our approach contributes to paving a way towards a more holistic and data-driven understanding of bovine health and its risk factors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9706
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Voutzourakis ◽  
Alexandros Stefanakis ◽  
Sokratis Stergiadis ◽  
Leonidas Rempelos ◽  
Nikolaos Tzanidakis ◽  
...  

Due to increasing demand, many traditional, grazing-based Mediterranean sheep production systems have introduced intensified feeding regimes, increased investments in infrastructure and drug use to increase milk yields. However, compared to bovine milk production systems, there is limited knowledge about the impact of these intensification practices on animal welfare and health and on the quality of dairy products. The aim of this study was therefore to quantify the effects of management practices and environmental conditions background on udder health, parasitism and milk quantity and quality in Cretan traditional production systems. Milk yields were higher in semi-intensive production systems while concentrations of several nutritionally desirable compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids were found to be higher in milk from extensive systems. Antibiotic and anthelmintic use was relatively low in both extensive and semi-intensive production systems. There was no substantial difference in parasitic burden, somatic cell counts, and microbiological parameters assessed in milk. Recording of flock health parameters showed that animal health and welfare was high in both extensive and semi-intensively managed flocks, and that overall, the health status of extensively managed ewes was slightly better. In contrast, environmental conditions (temperature and rainfall) had a substantial effect on parasitism and milk quality.


Author(s):  
Sahar J. Fatah

Talent management has become more important because of a growing recognition that it helps to drive corporate performance, even though the exact impact is hard to quantify. This research focuses on the impact of management involvement on the nourishment of talent management in organizations. The research problem explains the role of management if any in improving the talent management concept in the organization. This research used a qualitative approach based on secondary data. The data was collected from previous study literature, textbooks, and scientific journals. The result of this research showed that good talent management consists of comprehensive development programs. Also, CEOs who maintain a focus on effective talent management strategy will find their organizations better prepared for today’s challenges and the inevitable but unknown opportunities for the future. This research contributes to filling the knowledge gap by reviewing the impact of senior management on talent management.


Author(s):  
Diekolola Oye

Increase in losses borne by banks as a result of inadequate operational risk management practices and the adverse impact on banks’ financial performance has been a major concern to bank management and regulators. This study analysed the impact of operational risk management practices on the financial performance of commercial banks in Nigeria. 10-years (2008 - 2017) secondary data extracted from audited financial statements of selected commercial banks in Nigeria was used for the study. The data was analysed using the Linear Multiple Regression Model. The results showed that there is a positive relationship between operational risk management and the financial performance of banks. The findings revealed that sound operational risk management practices impact positively on the financial performance of banks. We, therefore, recommend that banks’ management should deploy adequate resources towards understanding operational risk to ensure sound operational risk management and improved financial performance of banks.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pubuduni Anuradha Meegahapola ◽  
R.A. Ranga Prabodanie

Purpose Some manufacturing processes generate extreme temperatures, noise and other irritating environmental conditions. These environmental factors can have a negative impact on workers’ performance and health. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of temperature, noise and lighting on factory workers’ productivity and day-to-day health in a rubber compound manufacturing plant. Design/methodology/approach Secondary data on productivity, measurements of factory environmental conditions, and records of medical advice and treatments over a period of three months were used in this study. Causal analysis was performed using statistical techniques ANOVA and regression analysis in SPSS statistical package. Findings The results revealed that higher levels of temperature and noise inside the factory can cause lower productivity levels. High temperature may not only reduce the productivity but also contribute to illnesses or heat-stress symptoms such as headaches. The results further suggested that both noise and lighting level do not have a statistically significant impact on workers’ health. No statistical evidence was found on lighting level having an impact on workers’ productivity. Research limitations/implications The study was particularly focused on a rubber compound manufacturing plant. However, the results were consistent with the results obtained in similar studies which focused on leather and shoe industry and automobile assembly industry. Originality/value The impact of environmental conditions on workers’ performance and health has been studied with respect to few industries and regions. This is the first of that kind carried out in Sri Lanka. Clear evidence of productivity losses and health impacts caused by high temperatures, raises the need for improving the working conditions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 372 (1722) ◽  
pp. 20160129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parviez R. Hosseini ◽  
James N. Mills ◽  
Anne-Hélène Prieur-Richard ◽  
Vanessa O. Ezenwa ◽  
Xavier Bailly ◽  
...  

Biodiversity is of critical value to human societies, but recent evidence that biodiversity may mitigate infectious-disease risk has sparked controversy among researchers. The majority of work on this topic has focused on direct assessments of the relationship between biodiversity and endemic-pathogen prevalence, without disentangling intervening mechanisms; thus study outcomes often differ, fuelling more debate. Here, we suggest two critical changes to the approach researchers take to understanding relationships between infectious disease, both endemic and emerging, and biodiversity that may help clarify sources of controversy. First, the distinct concepts of hazards versus risks need to be separated to determine how biodiversity and its drivers may act differently on each. This distinction is particularly important since it illustrates that disease emergence drivers in humans could be quite different to the general relationship between biodiversity and transmission of endemic pathogens. Second, the interactive relationship among biodiversity, anthropogenic change and zoonotic disease risk, including both direct and indirect effects, needs to be recognized and accounted for. By carefully disentangling these interactions between humans' activities and pathogen circulation in wildlife, we suggest that conservation efforts could mitigate disease risks and hazards in novel ways that complement more typical disease control efforts. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Conservation, biodiversity and infectious disease: scientific evidence and policy implications’.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e045537
Author(s):  
Emily N C Manoogian ◽  
Adena Zadourian ◽  
Hannah C Lo ◽  
Nikko R Gutierrez ◽  
Azarin Shoghi ◽  
...  

Introduction Career firefighters experience chronic circadian rhythm disruption, increasing their risk of cardiometabolic disease. The recent discovery that eating patterns regulate circadian rhythmicity in metabolic organs has raised the hypothesis that maintaining a consistent daily cycle of eating and fasting can support circadian rhythms and reduce disease risks. Preclinical animal studies and preliminary clinical trials have shown promising effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) to reduce disease risk without compromising physical performance. However, there is a lack of research on TRE in shift workers including firefighters. This study aims to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of 10-hour TRE on health parameters that contribute to cardiometabolic disease risks among career firefighters who work on a 24-hour shift schedule. Methods and analyses The Healthy Heroes Study is a randomised controlled parallel open-label clinical trial with 150 firefighters over 1 year. Firefighters are randomised with a 1:1 ratio to either the control or intervention group. The control group receives Mediterranean diet nutritional counselling (standard of care, ‘SOC’). The intervention group receives the same SOC and a self-selected 10-hour TRE window. After the 2-week baseline, participants enter a 3-month monitored intervention, followed by a 9-month self-guided period with follow-up assessments. The impact of TRE on blood glucose, body weight, body composition, biomarkers (neuroendocrine, inflammatory and metabolic), sleep and mood is evaluated. These assessments occur at baseline, at the end of intervention and at 6, 9 and 12-month follow-ups. Temporal calorie intake is monitored with the smartphone application myCircadianClock throughout the study. Continuous glucose monitors, wrist-worn actigraphy device and questionnaires are used to monitor glucose levels, activity, sleep and light exposure. Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the University of California San Diego and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed manuscripts, reports and presentations. Trial registration number NCT03533023; Pre result.


Author(s):  
Binu Varghese ◽  
Karim Menacere

This paper aims to assess the impact of financial factors which have a direct bearing on the success or failure of the construction companies. This paper is part of the main study which aims to identify key areas of strategic issues for construction companies in Qatar by using 6S strategic management framework. This research adopts a combination of primary and secondary data using a questionnaire survey involving 115 companies holding 99 per cent of the market share in Qatar. In this case study, a total of 17 financial ratios were employed as performance measurement tools. Interpreting these ratios, typical median (industry average) and typical range were used to compare a companys average ratios. The analyses reveal that most of the construction companies do not have sufficient financial resources, lack of monitoring system for the cash flow, and project costs. Without effective strategic management practices, construction companies are putting their self-up to failure. In addition to comparing the financial health of construction sector, this study aims to fill in the gap by creating basic benchmarks for 17 ratios applicable to construction sector in Qatar.


2008 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. MARION ◽  
L. A. SMITH ◽  
D. L. SWAIN ◽  
R. S. DAVIDSON ◽  
M. R. HUTCHINGS

SUMMARYMany of the most pervasive disease challenges to livestock are transmitted via oral contact with faeces (or by faecal–aerosol) and the current paper focuses on how disease risk may depend on: spatial heterogeneity, animal searching behaviour, different grazing systems and faecal deposition patterns including those representative of livestock and a range of wildlife. A spatially explicit agent-based model was developed to describe the impact of empirically observed foraging and avoidance behaviours on the risk of disease presented by investigative and grazing contact with both livestock and wildlife faeces. To highlight the role of spatial heterogeneity on disease risks an analogous deterministic model, which ignores spatial heterogeneity and searching behaviour, was compared with the spatially explicit agent-based model. The models were applied to assess disease risks in temperate grazing systems. The results suggest that spatial heterogeneity is crucial in defining the disease risks to which individuals are exposed even at relatively small scales. Interestingly, however, although sensitive to other aspects of behaviour such as faecal avoidance, it was observed that disease risk is insensitive to search distance for typical domestic livestock restricted to small field plots. In contrast disease risk is highly sensitive to distributions of faecal contamination, in that contacts with highly clumped distributions of wildlife contamination are rare in comparison to those with more dispersed contamination. Finally it is argued that the model is a suitable framework to study the relative inter- and intra-specific disease risks posed to livestock under different realistic management regimes.


Author(s):  
Ian B. Arcega ◽  

Supply chain management strategies will help the prawn and crab growers mitigate and adapt to the impact of various disruptions such as typhoons, water-borne diseases, and climate change. The study was conducted to determine the production and disruptions and prawn and crab basis for supply chain management strategies of the growers. The study employed a descriptive research design using quantitative data. The study used secondary data for performance and disaster history. A content analysis was used in processing the data. The researchers validated the findings and results of the study, and a random interview was conducted. Findings revealed that disruptions affect the production of prawn and crab, growers have their fishing technique and management practices, supply chain management strategies were not prioritized for value-adding and technology accessibility. A supply chain management strategy may be employed to operate and produce prawns and crabs in the Province of Capiz to achieve profitability and sustainability. It should be noted that the data is from 2011 to 2017. The data coverage is the Province of Capiz and focuses on the volume and value of prawns and crab (tiger prawn, endeavor prawn, and mud crab).


Author(s):  
Srinibash Dash, Et. al.

The purpose of this paper is to study the knowledge management practices of steel industries in India. The Indian economy is considered a mixed economy. Indian steel industry having the participation from both private and public sector enterprises is one of the fastest-growing industries in terms of steel production and is also increasingly looking towards export as driving the growth of the industry. Under this study both public and private steel industries are taken into consideration. The study was based on secondary data. This research brings a research report on the impact of Knowledge Management Practices (KMP) in the Indian steel industries. The analysis was made by taking the previous year's data regarding various matters relating to KMP and its pros and cons in the performance of the Indian steel industries. The comparison was done between these two i.e., both public and private steel companies of the country


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