scholarly journals Finnsheep and their utilization experiences in temperate conditions

1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 455-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Sheep Production

The highly prolific Finnsheep (F) has been exported to more than 40 countries around the world to improve the reproductive performance of local breeds through crossbreeding. The infusion of one-half F into local breeds results in a substantial improvement in all reproductive traits with net reproduction (lambs weaned/ewe mated) being increased by about 25 % in the British Isles and Western Europe and by up to 70—100 % in New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. Heterosis for litter size at birth has been low or negligible in a number of crossbreeding studies involving F. Serious reservations have been expressed about the growth, fleece producton and carcass characteristics of F. While F-cross lambs are usually lighter at birth than local breeds, their weaning and post-weaning weights are often very similar, at least partly due to heterosis. Despite the perceived poor live conformation of purebred F, the carcass weight, quality and composition of F-crosses have been very similar to local breeds or crosses. A striking feature of F-cross carcasses is that they have more kidney and less subcutaneous fat than local breeds. This may be a desirable feature of F-cross in extensive, pastoral farming situations to help sheep survive during droughts or periods of low pasture production. The fleece weight of the purebred F is 30—40 % lower than most local breeds, particularly long-wooled breeds. However, the 1/4-F crosses have consistently been only 5—10 % lower in fleece weight. Studies have reported comparable, or superior, processing qualities of F-cross wool. F-cross ewes have generally been shown to have superior longevity, overall productivity and economic efficiency than local breeds across a diverse range of environments and farming systems. Some of the problems of integrating a highly prolific genotype into extensive, low cost, sheep production systems are discussed. F has been utilized in many countries by producing a new synthetic population containing a certain proportion (1/8 to 1/2) of F ancestry. This approach is usually superior to other crossbreeding options such as stratified crossing or rotational crossing systems.

scholarly journals Existing dairy buffalo production system under intensive condition in drought prone Dinajpur district of Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
pp. 103-117
Author(s):  
SMR Rahman ◽  
MN Islam ◽  
MH Rashid ◽  
NR Sarker ◽  
MSR Siddiki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
High Price ◽  
Feeding Practice ◽  
Lactation Length ◽  
Inadequate Knowledge

An attempt was made to study the existing production and management system under intensive buffalo farming at Dinajpur district, a drought area of Bangladesh. Thirty two farmers were selected for this study. Direct interview with farmers, farm observation, community discussions and key informant interview (KII) were carried out to achieve the study. Two types of intensive system were found, namely – household yard (HYI) and completely intensive (CI). It was observed that in HYI system during the day time the animals were kept in yard and in confinement at night. On the contrary, animals were always remained in the shed under CI system. Feeding practice and utilization of feed resources were found different in HYI and CI farming. Showering of dairy buffaloes was observed as common practices in both production systems. All productive e.g. milk yield, lactation yield, lactation length and dry period and reproductive traits e.g. service per conception, age at first pregnancy, age at first calving and post/partum heat period under CI production system were found significantly (p≤0.05) better than that of the HYI systems. Significantly (p≤0.05) higher total solids and fat were found in milk from CI system compared to the HYI system, but in case of protein it was opposite. Natural breeding showed as more prominent practice than that of the artificial insemination in both farming systems. All the farmers practiced colostrum feeding and the calf mortality ranges from 7-8%. Regarding the primary health care, CI farmers were found to be more attentive than the HYI farmers. Most of the buffaloes showed heat from early night to early morning (78.7%). Problem matrix revealed that the top ranked order of problems were “inadequate knowledge”, “high price of feed” and “low milk price”. However, both systems were found as a profitable venture (benefit cost ratio1.33 in HYI and 1.25 in CI). Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 21-25: 103-117, 2018

Economics of Low Carbon Agriculture

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Moran ◽  
Jorie Knook
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Global Food Security

Climate change is already having a significant impact on agriculture through greater weather variability and the increasing frequency of extreme events. International policy is rightly focused on adapting and transforming agricultural and food production systems to reduce vulnerability. But agriculture also has a role in terms of climate change mitigation. The agricultural sector accounts for approximately a third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, including related emissions from land-use change and deforestation. Farmers and land managers have a significant role to play because emissions reduction measures can be taken to increase soil carbon sequestration, manage fertilizer application, and improve ruminant nutrition and waste. There is also potential to improve overall productivity in some systems, thereby reducing emissions per unit of product. The global significance of such actions should not be underestimated. Existing research shows that some of these measures are low cost relative to the costs of reducing emissions in other sectors such as energy or heavy industry. Some measures are apparently cost-negative or win–win, in that they have the potential to reduce emissions and save production costs. However, the mitigation potential is also hindered by the biophysical complexity of agricultural systems and institutional and behavioral barriers limiting the adoption of these measures in developed and developing countries. This includes formal agreement on how agricultural mitigation should be treated in national obligations, commitments or targets, and the nature of policy incentives that can be deployed in different farming systems and along food chains beyond the farm gate. These challenges also overlap growing concern about global food security, which highlights additional stressors, including demographic change, natural resource scarcity, and economic convergence in consumption preferences, particularly for livestock products. The focus on reducing emissions through modified food consumption and reduced waste is a recent agenda that is proving more controversial than dealing with emissions related to production.

scholarly journals History of Controlled Environment Horticulture: Greenhouses

HortScience ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-246
Author(s):  
Krishna Nemali
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rigid Plastic ◽  
Intensive Farming

Modern greenhouses are intensive farming systems designed to achieve high efficiency and productivity. Plants are produced year-round in greenhouses by maintaining the environment at or near optimum levels regardless of extreme weather conditions. Many scientific discoveries and technological advancements that happened in the past two centuries paved the way for current state-of-the-art greenhouses. These include, but are not limited to, advancements in climate-specific structural designs and glazing materials, and temperature control, artificial lighting, and hydroponic production systems. Greenhouse structures can be broadly grouped into four distinct designs, including tall Venlo greenhouses of the Netherlands, passive solar greenhouses of China, low-cost Parral greenhouses of the Mediterranean region, and gutter-connected polyethylene houses of India and African countries. These designs were developed to suit local climatic conditions and maximize the return on investment. Although glass and rigid plastic options are available for glazing, the development of low-cost and lightweight plastic glazing materials (e.g., polyethylene) enabled widespread growth of the greenhouse industry in the developing world. For temperate regions, supplemental lighting technology is crucial for year-round production. This heavily relies on advancements in electro-lighting during the 19th and 20th centuries. The development of hydroponic production systems for the controlled delivery of nutrients further enhanced crop productivity. This article addresses important historical events, scientific discoveries, and technological improvements related to advancements in these areas.

Performance of indigenous and exotic×indigenous sheep breeds fed different diets in spring and the efficiency of feeding system in crop–livestock farming

2014 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. ATES ◽  
G. KELES ◽  
F. INAL ◽  
A. GUNES ◽  
B. DHEHIBI
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Spring Period ◽  
Sheep Production

SUMMARYGenetic variation in feed efficiency may have a significant impact on sheep production in integrated crop livestock farming systems in dry areas, where the shortage and poor quality of feed is widespread. Thus, the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of sheep genotype and feed source on liveweight gain, feed conversion efficiency and dry matter (DM) intake in feedlot lambs finished on diets based on low-cost forages or a high-cost concentrated feed as a means of assessing the efficiency of this feeding system. Early weaned lambs of the purebred fat-tailed Akkaraman breed were compared with synthetic Anatolian Merino (0·80 German Mutton Merino×0·20 Native Akkaraman) breed. The lambs were kept in individual pens for 8 weeks and fed four diets: daily harvested forages of triticale (T), Hungarian vetch (HV), a triticale-Hungarian vetch mixture (T+HV), and a concentrate-based feed (CF). Lamb liveweight gain (LWG) was monitored during the early (18 April–16 May) and late (17 May–13 June) spring periods. Diet×period and diet×breed interactions were detected in LWG of the lambs. Lambs from both genotypes on the concentrate-based diet had higher liveweight gains, DM intakes and better feed conversion ratios compared with lambs finished on the forage-based diets. The LWG of lambs offered triticale forage decreased from 177 g/head/day in the early spring to 95 g/head/day in the late spring period, as plant maturity increased. Liveweight gains did not change for the other forage rations during the same period. The LWG of Akkaraman lambs were similar for both the early (189 g/head/day) and the late (183 g/head/day) spring periods, whereas Anatolian Merino lambs gained 41 g/head/day less LW and had 3·8 higher feed conversion rate for the late spring period compared with the early spring period. The present study showed that fat-tailed Akkaraman lambs were better able to utilize forages with low nutritive value compared to Anatolian Merino lambs, and may be better suited to semi-arid areas, where crop and livestock are highly integrated in the farming system.

scholarly journals Ostrich - A diversification option for east coast farms?

1996 ◽  
pp. 273-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.D.A. Brown ◽  
K.F. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
East Coast ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Reproduction Rate ◽  
Low Cholesterol ◽  
By Products

Ostrich are currently being promoted as an alternative to sheep, cattle and deer. Although current bird prices are not sustainable, New Zealand and overseas experience to date suggest ostrich can be farmed successfully and profitability long term. Climate and terrain of the east coast of New Zealand suit ostrich physical requirements. It has been suggested that production systems will develop in which grazed herbage will provide 60% or more of the nutritional requirements. The ability to graze low-cost herbage combined with a reproduction rate of about 25 progeny per hen per year indicate that ostrich production systems may be three times more efficient than beef or deer at turning feed into lean meat. The low fat and low cholesterol meat is likely to be the primary product and is already being sold in international markets. There is also a market for the leather, feathers and oil by-products. Keywords: diversification, east coast, farming systems, meat, ostrich

scholarly journals Impacts of COVID-19 on Diverse Farm Systems in Tanzania and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9863
Author(s):  
Hemant G. Tripathi ◽  
Harriet E. Smith ◽  
Steven M. Sait ◽  
Susannah M. Sallu ◽  
Stephen Whitfield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
International Markets ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Farm Systems ◽  
Corporate Farms

Emerging information on the interactions between the COVID-19 pandemic and global food systems have highlighted how the pandemic is accentuating food crises across Africa. Less clear, however, are how the impacts differ between farming systems. Drawing on 50 key informant interviews with farmers, village leaders and extension officers in South Africa and Tanzania, we identify the effects of COVID-19 and associated measures to curb the spread of the disease on farming production systems, the coping mechanisms adopted by farmers, and explore their longer-term plans for adaptation. We focus on a diverse range of production systems, from small-scale mixed farming systems in Tanzania to large-scale corporate farms in South Africa. Our findings highlight how COVID-19 restrictions have interrupted the supply chains of agricultural inputs and commodities, increasing the storage time for produce, decreasing income and purchasing power, and reducing labour availability. Farmers’ responses were heterogeneous, with highly diverse small-scale farming systems and those less engaged with international markets least affected by the associated COVID-19 measures. Large-scale farmers were most able to access capital to buffer short-term impacts, whereas smaller-scale farms shared labour, diversified to subsistence produce and sold assets. However, compounded shocks, such as recent extreme climate events, limited the available coping options, particularly for smaller-scale and emerging farmers. The study highlights the need to understand the characteristics of farm systems to better equip and support farmers, particularly in contexts of uncertainty. We propose that policy actions should focus on (i) providing temporary relief and social support and protection to financially vulnerable stakeholders, (ii) job assurance for farmworkers and engaging an alternative workforce in farming, (iii) investing in farming infrastructure, such as storage facilities, digital communication tools and extension services, and (iv) supporting diversified agroecological farming systems.

Social persistence of plant-based management of dryland salinity

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 1495 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Barr ◽  
R. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Plantation Forest ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Dryland Salinity ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Rural Landscapes ◽  
Forest Industries

Rural areas of Australia are undergoing rapid social and economic transformations, creating a divergence between those rural landscapes that are depopulating and those that are repopulating. In the depopulating landscape of the cropping zones at risk to salinity, the new paradigm of salinity management based on the development of new plant production systems may be the best strategy available. We suspect this strategy will be less suited to the repopulating rural areas, where amenity is a major factor in population growth. In these landscapes, investment in recharge control based upon commercial pasture production or plantation forest industries is unlikely to be socially compatible with the aspirations of future residents. Strategies aimed at low-cost re-establishment of native vegetation may be more appropriate, but will still be limited in their application. Any discussion of the sustainability of plant-based management systems for dryland salinity needs to include not only biological or agronomic persistence, but also social persistence.

Selection for high or low backfat depth in Coopworth sheep: breeding-ewe traits

2001 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. McEwan ◽  
C. A. Morris ◽  
P. F. Fennessy ◽  
G. J. Greer ◽  
W. E. Bain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Scanning Time ◽  
Birth Rank ◽  
Fleece Weight ◽  
Significant Line ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Net Reproduction ◽  
Weighted Combination

AbstractA breeding experiment in Coopworth sheep where selection was applied to backfat depth was evaluated after 14 years (1981-94). There were three self-replacing lines, two selected for increased or decreased subcutaneous fat depth, and an unselected control (average size = 51 ewes per line per year). Reproductive traits, ewe body weight and ewe fleece weight were monitored in each line as potential correlated responses. In the last 4 years studied, the fat (F), control (C) and lean (L) lines differed significantly in the proportion of ewes lambing (0·87, 0·93, 0·94 respectively), litter size at birth (1·64, 1·83 and 1·89), and lamb survival up to weaning, unadjusted for birth rank and sex (0·88, 0·81 and 0·74). The overall reproductive trait, lambs weaned per ewe joined (1·22, 1·33 and 1·26), did not differ significantly among lines. From pre-mating weights of ewes present in 1993 or 1994, means for mature ewes by line were 60·1, 62·4 and 63·3 kg, respectively (P < 0·01). Means for weight at scanning time (7 months of age) by line, as a proportion of mature weight were: 0·533, 0·561 and 0·559, respectively (P < 0·05). There were also significant line differences in ewe fleece weights, with the 1993 and 1994 data averaging 3·93, 4·05 and 4·27 kg respectively (P < 0·01). For weight of lamb weaned per ewe weaning at least one lamb, the L line had a 0·09 higher mean proportionally than the F line (P < 0·05), but for a composite trait which was a weighted combination of weight of lambs weaned and ewe fleece weight per ewe joined (with or without allowance for different ewe live weights), the L line was no longer significantly different from the F line. Repeatabilities and single-record heritabilities were also estimated for various ewe traits. The implications are that lean-lamb selection would be associated with only small changes in net reproduction, ewe fleece weight and live weight, but larger differences would be expected from selection in the opposite direction.

scholarly journals A Simple Photogrammetry Rig for the Reliable Creation of 3D Artifact Models in the Field

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Thi Porter ◽  
Morgan Roussel ◽  
Marie Soressi
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Scanning ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Three Dimensional Models

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) artifact modeling is becoming an increasingly utilized tool in archaeology. In comparison with other methods of 3D scanning, photogrammetry has the benefits of being relatively inexpensive, mobile, and more adaptable for use in field conditions. As part of a larger project to document variability in lithic production systems across the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition in Western Europe, we developed a photography rig for the express purpose of systematically capturing images for the creation of 3D photogrammetric models. This low-cost rig greatly streamlines both the photo-taking and post-processing stages of model creation. Additional tips relating to the coating of difficult-to-capture objects with a mineral spray are also provided. Three-dimensional models of lithic cores from the Châtelperronian, Protoaurignacian, and Early Aurignacian levels of the site of Les Cottés (France) are presented as examples of the quality of model that can be produced using this system.

scholarly journals Analysis of Dairy Farming Systems in the Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadja Sanon ◽  
NEYA Samuel ◽  
KONFE Salif ◽  
BOUGOUMA Valérie
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Main Activity ◽  
Sahelian Zone

Abstract The insufficiency and variability of pasture production is a determining factor in milk production, particularly in the Sahelian zone. The objective of this study was to characterize dairy production systems and their relationship with crops to meet livestock needs. It consisted of surveys of 120 farmers in four communes in the Séno province. The results show three groups of dairy farmers that are essentially differentiated by the main activity and the sex of the farmers as well as the size of the cattle herd on the farm. The first group is made of male agropastoralists, with herds averaging 12 cattle. Group 2 consists of male agropastoralists with an average of 22 cattle. Group 3 consists of female pastoralists (96.15%), with a herd size of about 19 head. The cows are fed on pasture and supplemented with crop residues with cotton cake, which is more important in group 2, where more farmers have hayloft for fodder conservation and manure pits compared to the other two groups. Crop residues are used primarily as feed in all groups from January to May. This supplementation allows the maintenance of milk production in the dry season and group 2, with more dairy cows, records more milk milked (6.5 and 3.8 l) and consumed in wet and dry seasons compared to the other two groups. The results suggest that the farmers in the area have low technical level and need capacity building in agropastoral fields to improve their production.

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