scholarly journals A Scoping Review: The Impact of Housing Systems and Environmental Features on Beef Cattle Welfare

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Park ◽  
Margaret Foster ◽  
Courtney L. Daigle
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Environmental Features ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Housing systems and environmental features can influence beef cattle welfare. To date, little information has been synthesized on this topic. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the relationship between housing and welfare status, so that beef cattle producers and animal scientists can make informed decisions regarding how their housing choices could impact beef cattle welfare. Housing features were categorized by floor type, space allowance and shade availability, as well as the inclusion of enrichment devices or ventilation features. Evaluation of space allowances across feedlot environments determined behavioral and production benefits when cattle were housed between 2.5 m2 to 3.0 m2 per animal. Over 19 different flooring types were investigated and across flooring types; straw flooring was viewed most favorably from a behavioral, production and hygiene standpoint. Veal calves experience enhanced welfare (e.g., improved behavioral, physiological, and performance metrics) when group housed. There is evidence that the implementation of progressive housing modifications (e.g., shade, environmental enrichment) could promote the behavioral welfare of feedlot cattle. This review presents the advantages and disadvantages of specific housing features on the welfare of beef cattle.

scholarly journals Moving towards a reliable HIV incidence test – current status, resources available, future directions and challenges ahead

2016 ◽  
Vol 145 (5) ◽  
pp. 925-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. MURPHY ◽  
C. D. PILCHER ◽  
S. M. KEATING ◽  
R. KASSANJEE ◽  
S. N. FACENTE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Critical Path ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Recent Infection ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Product Profile ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYIn 2011 the Incidence Assay Critical Path Working Group reviewed the current state of HIV incidence assays and helped to determine a critical path to the introduction of an HIV incidence assay. At that time the Consortium for Evaluation and Performance of HIV Incidence Assays (CEPHIA) was formed to spur progress and raise standards among assay developers, scientists and laboratories involved in HIV incidence measurement and to structure and conduct a direct independent comparative evaluation of the performance of 10 existing HIV incidence assays, to be considered singly and in combinations as recent infection test algorithms. In this paper we report on a new framework for HIV incidence assay evaluation that has emerged from this effort over the past 5 years, which includes a preliminary target product profile for an incidence assay, a consensus around key performance metrics along with analytical tools and deployment of a standardized approach for incidence assay evaluation. The specimen panels for this evaluation have been collected in large volumes, characterized using a novel approach for infection dating rules and assembled into panels designed to assess the impact of important sources of measurement error with incidence assays such as viral subtype, elite host control of viraemia and antiretroviral treatment. We present the specific rationale for several of these innovations, and discuss important resources for assay developers and researchers that have recently become available. Finally, we summarize the key remaining steps on the path to development and implementation of reliable assays for monitoring HIV incidence at a population level.

Wind Catcher Technology: The Impact of Tower Cross Section and Turbine on Wind Power Harnessing

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C. Corbett ◽  
Navid Goudarzi ◽  
Mohammadamin Sheikhshahrokhdehkordi
Keyword(s):  
Wind Power ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Ducted Turbine ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Turbine Design ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This research explores utilizing distributed wind turbines in the built environment computationally. The targeted wind turbine design is an unconventional ducted turbine, called Wind Tower technology that its operation and performance metrics have been studied in earlier works in the team. Wind Tower is an established architectural technology that operates by catching wind and directing it into buildings, providing natural ventilation to support HVAC systems, and thus reducing cooling costs in urban environments. Wind power has long struggled to meet expectations in built (urban) environments. By combining wind towers at different cross sections with wind turbines, one might develop a device which provides natural ventilation and produces power in spite of a hostile wind environment. The preliminary results suggest that the maximum potential for a wind tower-turbine combination appears to be 700-1.46 kW under idealized conditions with a 4 m/s site dominant wind speed. This suggests that wind towers might be viable for power harvesting in both remote and grid connected regions. Further analysis suggested that additional turbine performance enhancements are needed to bring the turbine real power production closer to that ideal.

Observations on the responses of feedlot cattle to attempted environmental enrichment

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Pelley ◽  
A. Lirette ◽  
T. Tennessen
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Experiment Design ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Cattle Feedlots

Twenty-four 9-mo-old Hereford steers were randomly divided into three groups of eight to determine if the steers would react to enrichment objects, and if one object would be used more than the others. The experiment design was a 3 × 3 Latin square consisting of three treatments, three groups and three periods of 2 wk. The results indicated that the steers did react (P < 0.05) to enrichment objects and preferred (P < 0.05) one object above the others. Key words: Beef cattle, feedlots, environmental enrichment

scholarly journals Citrus Tree Removal Method Does Not Affect Performance of Reset Trees

2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-562
Author(s):  
Stephen H. Futch ◽  
James H. Graham ◽  
Larry W. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Phytophthora Nicotianae ◽  
Citrus Paradisi ◽  
Removal Method ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Citrus Groves ◽  
Tree Removal ◽  
Florida Citrus ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Florida citrus groves of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), tangerines (Citrus reticulata), and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) experience an annual tree loss of 3% to 4% due to various causes of tree decline. Commonly used tree removal methods in Florida include “pushing,” which lifts most of the root system completely out of the soil, or “clipping,” which shears the tree off above the soil line leaving the tree stump and root system in place. Several operational and economic advantages and disadvantages exist for both tree removal systems. There are also potential problems with citrus resets that can occur due to foot rot (Phytophthora nicotianae) and citrus nematodes (Tylenchulus semipenetrans) that remain in the soil after tree removal. To investigate reset tree performance after “pushing” versus “clipping,” a study was conducted in three groves representative of three production regions in Florida to compare the impact of tree removal method on the pest/pathogen status and growth of resets over a period of 4 years. Based on the findings, tree removal by “pushing” or “clipping” appears to have minimal effect on subsequent pest and pathogen status and performance of citrus resets. Therefore, the method of tree removal should depend primarily on operational and economic considerations.

The impact of modelling decisions in hydrological modelling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janneke Remmers ◽  
Ryan Teuling ◽  
Lieke Melsen
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Reasoning ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Expert Knowledge ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Modelling Environment ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Modular Modelling ◽  
Modelling Process

&lt;p&gt;Scientific hydrological modellers make multiple decisions during the modelling process, e.g. related to the calibration period and performance metrics. These decisions affect the model results differently. Modelling decisions can refer to several steps in the modelling process. In this project, modelling decisions refer to the decisions made during the whole modelling process, not just the definition of the model structure. Each model output is a hypothesis of the reality; it is an interpretation of the real system underpinned by scientific reasoning and/or expert knowledge. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding about which modelling decisions are taken and why they are taken. Consequently, the influence of modelling decisions is unknown. Quantifying this influence, which is done in this study, can raise awareness among scientists. This study is based on analysis of interviews with scientific hydrological modellers, thus taking actual practices into account. Different modelling decisions were identified from the interviews, which are subsequently implemented and evaluated in a controlled modelling environment, in our case the modular modelling framework Raven. The variation in the results is analysed to determine which decisions affect the results and how they affect the results. This study pinpoints what aspects are important to consider in studying modelling decisions, and can be an incentive to clarify and improve modelling procedures.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals The impact of divergent breed types and diets on methane emissions, rumen characteristics and performance of finishing beef cattle

animal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1762-1771 ◽  
Author(s):  
C-A. Duthie ◽  
M. Haskell ◽  
J.J. Hyslop ◽  
A. Waterhouse ◽  
R.J. Wallace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Finishing Beef Cattle

scholarly journals 295 Impact of increasing levels of fumonisin on performance of finishing beef steers

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 142-143
Author(s):  
Jenny Jennings ◽  
Steve Ensley ◽  
Ty Lawrence ◽  
Cathy Lockard
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Period ◽  
Linear Response ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Effect Of Treatment ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Abstract To address the gaps in current scientific knowledge, the objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of fumonisin exposure on feedlot cattle intake and performance. Fifty steers were received (d 0; 361 ± 6.4 kg), and housed individually in 1.8 x 11.0 m pens and fed once daily at 0800 h. Steers were transitioned to a dry-rolled corn-based finishing diet from d 0 to 21 and then were fed the control finishing diet until d 50. Treatment diets were formulated to achieve ≤ 5 ppm (CON), 15 (15PPM), 30 (30PPM), 60 (60PPM), and 90 ppm (90PPM) of total dietary fumonisin. Steers were fed the fumonisin treatment diets from d 50 until harvest on d 160; individual animal body weights were taken on days 0, 50, 100, 150 and 160. Animal performance and carcass data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS with animal as the experimental unit and PROC GLIMMIX was used to analyze categorical carcass data. Contrasts were used to test for linear and quadratic responses. Throughout the study, there was no effect of treatment (P &gt; 0.60), or a linear response (P &gt; 0.16) from increasing fumonisin levels, on BW or DMI. However, CON tended to have lower ADG than the other treatments during the fumonisin treatment period (P = 0.10), and there was a positive linear response (P = 0.02) of ADG to fumonisin dose during the treatment period. Similarly, ADG tended to increase linearly over the entire feeding period (P = 0.06), as did G:F (P = 0.07). There were no differences between treatments regarding HCW, DP, marbling score, ribeye area, or YG. There were no effects of treatment on either liver abscesses (P = 0.95) or telangiectasis (P = 0.13). No differences in body weight, intake, carcass, or liver characteristics were observed in steers fed dietary levels of fumonisin ranging from 8 to 108 ppm for 110 days prior to harvest.

PSII-1 Adapting to the new normal: Feedlot cattle circadian rhythm and behavior-based management

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 313-313
Author(s):  
Xandra Christine A Meneses ◽  
Rachel M Park ◽  
Emily Ridge ◽  
Courtney L Daigle
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Environmental Enrichment ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Stocking Density ◽  
Feedlot Cattle ◽  
Behavioral Patterns ◽  
Behavioral Expectations ◽  
Behavior Based ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Every organism has evolved patterned responses to its temporal and physical surroundings. Rhythmicity is a central regulator of life and a sentinel for animal health and metabolism, thus chronic stress and disease can disrupt behavioral patterns. Feedlot cattle may exhibit irregularities in circadian rhythms due to social, environmental, and nutritional stressors and may benefit from behavior-based management strategies. This study characterized the hourly behavioral patterns of feedlot cattle with and without environmental enrichment, established behavioral expectations for animal managers, and proposed practical interventions. Fifty-four crossbred steers were shipped to Texas A&M AgriLife Feedlot in Bushland, Texas, blocked by weight, and assigned to one of six pens (n = 9 steers/pen), half of which had a cattle brush and half did not. Frequency of headbutting, mounting, bar licking, tongue rolling, allogrooming, and brush usage was decoded from video recordings of cattle from 08:00h to 17:30h on d -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 relative to brush implementation. The impact of time (hour), treatment, and their interaction on cattle behavior were evaluated using PROC MIXED in SAS. Brush use (P &lt; 0.0001), allogrooming (P &lt; 0.0001), and mounting (P &lt; 0.0001) were performed at lower frequencies during early hours of the day and at higher frequencies in the afternoon. Both tongue rolling (P &lt; 0.0001) and bar licking (P &lt; 0.0349) occurred most often during daylight hours in accordance with a diurnal pattern. Major periods of headbutting (P &lt; 0.0001) were observed in the morning and afternoon. Behavioral expectations were characterized so that stockpeople could observe the prevalence of each behavior during morning, midday, and evening to facilitate the implementation of best management practices. Proposed interventions include medical treatment, modified pen surface or bunk management, altered stocking density, and/or introduction of environmental enrichment.

Assessing the Impact of Aviation System Performance by Using Airline Cost Functions

2000 ◽  
Vol 1703 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Hansen ◽  
David Gillen ◽  
Reza Djafarian-Tehrani
Keyword(s):  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Functions ◽  
Average Delay ◽  
Multifactor Models ◽  
Important Benefit ◽  
Domestic Airlines ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

The manner in which changes in the performance of the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) affect carrier costs is examined. The methodology includes estimation of airline cost functions that contain NAS performance metrics as arguments, using quarterly data for 10 U.S. domestic airlines. The primary interest is in the impact of delay on cost performance, and performance metrics that vary by airline and quarter are developed. The potentially large number of metrics are reduced by applying factor analysis to seven underlying variables, including average delay, delay variance, and the proportion of flights that are cancelled. The analysis reveals that variations in the seven variables can be adequately captured by three or fewer factors. The three factors used correspond to “delay,” “variability,” and “disruption,” the last two of which are merged into a single “irregularity” factor in the two-factor model. When used as arguments in an airline cost function, the “disruption” factor is found to be a significant contributor to airline costs in the three-factor model, as is the “irregularity” factor in the two-factor model. No significant effect is found for the delay factor in the multifactor models. These results challenge the prevailing assumption that delay reduction is the most important benefit from investments in NAS capital and operations rules. The carrier cost savings that would result from improved NAS performance levels are estimated, and these are compared with previously published estimates.

scholarly journals Rapid Evaluations of Innovations: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gill Norman ◽  
Thomas Mason ◽  
Jo Dumville ◽  
Peter Bower ◽  
Paul Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Rapid Evaluation ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Service Redesign ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
The Impact

Abstract BackgroundThere is increasing demand for more rapid evaluation of innovation in health and social care, to support timely decision-making about service redesign. These pressures have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Making evaluations more rapid raises challenges in terms of ensuring rigour and the effective use of resources, but assessment of rapid evaluation methodologies has been lacking. MethodsWe conducted a scoping review to map the developing field of methods of rapid evaluation of innovation in health and social care, to describe the existing literature, categorise different approaches to rapid evaluation, and identify knowledge gaps. We searched multiple databases and websites of key organisations. We prioritised studies with relevance to the context of the NHS in England. We extracted information to enable us to classify and map existing studies on key characteristics. We undertook a narrative synthesis to identify the evidence and the gaps; focussing on the different approaches to conducting rapid evaluation in primary research. ResultsWe identified 14069 records from our searches of which 352 explored rapid evaluations of innovations, methods for rapid evaluation or rapid evaluation of implementation. Our scoping review identified four main approaches used for rapid evaluation: (1) Use of a methodology designed specifically for rapid evaluation;(2) Increasing rapidity by doing less or using a less time-intensive methodology;(3) Use of alternative technologies and/or data to increase the speed of an existing evaluation method; (4) Adaptation of part of a non-rapid evaluation DiscussionThis scoping review identified a lack of clarity about ‘rapid evaluation’ but identified some useful preliminary categories. There is very little comparative research on the impact of using rapid rather than standard evaluation. There is a need for clarity and consistency in terms of what constitutes rapid evaluation, the development of specific methodologies for making evaluation more rapid, and assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of rapid methodology in terms of rigour, cost and impact.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document