scholarly journals Production and Health Management from Grazing to Confinement Systems of Largest Dairy Bovine Farms in Azores: A Farmers’ Perspective

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3394
Author(s):  
Ivo Medeiros ◽  
Aitor Fernandez-Novo ◽  
Susana Astiz ◽  
João Simões
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Bovine Milk ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Health Prevention ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Cattle Farms

The intensification of bovine milk production in the Azores has led farmers to increase farm size and specialization in grasslands, implementing confined and semi-confined production systems. Fixed milking parlours (FMP) have progressively gained more popularity, at the expense of conventional mobile milking systems (MMS). The present study aimed to evaluate the associations between production and health management in dairy cattle farms, with FMP or MMS, in grasslands (São Miguel, Azores), according to the farmers’ perspective. A total of 102 questions about production and health management were surveyed in 105 farms with >30 dairy cows each. Farms with FMP were associated (p ≤ 0.05) with larger herd size, better facilities, and specialized management, however, the adoption of preventive and biosecurity measures should be improved by these farmers. MMS farms implemented a lower level of disease prevention or control programs, less frequent transhumance, and showed a wider vocation to dual-purpose (milk and cross beef) than FMP farms. In conclusion, MMS and FMP farms tried to optimize yield and economic viability in different ways using grasslands. Several biosecurity and health prevention constraints were identified for improvement.

scholarly journals Livestock movement informs the risk of disease spread in traditional production systems in East Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divine Ekwem ◽  
Thomas A. Morrison ◽  
Richard Reeve ◽  
Jessica Enright ◽  
Joram Buza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Transmission Distance ◽  
Risk Of Disease

AbstractIn Africa, livestock are important to local and national economies, but their productivity is constrained by infectious diseases. Comprehensive information on livestock movements and contacts is required to devise appropriate disease control strategies; yet, understanding contact risk in systems where herds mix extensively, and where different pathogens can be transmitted at different spatial and temporal scales, remains a major challenge. We deployed Global Positioning System collars on cattle in 52 herds in a traditional agropastoral system in western Serengeti, Tanzania, to understand fine-scale movements and between-herd contacts, and to identify locations of greatest interaction between herds. We examined contact across spatiotemporal scales relevant to different disease transmission scenarios. Daily cattle movements increased with herd size and rainfall. Generally, contact between herds was greatest away from households, during periods with low rainfall and in locations close to dipping points. We demonstrate how movements and contacts affect the risk of disease spread. For example, transmission risk is relatively sensitive to the survival time of different pathogens in the environment, and less sensitive to transmission distance, at least over the range of the spatiotemporal definitions of contacts that we explored. We identify times and locations of greatest disease transmission potential and that could be targeted through tailored control strategies.

scholarly journals Agropastoral Mobility and Rangelands Multiple Uses in the Miombo Frontier Ecozone of Tabora Region, Western Tanzania

Scientifica ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
George Felix Masanja
Keyword(s):  
Growth Control ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
High Data ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Agroecological Zones ◽  
Ex Post Facto ◽  
Multistage Sampling

This study aimed to examine the argument of environmental resource-use conflict as the primary cause of crop farmers and agropastoralists conflicts in Tabora Region, Tanzania. It explored the multiple interdependent phenomena that affect livelihoods relationships between crop farmers and agropastoralists and the nature of their continuing conflicts over the ecozonal resources. A primary dataset of the two groups’ conflicts was used. An ex post facto and multistage sampling design was adopted. A total of 252 respondents were interviewed in three separate villages drawn from agroecological zones fringing the miombo woodland where such tensions are high. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. Results indicate that education (β = −1.215, .297; p=.050), household size (β=.958, 2.607; p=.017), herd size (β = 4.276, 7.197; p=0.001), farm size (β = -1.734, .048; p=.176), the police (β = -.912, 4.582; p=.043), and village leaders (β = -.122, .885; p=.012) were the most potent predictors of causes of conflicts. The study found no support for demographic variables, like age, sex, marital status, income, duration of residence, and distance to resource base. The study recommends population growth control and strengthening of local institutions and recommends local communities to sustain management of natural resources base in the area.

scholarly journals Livestock Movement Informs the Risk of Disease Spread in Traditional Production Systems in East Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Divine Ekwem ◽  
Thomas A. Morrison ◽  
Richard Reeve ◽  
Jessica Enright ◽  
Joram Buza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Transmission Distance ◽  
Cattle Movements ◽  
Risk Of Disease

Abstract In Africa, livestock are important to local and national economies, but their productivity is constrained by infectious diseases. Comprehensive information on livestock movements and contacts is required to devise appropriate disease control strategies; yet, understanding contact risk in systems where herds mix extensively, and where different pathogens can be transmitted at different spatial and temporal scales, remains a major challenge. We deployed Global Positioning System collars on cattle in 52 herds in a traditional agropastoral system in western Serengeti, Tanzania, to understand fine-scale movements and between-herd contacts, and to identify locations of greatest interaction between herds. We examined contact across spatiotemporal scales relevant to different disease transmission scenarios. Daily cattle movements increased with herd size and rainfall. Generally, contact was greatest away from households, during periods with low rainfall and in locations close to dipping points. We demonstrate how movements and contacts affect the risk of disease spread. For example, contact rate was relatively sensitive to the survival time of different pathogens in the environment, and less sensitive to transmission distance, at least over the range of values that we explored. We identify times and locations of greatest disease transmission potential and that could be targeted through tailored control strategies.

scholarly journals Assessment of Influential Factors for Scours Associated with Cryptosporidium sp., Rotavirus and Coronavirus in Calves from Argentinean Dairy Farms

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2652
Author(s):  
Emiliano Bertoni ◽  
Adrián A. Barragán ◽  
Marina Bok ◽  
Celina Vega ◽  
Marcela Martínez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Dairy Calves ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Logistic Regression Models

Scours is the most common disease in dairy calves, and it is a multifactorial syndrome complex. Cryptosporidium sp. (C. sp.), rotavirus group A (RVA), and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) are the three main pathogens associated with scours. The objective of this study was to identify potential factors associated with scours, C. sp., RVA, and BCoV infections in preweaned dairy calves from Lerma Valley in Salta Province, Argentina. A total of 488 preweaned calves from 19 dairy farms located in the Lerma Valley were enrolled in this observational study. One fecal sample was collected from each calf between one week and two months of age for assessment of C. sp., RVA, and BCoV infection status. Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts and RVA and BCoV antigens in fecal samples were assessed using microscopic observation and indirect enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (iELISA), respectively. A voluntary questionnaire was developed and used to collect data regarding management practices from the participants’ farms. The data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models. Scours incidence was 35.4%, and a greater proportion of calves younger than 20 days were affected. Of the fecal samples, 18% and 9.5% tested were positives for C. sp. and RVA, respectively, while BCoV was detected only in two calves. Furthermore, 84.2% and 63.1% of the farms tested positive for Cryptosporidium sp. and RVA, respectively. In addition, the following variables were associated with higher odds of having scours: (1) herd size (>300 milking cows; OR = 1.7), (2) calf age (<20 days of age; OR = 2.2), (3) RVA and C. sp. test (positive test; RVA OR = 2.6; C. sp. OR = 3), calf feeding practices (feeding milk replacer; OR = 1.81), and newborn calf management practices (calf moved from maternity pen <6 h after calving; OR = 1.7). Concerning RVA infection, calves less than 20 days of age (OR = 2.6) had a higher chance of testing positive for RVA, while calves that remained in the calving pen for less than 6 h after calving had a lower chance (OR = 0.3). On the other hand, for C. sp. infection, large farm size (>300 milking cows; OR = 1.2) and young calf age (<20 days of age; OR = 4.4) indicated a higher chance of testing positive for C. sp., while calves belonging to farms that fed frozen colostrum (OR = 0.2) had a lower chance of becoming infected with C. sp. The result of this study indicated that scours is a prevalent disease in farms of the Lerma Valley, Salta, Argentina, and that RVA and C. sp. infections, along with specific farm management practices, might be important contributing factors that could increase the chance of NCS in dairy farms.

scholarly journals VIABILIDADE ECONÔMICA DA PRODUÇÃO DE CARVÃO VEGETAL EM DOIS SISTEMAS PRODUTIVOS

FLORESTA ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aylson Costa Oliveira ◽  
Thiago Taglialegna Salles ◽  
Bárbara Luísa Corradi Pereira ◽  
Angélica De Cássia Oliveira Carneiro ◽  
Camila Soares Braga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Planning Horizon ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Charcoal Production ◽  
Average Annual Production ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Benefit Cost

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a viabilidade econômica da produção de carvão vegetal em dois sistemas produtivos: oito fornos de superfície acoplados a uma fornalha para queima de gases e dez fornos do tipo “rabo-quente” sem sistema de queima de gases. Para análise econômica, definiu-se uma produção anual média igual a 1.571 metros cúbicos de carvão (mdc) e horizonte de planejamento de 12 anos, sendo propostos 2 cenários. No primeiro cenário, após a colheita da madeira, realiza-se o plantio de uma nova floresta, permanecendo o custo da madeira constante em todo o planejamento; no segundo cenário, após a colheita, considerou-se a condução da brotação, reduzindo os custos na 2ª rotação e consequentemente os custos da madeira. A análise econômica foi realizada através da determinação dos seguintes indicadores: Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), Valor Anual Equivalente (VAE), Razão Benefício/Custo (B/C) e Lucratividade. Os indicadores calculados demonstraram a viabilidade dos dois sistemas produtivos avaliados em ambos os cenários propostos, porém o sistema fornos-fornalha apresentou melhores valores para os indicadores. Conclui-se que a produção de carvão vegetal nos sistemas avaliados foram viáveis economicamente, com o sistema fornos-fornalha gerando maior lucro ao produtor de carvão.Palavras-chave: Fornos de alvenaria; análise determinística; valor presente líquido. Abstract Economic viability of charcoal production in two production systems. The objective of this study was to analyze the economic viability of charcoal production in two conversion technologies: eight surface kilns coupled to a furnace for burning gases (kilns-furnace system) and ten "rabo-quente" or traditional charcoal kilns without burning gases system. An average annual production of 1571 cubic meters of charcoal (mdc) was used to perform the economic analysis. A planning horizon of 12 years and two scenarios were proposed. In the first scenario, after harvesting the wood, the planting of a new forest was performed, and the cost of wood remained constant throughout the planning horizon. In the second scenario, after the harvest, the conduction of shooting was considered, which reduced costs in the second rotation and consequently the cost of wood. The economic analysis was performed by determining the following indicators: Net Present Value (NPV), Equivalent Annual Value (EAV) and Benefit - Cost Reason (B/C). Calculated indicators demonstrated the viability of producing charcoal in the two production systems in both scenarios proposed, but kilns-furnace system presented better values. As conclusion, production of charcoal in the evaluated systems were economically viable. Kilns-furnace system was able to generate more profit to charcoal producer.Keywords: Kilns; deterministic analysis; net present value.

scholarly journals Three Decades of Changes in Brazilian Municipalities and Their Food Production Systems

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 422
Author(s):  
Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva ◽  
Mateus Batistella ◽  
James D. A. Millington ◽  
Emilio Moran ◽  
Luiz A. Martinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Socioeconomic Outcomes ◽  
Economic Output ◽  
Trade Offs

Agricultural systems are heterogeneous across temporal and spatial scales. Although much research has investigated farm size and economic output, the synergies and trade-offs across various agricultural and socioeconomic variables are unclear. This study applies a GIS-based approach to official Brazilian census data (Agricultural Censuses of 1995, 2006, and 2017) and surveys at the municipality level to (i) evaluate changes in the average soybean farm size across the country and (ii) compare agricultural and socioeconomic outcomes (i.e., soybean yield, agricultural production value, crop production diversity, and rural labor employment) relative to the average soybean farm size. Statistical tests (e.g., Kruskal–Wallis tests and Spearman’s correlation) were used to analyze variable outcomes in different classes of farm sizes and respective Agricultural Censuses. We found that agricultural and socioeconomic outcomes are spatially correlated with soybean farm size class. Therefore, based on the concepts of trade-offs and synergies, we show that municipalities with large soybean farm sizes had larger trade-offs (e.g., larger farm size was associated with lower crop diversity), while small and medium ones manifest greater synergies. These patterns are particularly strong for analysis using the Agricultural Census of 2017. Trade-off/synergy analysis across space and time is key for supporting long-term strategies aiming at alleviating unemployment and providing sustainable food production, essential to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

scholarly journals Escherichia coli O157 infection on Scottish cattle farms: dynamics and control

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (60) ◽  
pp. 1051-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu-Sheng Zhang ◽  
Mark E. J. Woolhouse
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Control Effort ◽  
Considerable Uncertainty ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Dynamics And Control ◽  
And Control ◽  
Parameter Values ◽  
Cattle Farms

In this study, we parametrize a stochastic individual-based model of the transmission dynamics of Escherichia coli O157 infection among Scottish cattle farms and use the model to predict the impacts of both targeted and non-targeted interventions. We first generate distributions of model parameter estimates using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Despite considerable uncertainty in parameter values, each set of parameter values within the 95th percentile range implies a fairly similar impact of interventions. Interventions that reduce the transmission coefficient and/or increase the recovery rate of infected farms (e.g. via vaccination and biosecurity) are much more effective in reducing the level of infection than reducing cattle movement rates, which improves effectiveness only when the overall control effort is small. Targeted interventions based on farm-level risk factors are more efficient than non-targeted interventions. Herd size is a major determinant of risk of infection, and our simulations confirmed that targeting interventions at farms with the largest herds is almost as effective as targeting based on overall risk. However, because of the striking characteristic that the infection force depends weakly on the number of infected farms, no interventions that are less than 100 per cent effective can eradicate E. coli O157 infection from Scottish cattle farms, implying that eliminating the disease is impractical.

scholarly journals Effects of trading networks on the risk of bovine tuberculosis incidents on cattle farms in Great Britain

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 191806
Author(s):  
Helen R. Fielding ◽  
Trevelyan J. McKinley ◽  
Richard J. Delahay ◽  
Matthew J. Silk ◽  
Robbie A. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Risk Area ◽  
High Risk Area ◽  
Trading Patterns ◽  
Additional Approach ◽  
Trading Networks ◽  
Cattle Farms

Trading animals between farms and via markets can provide a conduit for spread of infections. By studying trading networks, we might better understand the dynamics of livestock diseases. We constructed ingoing contact chains of cattle farms in Great Britain that were linked by trading, to elucidate potential pathways for the transmission of infection and to evaluate their effect on the risk of a farm experiencing a bovine tuberculosis (bTB) incident. Our findings are consistent with variation in bTB risk associated with region, herd size, disease risk area and history of previous bTB incidents on the root farm and nearby farms. However, we also identified effects of both direct and indirect trading patterns, such that connections to more farms in the England High-Risk Area up to three movements away from the root farm increased the odds of a bTB incident, while connections with more farms in the England Low-Risk Area up to eight movements away decreased the odds. Relative to other risk factors for bTB, trading behaviours are arguably more amenable to change, and consideration of risks associated with indirect trading, as well direct trading, might therefore offer an additional approach to bTB control in Great Britain.

scholarly journals Technical and environmental characterization of Colombian beef cattle-fattening farms, with a focus on farm size and ways of improving production

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo González-Quintero ◽  
María Solange Sánchez-Pinzón ◽  
Diana María Bolívar-Vergara ◽  
Ngonidzashe Chirinda ◽  
Jacobo Arango ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Environmental Information ◽  
Mixed Data ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Livestock Sector ◽  
Large Farms

In Colombia, cattle-fattening farms account for 20.7% of the Colombian cattle herd and play an important role in terms of economic and social benefits for rural communities. However, few characterization studies have been conducted on these production systems, which limit our understanding of their production dynamics and environmental impacts. This study aimed to characterize very small, small, medium, and large cattle-fattening farms from technical and environmental perspectives. The data analyzed were obtained from the Ganadería Colombiana Sostenible and the LivestockPlus projects, which gathered information from a total of 2618 farms, classified according to their cattle production orientation. From those, 275 cattle-fattening farms were classified as being either very small (1–30 bovines), small (31–50 bovines), medium (51–250 bovines), or large farms (more than 251 bovines). Numerical and categorical variables were distributed into five components: (1) general farm information, (2) composition and management of the herd, (3) pasture management, (4) production information, and (5) environmental information. Each component was analyzed using the factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) method. According to FAMD, for the components general farm information, herd composition and management, pasture management, and production information, distribution of variables led to a spatial separation of the centroid from each category of producers. For the component environmental information, there was no separation of the centroid. Better infrastructure, machinery and equipment, better pasture management, and better productive parameters and practices were observed in larger farms. This suggests that those public policies aimed at improving productive and environmental performance of the livestock sector should give priority to small- and medium-sized livestock producers considering their farm characteristics.

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