Factors Influencing Technical Efficiency in the EU Dairy Farms

This paper aims to analyse the technical efficiency (TE) of dairy farms and find its determinants. To accomplish this problem, the Stochastic Frontier Analysis was applied. The data were obtained from the Farm Accountancy Data Network database for dairy farms (TF15-45—Specialist dairying) for 2004–2019. Dairy farms were divided into four clusters according to their physical size (number of livestock units per farm) and economic size (standard output per farm). The largest farms by physical and economic size are located in Denmark and Cyprus. The smallest, in comparison, are in Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Austria, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia. Farms in the EU are relatively technically efficient, i.e., they use their resources efficiently to produce maximum output (production). However, they have the potential to achieve better economic results and be more competitive, as the size of farms’ is not fully optimised. The abolition of the milk quota can be considered a factor in improving technical efficiency, as the indicator is higher after the abolition. New and old member states have almost comparable technical efficiency levels (the p-value of the t-test is 0.463), with old members having slightly higher level TE. Subsidies have contradictory effects on TE. Farm efficiency with higher subsidies per cow is higher for farms with €51–100/cow. However, as subsidies increase, TE decreases. Only the group of farms with the highest subsidies has a higher TE. More diversified farms are more technically efficient than specialised farms. Milk yield did not influence the analysed indicator. The analysis results can serve the stakeholders as a tool for modelling future agricultural policy, as the European farms are very heterogenous and show different conditions and economic outcomes.

Studies on the Development and Osteology of Some New Zealand Inshore Fishes

<p>This study deals principally with the problems involved in the identification of the early stages of tripterygiid, clinid and gobiesocid fish in the Cook Strait region, New Zealand. The nomenclature of 7 tripterygiid and 4 clinid species is reviewed to assist in the identification of the developmental stages. Those species reviewed are preceded by an asterisk in the list included later in this abstract. The adult osteology of Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801) is described and illustrated in detail, together with the osteology of the larvae and prejuveniles at different stages of development. The adult osteology is compared with that of other blennioid fishes. In F. varium the skeletal elements begin to form over a wide range of larval sizes and full adult osteological characters are acquired at a variable time after prejuvenile development is reached. Functionally related elements tend to attain their adult form at about the same size. There is no correlation between the size at initial ossification and the endochondral or dermal origin of a bone. Elements of the vertebral column and median fins develop sequentially and therefore provide (in tripterygiids) an index of development which is useful in comparing the larval stages of different species. The embryological stages of 5 tripterygiid and 3 gobiesocid fish are described and illustrated in detail. Species studied are: Forsterygion capito (Tripterygion capito) (Jenyns, 1842), Forsterygion nigripenne (Tripterygion robustum) (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 180I), Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Trachelochisnus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846). The eggs of all species are laid on submerged objects in clusters of 20-3000 eggs in shallow coastal water. Eggs are attended by an adult fish until hatching occurs. Prolarvae are well developed with fully pigmented eyes, functional jaws and reduced yolk-sacs, and are therefore useful in linking later larval stages with adults. An assessment of the general problems encountered in the identification of larvae and prejuveniles is presented with attention given to the fish in this study. The larval and prejuvenile stages of 1O tripterygiid, 4 clinid and 9 gobiesocid species are described and illustrated in detail. Those described are -Tripterygiidae:*Forsterygion variun (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *F. nigripenne (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), *F. capito (Jenyns, 1842), *Tripterygion segmentatum McCulloch and Phillipps, 1923, *Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), *G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Helcogramma medium (in part Gunther, 1861), two Helcogramma species, new tripterygiid species (genus not certain); Clinidae: *Notoclinus compressus (Hutton, 1872), *N. fenestratus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Ericentrusrubrus (Hutton, 1872), *Cologrammus flavescens (Hutton, 1872); Gobiesocidae: Trachelochismus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846), Diplocrepis puniceus (South Island form), Gastroscyphus hectoris (Gunther, 1876), Gastroscyphus species, Gastrocyathus gracilis Briggs, 1955, Dellichthys morelandi Briggs, 1955, Haplocylix littoreus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801). A key to the larvae and prejuveniles of the above species is included. Closely related tripterygiid species with very similar larval stages were identified mainly, by considering myomere counts and by consistent differences in size (standard length) at given stages of development. In contrast clinid and gobiesocid larvae from unrelated adults were readily distinguished by a wide range of characteristics. Larvae and prejuveniles were collected using standard equipment such as nylon mesh plankton nets and light-traps. A light-trap designed specifically for collecting larvae is described in detail in the appendix. An annotated bibliography of New Zealand teleost eggs and larvae is presented in the appendix with reference to 70 marine and freshwater species.</p>

Studies on the Development and Osteology of Some New Zealand Inshore Fishes

<p>This study deals principally with the problems involved in the identification of the early stages of tripterygiid, clinid and gobiesocid fish in the Cook Strait region, New Zealand. The nomenclature of 7 tripterygiid and 4 clinid species is reviewed to assist in the identification of the developmental stages. Those species reviewed are preceded by an asterisk in the list included later in this abstract. The adult osteology of Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801) is described and illustrated in detail, together with the osteology of the larvae and prejuveniles at different stages of development. The adult osteology is compared with that of other blennioid fishes. In F. varium the skeletal elements begin to form over a wide range of larval sizes and full adult osteological characters are acquired at a variable time after prejuvenile development is reached. Functionally related elements tend to attain their adult form at about the same size. There is no correlation between the size at initial ossification and the endochondral or dermal origin of a bone. Elements of the vertebral column and median fins develop sequentially and therefore provide (in tripterygiids) an index of development which is useful in comparing the larval stages of different species. The embryological stages of 5 tripterygiid and 3 gobiesocid fish are described and illustrated in detail. Species studied are: Forsterygion capito (Tripterygion capito) (Jenyns, 1842), Forsterygion nigripenne (Tripterygion robustum) (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), Forsterygion varium (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 180I), Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Trachelochisnus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846). The eggs of all species are laid on submerged objects in clusters of 20-3000 eggs in shallow coastal water. Eggs are attended by an adult fish until hatching occurs. Prolarvae are well developed with fully pigmented eyes, functional jaws and reduced yolk-sacs, and are therefore useful in linking later larval stages with adults. An assessment of the general problems encountered in the identification of larvae and prejuveniles is presented with attention given to the fish in this study. The larval and prejuvenile stages of 1O tripterygiid, 4 clinid and 9 gobiesocid species are described and illustrated in detail. Those described are -Tripterygiidae:*Forsterygion variun (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *F. nigripenne (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1836), *F. capito (Jenyns, 1842), *Tripterygion segmentatum McCulloch and Phillipps, 1923, *Gilloblennius decemdigitatus (Clarke, 1879), *G. tripennis (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Helcogramma medium (in part Gunther, 1861), two Helcogramma species, new tripterygiid species (genus not certain); Clinidae: *Notoclinus compressus (Hutton, 1872), *N. fenestratus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), *Ericentrusrubrus (Hutton, 1872), *Cologrammus flavescens (Hutton, 1872); Gobiesocidae: Trachelochismus melobesia Phillipps, 1927, T. pinnulatus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Diplocrepis puniceus (Richardson, 1846), Diplocrepis puniceus (South Island form), Gastroscyphus hectoris (Gunther, 1876), Gastroscyphus species, Gastrocyathus gracilis Briggs, 1955, Dellichthys morelandi Briggs, 1955, Haplocylix littoreus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801). A key to the larvae and prejuveniles of the above species is included. Closely related tripterygiid species with very similar larval stages were identified mainly, by considering myomere counts and by consistent differences in size (standard length) at given stages of development. In contrast clinid and gobiesocid larvae from unrelated adults were readily distinguished by a wide range of characteristics. Larvae and prejuveniles were collected using standard equipment such as nylon mesh plankton nets and light-traps. A light-trap designed specifically for collecting larvae is described in detail in the appendix. An annotated bibliography of New Zealand teleost eggs and larvae is presented in the appendix with reference to 70 marine and freshwater species.</p>

Effect of Adding Different Levels of Astaxanthin Extracted From an Algae Haematococcus Pluvialis to The Diet on Some Immunological Characteristics of Broilers Reared Under Natural and Elevated Environmental Conditions'

This experiment was conducted at the poultry farm/Department of Animal Production/College of Agriculture/Al-Qasim Green University And for two experiments, The first for the period from 27/4/2019 to 7/6/2019 and the second from 1/7/2019 to 4/8/2019 for the second experiment to see the effect of adding different levels of astaxanthin to the broiler diet on some immune characteristics of broilers raised under environmental conditions Natural and elevated. Use 240 unsexed birds of one day age ROSS 308 strain, distributed randomly into five treatments by 48 birds/treatment and the birds of each treatment were divided into three replicates (16 birds/replicate). The chicks were fed on three diets that included the initiator, growth and final 23, 21.5 and 19.44% crude protein respectively, and the representative energy was 3000.5, 3100.7 and 3199.25 kcal/kg feed, respectively, in addition to the astaxanthin powder at levels 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 mg/kg of feed for T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 treatments, respectively. The results of the first trial showed a significant superiority (P<0.05) for treatment T2 in the relative weight of the fabrichia gland and for the fabrichia index, and significant superiority for treatment T5 and T3 in the size standard of antibodies directed against Newcastle disease, while treatment T2 and T3 outperformed the size criterion of antibodies directed against camboro disease compared With the control treatment T1, and the second trial, the additional factors T2, T3, T4 and T5 achieved significant superiority (P<0.01) in all the immunological characteristics studied by treatment T1. It is concluded from this study that the addition of astaxanthin to the broiler meat diet led to an improvement in the immune characteristics of broilers raised under normal and elevated environmental temperatures.

Effects of Grinding Corn with Different Moisture Content on Subsequent Particle Size and Flowability

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of whole-corn moisture and hammermill screen size on subsequent ground corn moisture, particle size and flowability. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial design with two moisture concentrations (14.5 and 16.7%), each ground using 2 hammermill screen sizes (3 mm and 6 mm). Corn was ground using a lab-scale 1.5 HP Bliss Hammermill at three separate timepoints to create three replications per treatment. Ground corn flowability was calculated using angle of repose (AOR), percent compressibility, and critical orifice diameter (COD) measurements to determine the composite flow index (CFI). There was no evidence for a screen size × corn moisture interaction for ground corn moisture content (MC), particle size, standard deviation, or flowability metrics. Grinding corn using a 3 mm screen resulted in decreased (p < 0.041) moisture content compared to corn ground using the 6 mm screen. There was a decrease (p < 0.031) in particle size from the 6 mm screen to the 3 mm, but no evidence of difference was observed for the standard deviation. There was a decrease (p < 0.030) in percent compressibility as screen size increased from 3 mm to 6 mm. Angle of repose tended to decrease (p < 0.056) when corn was ground using a 6 mm screen compared to a 3 mm screen. For the main effects of MC, 16.7% moisture corn had increased (p < 0.001) ground corn MC compared to 14.5%. The 14.5% moisture corn resulted in decreased (p < 0.050) particle size and an increased standard deviation compared to the 16.7% moisture corn. The increased MC of corn increased (p < 0.038) CFI and tended to decrease (p < 0.050) AOR and COD. In conclusion, decreasing hammermill screen size increased moisture loss by 0.55%, decreased corn particle size by 126 µm and resulted in poorer flowability as measured by percent compressibility and AOR. The higher moisture corn increased subsequent particle size by 89 µm and had improved flowability as measured by CFI.

Transport System of Rostov Region: Infrastructure Limitations and Development Prospects

The road network congestion is a serious infrastructure constraint on the development of Rostov region. Municipalities that have access to high-quality infrastructure have more prospects for social and economic development. The main limitations in the transport infrastructure are the mismatch between the technical parameters of roads and the existing traffic intensity, traffic congestion in the Rostov agglomeration. These problems lead to traffic delays, transport collapses, as well as a decrease in speed, which entails significant social and economic losses. Strategic priorities of regional development include expansion of a number of roads that provides transshipment, cargo processing and passenger traffic within the boundaries of the Rostov transport hub. There is a weak market competitiveness of railway transport in transportation services market. In addition, a serious infrastructure limitation of railway transport is the low capacity of individual road sections. Currently, there is an imbalance in the development of municipalities. The Rostov agglomeration attracts the population from the outskirts of the region, which leads to an unbalanced development of the territories. The low level of infrastructure provision in the Eastern and South-Eastern districts of the region is a constraining factor that slows down social and economic development. It is shown that inter-municipal differences in the levels of economic activity are influenced by the provision of territories with roads with improved pavement and investments in fixed assets made by organizations located in the municipality. It is required to carry out comprehensive work on the construction and further development of infrastructure facilities that meet modern standards to reduce the differentiation of the regional space in terms of population size, standard of living and quality of life.

Coastal Morphodynamic Analysis in Buleleng Regency, Bali - Indonesia

Sediment as erosion products can affect shoreline, making sediment transport a key process to consider in coastal and shoreline management. Field surveys and secondary data can identify where suspended matters are distributed and deposited to analyze sediment uniformity factors: beach morphology and materials. This research set out to determine the Buleleng Regency's morphodynamic aspects based on the coastal landscape's physical characteristics and the processes acting upon each sediment cell. Field observations were conducted at five stations, from Tukad Gerokgak to Tukad Saba estuary. Jaelani's spectral transformation has been applied to analyze Total Suspended Solids using Sentinel 2A imagery. The laboratory test results of grain-size samples were processed on GRADISTAT, then the depositional environment and sediment transport direction were determined from average grain size, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis. Shoreline change, an indicator of coastal morphodynamics, was mapped from Landsat images in 2000, 2008, and 2019 using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System. Statistical analysis on GRADISTAT provided details on depositional environment and sediment transport and deposition based on grain-size distribution. Results indicate poorly sorted medium grain size: gravel (stone) to coarse sand, making up the sediment population from Tukad Gerokgak to Tukad Saba. Generally, sediment is deposited toward coarse, even very coarse, grain on a strongly sloping beach, and there is a high likeliness of sediment accretion. Identified morphodynamic characteristics suggest that the coastal landscape needs structural mitigation to overcome the accelerating impact of human activities and physical processes.