35 Economic Considerations of Pre-Weaning Calf Health Management

The impacts of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDv) and persistently infected (PI) are felt across the cattle industry. This project utilized data and parameters from a meta-analysis of reported results along with partial budgeting procedures to determine economic costs and benefits of herd and calf health management. A base herd of 100 head, consisting of 50 breeding females, 43 calves, and 7 replacement heifers and bulls was implemented. Ninety- six percent of cow-calf operations are uninfected from BVDv. Introduction of an enhanced health program as an uninfected herd resulted in a net loss of $7.64 per bred cow in the first year of the program and a net loss of $6.46 in year two. First-year costs were higher due to initial testing, while second-year costs did not include testing under the assumption that carriers were culled. Infected herds incurred net losses of health program implementation of $96.21 per bred cow for the first year but a gain of the program of $27.96 in year two. First-year losses were larger due to increased testing and eradication costs. Gains in the second year stemmed from increased productivity across the herd. Furthermore, gains were discovered beyond cow-calf operations. Evaluation of down-stream demand for calves (i.e., stocker operations) resulted in gains of $4.39 per stocker for a producer that retains ownership of their calves and $48.89 for producers purchasing calves from cow-calf operators (commercial). Commercial stocker operators benefited from fewer health issues without added cow-calf level costs. These results indicate cow-calf producers would carry the burden of the costs of managing, and attempting to eradicate, BVDv/PI across the industry. These results provide industry stakeholder groups and policymakers benchmarks for incentives to induce health programs, targeted largely at the cow-calf level

PENGARUH BIAYA PRODUKSI TERHADAP PENDAPATAN PETANI MANDIRI KELAPA SAWIT DI KECAMATAN SEGAH

The purpose of this study was to analyze the income of independent oil palm farmers in the Segahdistrict. The analytical tool used are multiple linear regression equations, correlation coefficients, t test and calculated f test Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that the multiple linear regression equation influences the cost of seedlings, fertilizer costs and financing the eradication of weeds against the income of independent oil palm farmers in Segah district is Y = - 1,469 + 0,639 X1 + 4,150 x3 . To measure the degree of the correlation between seed costs, fertilizer costs and financing of weed eradication of the income of independent oil palm farmers in Segah district, the researcher used a multiple correlation coefficient (R) = 0.993 which means that the variable costs of seeds, fertilizer costs and weed eradication costs affect the income of farmers independent of oil palm in Segah District, the coefficient of determination R = 0.987 which showed that the income of independent farmers of oil palm in Segah district is influenced by seed costs, fertilizer costs, and weed eradication costs while the remaining 1.13% (1 - 0.987) is a factor which is not examined. Based on testing using f test where f arithmetic is 0.040 <0.10 and t count value is 2.617> 1.943, it can be concluded that the proposed hypothesis is accepted.

Keeping Australia’s islands free of introduced rodents: the Barrow Island example

Islands are important reservoirs of endemic and threatened species, but anthropogenic influences have impacted their biotas. Australia has over 8000 islands, both continental and oceanic, but because of considerably increased traffic, both tourist and commercial, many of these islands have been and are subject to increased threats from invasive species. The invasive Black Rat Rattus rattus is of particular concern as it can negatively impact mammal, bird, reptile, invertebrate and plant populations. Barrow Island, in northwest Western Australia, is an island requiring particular protection from Black Rats as it is a Class A nature reserve with many unique and threatened taxa that is subject to major disturbances from activities associated with oil extraction and a large liquefied natural gas processing plant. Strict quarantine is currently imposed on all materials and persons being sent to the island and there is an intense on-island surveillance programme. So far the protocols used have prevented Black Rats establishing on this island, but such a level of biosecurity is clearly impossible for all islands. In this paper we discuss the effectiveness of quarantine inspections and surveillance together and alone in protecting high-risk, high-value Australian islands against introduced rodents and we document eradication costs for other islands. World-wide, it has only been possible so far to eradicate rats from relatively small islands, mostly with no non-target indigenous mammals and larger islands only where there are no non-target indigenous mammals. Models based largely on economic considerations have suggested it is more cost effective to use surveillance alone without quarantine for Black Rats on Barrow Island and that if rats become widespread (an estimated 4% risk), it may be more cost effective not to attempt eradication. Such models provide useful guidance for managers where biodiversity values are relatively low or where there are no non-target species, but for Barrow island we argue for continuation of quarantine as well as surveillance and an increased level of quarantine controls at the point of departure on all people, vessels and aircraft visiting other vulnerable Australian islands.

Exotic Pests and Trade: When Is Pest-Free Status Certification Worthwhile?

Pest-free status certification is desirable if the demand-side impacts (increased export revenue) and supply-side impacts (lower pest damage and decreased ongoing control costs) exceed the compliance monitoring and eradication costs. Thus, eradication may be optimal without certification. Certification is more likely for regions facing costly treatment requirements (bans) or possessing geographic traits that lower monitoring costs and infestation probabilities than for those exporting higher-valued products. Certification benefits producers but hurts consumers. Thus, political feasibility may be greater if domestic consumption is a small share of the market and if the additional tax burden of certification programs is light.