Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cattle – Economic aspects – Botswana'

Corn-based ethanol production has increased dramatically in the past ten years, causing an increase in demand for corn by ethanol producers and an increase in production of ethanol by-products such as distillers' grains. The increase in ethanol production can be attributed to ethanol policy at the state and federal levels. Because of the increase in production of corn-based ethanol, cattle producers face greater competition for a major feed source, corn, and greater supply of an emerging feed source, distillers' grains. The objective of this study is to analyze and quantify the effects of ethanol policy on cattle production. A theoretical model and an econometric model are used to fulfill the objectives of this study. The theoretical model contains an ethanol model and a general livestock model. Results of the theoretical model present the possibilities of ethanol policy affecting cattle production. The econometric model identifies the indirect and direct effects of ethanol policy on cattle production. The results of the econometric model indicate that there is a relationship between ethanol policy, specifically the Renewable Fuel Standard, and cattle production.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate alternative marketing strategies involving options on live cattle futures contracts during the period of 1966-85. To predict the option premiums that would have occurred at various points in this period of time, the study did research on market premiums of options on live cattle futures contracts from October 30, 1984, to November 22, 1985. The research showed that actual premiums conform closely to the premiums estimated by the Black model of option pricing. The generalized stochastic dominance with absolute risk aversion function intervals is demonstrated in the study in order to make the evaluation. The results showed that under different risk preferences, the commodity options provide the dominant alternative for cattle producers. Options provided protection from losses resulting from falling cash price and in some cases raised average income of hedgers.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the world globalises there is need for economic integration. These integration processes can be both regional and global Africa as one of the world's continents is not immune to these integrations; regions within the continent have formed trade blocs which enhance economic development for individual member states of such blocs. Even though these countries are not equal in terms of economic development the ultimate goal is to have sustainable economic development and be able to compete in the global world. Botswana is one country with such aspirations and dreams. This paper addresses the role of Botswana in the global economy; highlighting its opportunities and challenges. Botswana has been a success story in Africa, with its GOP per capita increasing from less than US$2 000 in 1975 to around USSIO 000 in 2005, recording economic growth rates of over seven per cent. The country's economy has been heavily reliant on mining. tourism. manufacturing and agriculture. Diamonds are by far the most important source of income for Botswana, accounting for more than 70 per cent of total export earnings. The satisfactory performance of the financial sector impacts on overall development and the diversification of the economy. In its efforts to integrate and strengthen bilateral relations with bigger market economies, Botswana is a signatory to a number of trade agreements such as World Trade Organisation (WTO), Cotonou, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Southern African Customs Union (SA CU). As a member of the WTO, the inclusion of China into the organisation implies that Chinese products are now highly competitive when compared to Botswana products due to lower production costs enjoyed by Chinese finns. Chinese finns also enjoy competitive advantage in US markets where Botswana exports some of its textile products under AGOA. However, the country has enjoyed productive relationships with the European countries since its colonial period and through the Cotonou agreement, which was signed between the European Community and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Botswana is also a signatory to regional blocs such as the SADC through which it has agreed on a number of economic issues such as trade, gender, water resources, peace and security, democracy and good governance. Through the SADe, member states such as Botswana are able to lobby for support or form partnerships with developed nations such as Sweden. By being a member of SACU, Botswana can export to a large market and complement its smaller domestic market. As players in the global economy, countries are exposed to many challenges and opportunities. There are opportunities for attracting more investment into the country due to its excellent economic performance. Investment can be attracted in financial and manufacturing sectors through encouraging private-public partnerships. This paper discusses some of the growth sectors in the economy and how they can be enhanced to contribute to sustainable development. It is also worth mentioning that Botswana faces challenges such as HIV/AIDS and unemployment. By being landlocked, the country is relatively expensive for investors to manufacture locally and export to foreign countries, which dampens the attraction of foreign direct investment. Some of these challenges and opportunities experienced by Botswana can serve as lessons for other African countries.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Soos die globaliseringsproses wereIdwyd vorder is daar ook 'n proses van toenemende ekonomiese integrasie, wereldwyd en op 'n streeksbasis. Afrika neem ook deel aan die proses. In die verskillende streke van die kontinent is handelsblokke besig om te ontplooi. AI is hierdie lande nog ver agter in die internasionale mededingingsproses strewe hulle daarna om op 'n volhoubare manier internasionaal mee te ding. Botswana het beslis die mikpunt. Hierdie studie spreek Botswana se rol in die wyer streeks- en internasionale ekonomie aan. Die land word algemeen beskou as 'n ontwikkelingsukses, met 'n BBP per capita toename van US$2 000 in 1975 tot US$I0 000 in 2005, en 'n gemiddelde jaarlikse groeikoers van meer as sewe persent. Die landsekonomie is sterk afhanklik van die mynbousektor, landbou, toerisme en fabriekswese, met diamante tot 70 persent van uitvoere. As deel van die proses om nouer in te skakel by die groter markte het Botswana by 'n reeks ooreenkomste aangesluit, naamlik die Wereld Handelsorganisasie, die Cotonou-ooreenkoms, die SADC, AGOA en SACU. Terwyl die aansluiting by hierdie ooreenkomste Botswana se uitvoermarkte uitgebrei het, het Sjina se aansluiting by die WTO vir Botswana se nywerhede groter mededinging veroorsaak. Aan die ander kant het die lidmaatskap van Botswana by die SADC en Sacu vir die land baie geleenthede geopen om meer effektief te pleit en te onderhandel vir ekonomiese, sosiale en ander ontwikkelingsvoordele, veral waar Botswana se eie bevolking en markte so klein is. Om 'n beeld te kry van die uitwerking van die stappe van Botswana word in die studie ook gekyk na ontwikkelingstendense in spesifieke sektore asook na pogings om buitelandse kapitaal na die land te trek. Terselfdertyd moet besef word dat Botswana vanwee sy hoe HIV/Vigs koers tans en in die toekoms te kampe het met 'n reeks heel spesiale struikelblokke wat die ontwikkelingsproses beinvloed.

Recent studies show polymorphisms in the leptin gene significantly impact milk production in dairy cattle. If the leptin gene were to have a similar impact on beef cattle, calf weaning weights would be expected to increase from the increased milk production in the cows. Since weaning weight is a key component of profitability in a cow-calf operation, leptin genotyping may prove to have an economic impact in breeding cattle. However, no research has been done to link the economic impact of increased milk production to breeding cattle. Using 595 observations from genotyped cows spanning 11 years (1995-2005), calf weaning weight by genotype is estimated as a function of calf and dam characteristics and environmental effects. A MIXED procedure, utilizing data from 89 culled cows, is used to determine statistical differences in average cull age by genotype. A simulation model calculates mean annualized equivalent return by genotype and breed using the regression coefficients and residuals and 16 years of price data. results show that at least one T-allele in breeding cows increases calf weaning weight, average cull age, and annualized equivalent return compared to cows with homozygous C-alleles. These results indicate that there may be future premiums and discounts for breeding cattle based on genotype. Seedstock producers could potentially begin to segregate herds based upon genotype so that they could sell genotypic registered products. Cow-calf producers may also benefit from this knowledge by increasing the amount of TT genotype breeding cattle in their herd to maximize profits.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In an effort to reduce its dependency on mining, (since independence at 1966) the successive governments of Botswana (GoB) have continued to foster national development by diversifying the country’s economy, with agribusiness development strategies at the forefront of discussions. Over decades, a significant number of policies on agri-support have been developed towards this mission. Nevertheless, the performance of the sector continues to decline considerably. Despite its potential to promote and develop small-scale farmers, literature on agri-support programmes has indicated that without scrutiny and continuous evaluation of the programmes in place, the strategy can be another way of which governments lose money. This study examines the Botswana Young Farmers Fund programme that finances aspiring young farmers to start up or expand their agri projects. More particularly, the study investigates how this model in the context of young farmers, impacts and contribute to the development of the agricultural sector in Botswana. The study identified challenges and opportunities of the YFF programme. The major challenge which is also applicable to the general sector, identified by the case study suggests that the agricultural environment in Botswana is fragile, therefore seeks relevant agribusiness development strategies that are tailor-made for specific challenges faced by the sector.

Thesis (PhD (Agric))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is generally accepted that feed intake and growth (gain) are the most important economic components when calculating profitability in a growth test or feedlot. Feeding cost of animals is a major determinant of profitability in livestock production enterprises. Genetic selection to improve feed efficiency aims to reduce the cost of feeding in beef cattle production and thereby improve profitability. The objective of this study was to define a clear selection objective to enable South African beef breeders and especially the feedlot industry to select for post-weaning growth or feedlot performance and to identify factors influencing profitability in a feedlot environment. Because of the recording of individual feed intake and weight gain values in the South African Agricultural Research Councils' centralized growth tests, it was also possible to calculate a phenotypic value for feedlot profitability (R-value) for each bull tested in a centralized growth test. (Co)variances, using multitrait as well as random regression models, for and between feedlot profitability, weaning weight and other production, reproduction and efficiency traits were estimated. Residual feed intake (RFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) as efficiency traits were also compared to growth (average daily gain (ADG), weaning weight (WW) and shoulder height (SHD)), reproductive (scrotum circumference (SCR)) and profitability (feedlot profitability) traits measured in growth tests of young Bonsmara bulls. Consequently, a single post-weaning growth selection index value based on the economic and breeding values of different selection criteria related to feedlot profitability was composed. (Co)variance components, heritabilities and genetic correlations for and between initial weight (lW), final weight (FW), total feed intake (FI) and shoulder height (SHD) were estimated through the use of multitrait restricted maximum likelihood (REML) procedures. These breeding values (EBV s) were then used in a selection index to calculate a single economical value for each animal. This economical value is an indication of the gross profitability value or gross test value (GTV) of the animal in a post-weaning growth test. The heritability estimate of 0.36 for R-value, obtained from the multitrait analysis, shows that this trait is genetically inherited and that it can be selected for. The heritability for R-value obtained from the single trait random regression model varied between 0.57 and 0.62. The genetic correlations between the R-value and the other traits, obtained from the multitrait analysis, varied from negligible to high. The heritability estimated for FCR was 0.34 and for RFl 0.31 with a genetic correlation estimate of 0.75 between the traits. The estimated genetic correlation between profitability (R-value) and FCR and RFl were -0.92 and -0.59, respectively. The genetic correlation estimate of -0.92 between FCR and R-value is largely due to the part-whole relationship between these two traits. This is also shown in their genetic trends. The genetic correlations and expected correlated responses between RFl and FCR with R-value suggest that indirect selection for R-value through the direct selection for FCR and/or RFl will result in slower genetic progress in Rvalue than direct selection for R-value. However, where the R-value cannot be calculated and/or where direct selection for R-value is not possible, it would be better to select indirectly for R-value through the use of FCR rather than RF!. Consequently, a regression equation was developed (with an R2 of 0.82) to estimate a feed intake value for all performance-tested Bonsmara bulls which were group fed and whose feed intakes were unknown. These predicted feed intake values made it possible to calculate a feedlot or post-weaning growth profitability value (R-value) for all tested bulls even where individual feed intakes were unknown. Subsequently, an R-value for each bull was calculated in a favourable economic environment (FEE), an average economic environment (AEE) and in an unfavourable economic environment (VEE). The high Pearson and Spearman correlations between the EBV s based on AEE and the other two environments suggested that the average economic environment could be used to calculate EBVs for R-value or feedlot growth profitability. It is therefore not necessary to change the carcass, weaner or feed price on a regular basis to account for possible re-rankings based on R-value EBVs. Heritabilities for lW, FW, Fl and SHD were 0.41, 0.40, 0.33 and 0.51, respectively. The highest genetic correlations between these traits were the 0.78 (between lW and FW) and 0.70 (between Fl and FW). GTV values varied between -R192.l7 and R231.38, with an average of R9.31. The Pearson correlations between EBVs (for production and efficiency traits) and GTV range from -0.51 to 0.68. The lowest correlation (closest to zero) was 0.26 between the Kleiber ratio (KLB) and GTV. Correlations of 0.68 and -0.51 were estimated between average daily gain (ADG) and GTV and feed conversion ratio (FCR) and GTV, respectively. The heritabilities of the different traits included in the selection index suggest that it is possible to select for a GTV. The selection index can benefit feedlotting In selecting offspring of bulls with high GTV values to maximize profitability. The Pearson and Spearman correlations between the R-value EBVs and the index values (GTV) were very high (0.97). This high correlation of 97% indicates that it is not important which method is used to calculate a genetic post-weaning growth of feedlot profitability value. The selection index value is, however, more simplified than the feedlot profitability with less assumption. Therefore, it is recommended that the post-weaning selection index value be used as a selection objective in breeding programmes to improve post-weaning growth profitability rather than the more complex feedlot profitability value.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'N GENETIESE ANALIESE VAN DIE BIOLOGIESE EN EKONOMIESE DOELTREFFENTHEID VAN NASPEENSE GROEI IN VLEISBEESTE IN DIE VOERKRAAL: Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat voerinname en groei die twee ekonomies mees belangrike komponente in die berekening van 'n naspeense groei- of voerkraalwinsgewindheidswaarde is. Voerkostes is 'n bepalende faktor van winsgewindheid in enige lewendehawe boerderypraktyk. Seleksie om voerdoeltreffendheid te verbeter, verminder dus die voerkostes in vleisbeesproduksie en gevolglik 'n verhoging in die winsgewindheid. Die doelwit van die studie was om faktore te identifiseer wat 'n invloed op winsgewindheid in die voerkraaiomgewing het asook om 'n duidelike seleksiedoelwit te formuleer wat die Suid- Afrikaanse vleisbeesteiers en veral die voerkraalbedryf instaat sal kan stelom vir naspeense groeidoeltreffendheid ofvoerkraalwinsgewindheid te selekteer. As gevolg van die aantekening en rekordhouding van weeklikse individuele voennnames en gewigstoenames van alle prestasiegetoetsde bulle, in 'n gesentraliseerde groeitoets deur die Suid- Afrikaanse Landbou Navorsingsraad getoets, was dit moontlik om vir elk van hierdie bulle 'n fenotipiese voerkraalwinsgewindheidswaarde (R-waarde) te kon bereken. (Ko)variansies is vir en tussen voerkraalwinsgewindheid, speengewig en ander produksie-, reproduksie- en doeltreffendheidseienskappe bereken deur van meereienskap en ewekansige regressie modelle gebruik te maak. Twee doeltreffendheidseienskappe naamlik residuele voerinname (RFI) en voeromsetverhouding (FCR) is ook met groei (gemiddelde daaglikse toename (ADG), speengewig (WW) en skouerhoogte (SHD)), reproduksie (skrotumomvang (SCR)) en winsgewindheidseienskappe (voerkraalwinsgewindheid (R-waarde)) vergelyk, om sodoende te bepaal watter een die mees geskikte eienskap is om indirek vir voerkraalwinsgewindheid of groei, gebaseer op teeltwaardes en ekonomiese waardes vir die verskillende eienskappe, wat 'n invloed op naspeense groei winsgewindheid het, gestruktueer. (Ko)variansiekomponente, oorerflikhede en genetiese korrelasies vir en tussen begingewig (lW), eindgewig (FW), voerinname (FI) en skouerhoogte (SHD) is bereken deur van 'n meereienskap (REML) ontleding gebruik te maak. Hierdie teelwaardes (EBVs) is vervolgens in 'n seleksie-indeks gebruik om 'n enkele ekonomies of voerkraal-winsgewindheids seleksie-indekswaarde (GTV) vir elke dier te bereken. Hierdie ekonomiese waarde is 'n aanduiding van die bruto winsgewindheidswaarde ofbruto toetswaarde (GTV) van die dier in 'n naspeentoets. Die oorerflikheid, vanuit die meereienskapontleding vir R-waarde beraam, was 0.36. Hierdie oorerflikheid dui daarop dat die eienskap oorerflik is en dat dit wel moontlik is om daarvoor te selekteer. Die ooreflikhede van R-waarde, voorspel vanuit die enkeleienskap ewekansige regressieontleding varieer tussen 0.57 en 0.62. Die genetiese korrelasie tussen R-waarde en ander eienskappe, vanuit die meereienskap ontleding beraam, varieer tussen weglaatbaar klein tot hoog. Die oorerflikheid van FeR was 0.34 en van RFI 0.31 met 'n genetiese korrelasie van 0.75 tussen die twee eienskappe. Die genetiese korrelasie tussen R-waarde en FeR, en R-waarde en RFI was onderskeidelik -0.92 en -0.59. Die rede vir die hoë negatiewe genetiese korrelasie tussen R-waarde en FeR van -0.92 is omdat dieselfde komponente in die berekening van die twee eienskappe gebruik is. Dit word ook in die genetiese tendense weerspeël. Die genetiese korrelasies en verwagte gekorreleerde responsies tussen R-waarde en FeR, en tussen R-waarde en RFI dui daarop dat stadiger genetiese vordering verkry sal word in R-waarde deur direkte seleksie vir beide FeR en RFI as wat verkry sal word deur die direkte seleksie vir R-waarde. Wanneer 'n R-waarde egter nie bereken kan word nie of waar dit nie moontlik is om direk vir R-waarde te selekteer nie, sal vinniger genetiese vordering in R-waarde gemaak word deur die direkte seleksie vir FeR as vir RF!. 'n Regressievergelyking is geformuleer (met 'n R2 van 0.82) om vir alle prestasiegetoetsde bulle, waar bulle in 'n groep gevoer is en individuele voerinnames onbekend is, 'n voerinnamewaarde te voorspel. Hierdie voorspelde voerinnames maak dit moontlik om vir elke prestasiegetoetsde bul ,'n naspeengroei- of voerkraalwinswaarde (R-waarde) te bereken, al is hulle individuele voerinnames onbekend. Vervolgens is drie verskillende R-waarde vir vleisproduksie vir elke bul bereken naamlik, in 'n gunstige ekonomiese omgewing (FEE), 'n gemiddelde ekonomiese omgewing (AEE) en 'n ongunstige ekonomiese omgewing (VEE). Die hoë Pearson en Spearman korrelasies tussen die EBVs vir R-waarde, bereken in die AEE en die EBVs in die ander twee ekonomiese omgewings, dui daarop dat die AEE gebruik kan word om EBVs vir naspeense groeiof voerkraalwins te bereken. Dit is dus nie nodig om op 'n gereelde grondslag die karkasprys, lewendige speenkalfprys of die voerprys te verander nie. Oorerflikhede, vanuit die meereienskap ontledings VIr lW, FW, FI en SHD verkry, was onderskeidelik 0.41, 0.40, 0.33 en 0.51. Die hoogste genetiese korrelasies tussen die eienskappe was 0.78 tussen lW en FW en 0.70 tussen FI en FW. GTV indekswaardes varieer tussen -Rl92.17 en R231.38 met 'n gemiddelde waarde van R9.31. Die Pearson korrelasies tussen die EBVs van produksie- en doeltreffenheidseienskappe en GTV het tussen -0.51 en 0.68 gevarieer. Die korrelasie naaste aan zero, van 0.26, was die korrelasie tussen GTV en die Kleiber-verhouding. Die korrelasies tussen GTV en ADG, en GTV en FeR was onderskeidelik 0.68 en -0.51. Die oorerflikhede van die verskillende eienskappe wat in die seleksie-indeks ingesluit is, dui daarop dat die indekswaarde weloorerflik is en dat seleksie hiervoor wel moontlik is. Hierdie indekswaarde kan deur die voerkraaiindustrie gebruik word om nageslag van diere met hoë GTV waardes te selekteer om sodoende maksimum wins uit die voerkraai te genereer. Die Pearson en Spearman korrelasies tussen R-waarde EBVs en die indekswaardes (GTV) was besonder hoog (0.97). Hierdie hoë korrelasie dui daarop dat dit geen verskil sal maak watter een van die twee metodes gebruik word in die berekeninge van 'n naspeense groei- of voerkraalwinswaarde nie. Die seleksie-indeks metode is egter minder gekompliseerd met minder aannames as in die geval van die rekeningkundige fenotipiese benadering (R-waarde). As gevolg hiervan, word die naspeense seleksie-indeks waardes (GTV) aanbeveel om te gebruik as 'n teeldoelwit in telingsprogramme om naspeense groei- of voerkraaiwins geneties te verbeter, eerder as die meer gekompliseerde fenotipiese voerkraaiwins (R-waardes) metode.

Thesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010
Purpose: Botswana is one of the countries with the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the world. This research aims to investigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on the socio-economic environment in Botswana with special reference to the country’s tourism sector. Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of Botswana. It creates employment, earns foreign exchange, markets Botswana internationally, attracts foreign investments and contributes to Gross Domestic Products (GDP).Methodology: This report explains the HIV/AIDS situation and policy framework relative to the tourism sector in Botswana and in selected African countries through conducting an extensive literature review and empirical surveys. This is a quantitative research in which non-probability method is used to indentify the respondents. Here tourism general managers are identified and asked to identify their subordinates who are available and willing to participate in the survey by answering a self-administered questionnaire.Findings: This study indicates that HIV/AIDS threatens the Botswana tourism and the viability of the socio-economic factors. In general, the Southern African region is experiencing the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. The infection rate is particularly high among the young people (aged 15 – 49). This age group constitutes people who are economically active, and a number of them work directly or indirectly in the tourism sector. HIV/AIDS kills the economically active population – people who hold the skills, do the work, pay taxes, raise children, vote in the elections, and provide leadership. HIV/AIDS results in increased mortality and morbidity rates, and it also results in increased health expenditure. It also results in increased poverty level in the country.Practical implications: When observing the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS not only in the tourism sector but in general, it becomes evident that the fight against the disease should be a collaborative approach involving various sectors including tourism. Relying only on government and health sector to address the complex and systematic impact of HIV/AIDS cannot effectively combat the disease and its prevalence rate.Originality/value: This report analyses HIV/AIDS situation in Botswana in a creative way, contributing to the understanding of its impacts on the socio-economic environment as well as identifying strategies that can be used in addressing the impacts. This research is important for public policy makers, government officials, and tourism role-players to be aware of implications HIV/AIDS has on the socio-economic environment and take them into consideration in the policy formulation and implementation, business strategies and processes. It is also imperative to academics who would like to expand their knowledge on HIV/AIDS.

The objective of this study was to compute economic values of traits for dairy cattle improvement using an empirical approach. Field recorded data were obtained from the Programme d'Analyse des Troupeaux Laitiers du Quebec (PATLQ) and genetic evaluation data were obtained from the Canadian Dairy Network (CDN). After the editing procedure, the data set consisted of 195,001 lifetime records of Holstein, Ayrshire, Jersey, Brown Swiss and Canadienne cows which calved for the first time between January 1980 and December 1994.
Different profitability measurements were computed and used as the dependent variables in covariance model to compute different sets of economic values. Since the majority of cows produced 5 lactations or less, results obtained by using lifetime profits and profits until the end of the fifth lactation are similar. A kilogram genetic increase in fat production had higher economic values than the same increase in milk production in all breeds. A unit genetic increase in conformation had the highest positive impact on profit while a same increase in capacity had a negative impact on profit. Results obtained by using lifetime profit adjusted for the opportunity cost of postponed replacement showed that this adjustement reduced the influence of type traits on profit. Finally, profits of first lactations were used to study consequences of changes in pricing systems occurred in Quebec in August 1992. Economic values attached to protein production changed drastically. A kilogram genetic increase in protein production had negative economic values in the 80's and positive economic values after August 1992.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mastitis is the most prevalent and costly production disease of dairy cattle; hence mastitis incidence is a distinctly important trait in dairy cattle. The primary objective of the study was to determine the economic value, and develop a model for genetic prediction of clinical mastitis in South African Holstein cattle. These procedures are a prerequisite to including this trait in the breeding objective. The cost of clinical mastitis per incident was calculated as the sum of revenue loss due to discarded milk during the infection period and the associated treatment costs. Economic value (ZAR/incident) was calculated as the change in profit (increase in costs) resulting from a simulated marginal increase in mastitis incidence in an average herd. Average economic losses due to clinical mastitis were estimated at ZAR919.96/cow/year and the average incidence was 0.9cases/cow/year. The economic value of clinical mastitis was ‐ZAR1079.51/incident. A model for predicting estimated breeding values (EBVs) for clinical mastitis using somatic cell score (SCS), fore teat length (FTL), udder depth (UD) and rear udder height (RUH) was developed, using genetic (co)variances among these traits. Since EBVs for SCS, FTL, UD and RUH are routinely estimated under the national genetic evaluation programme, EBVs for clinical mastitis can be predicted from the model developed in the current study. Thus, the results of the study provide the basis for including clinical mastitis in the breeding objective for South African Holstein cattle.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mastitis is die mees algemeenste en duursteproduksie siekte wat voorkom by melkbeeste, daarom is die voorkoms van mastitis 'n belangrike eienskap in melkbeeste. Die primêre doel van die studie was om die ekonomiese waarde te bepaal, asook die ontwikkeling van 'n model vir genetiese voorspelling van kliniese mastitis in Suid‐Afrikaanse Holstein beeste. Hierdie prosedures is 'n voorvereiste vir insluiting van hierdie eienskap as ‘n teeldoelwit in seleksie programme. Die koste van kliniese mastitis per voorval is bereken as die som van die inkomste verlies weens melk weggegooi tydens die infeksie periode en die gepaardgaande koste vir die behandeling. Ekonomiese waarde (ZAR / voorval) is bereken as die verandering in wins (toename in koste) wat voortspruit uit 'n gesimuleerde marginale toename in mastitis voorkoms in 'n gemiddelde kudde. Gemiddelde ekonomiese verliese as gevolg van kliniese mastitis was beraam op ZAR919.96/koei/jaar en die gemiddelde voorkoms was 0.9gevalle/koei/jaar. Die ekonomiese waarde van kliniese mastitis was ‐ ZAR1079.51/geval. 'n Model vir die voorspelling van beraamde teelwaardes (EBV’s) vir kliniese mastitis is ontwikkel deur gebruik te maak van die ko‐variansies tussen die onderskeie eienskappe: somatiese sel telling (SST), voorspeen lengte (VSL), uier diepte (UD) en agter uier hoogte (AUH). Aangesien teelwaardes vir SST, VSL, UD en AUH gereeld beraam word onder die Nasionale genetiese evaluasie program, kan teelwaardes vir kliniese mastitis voorspel word vanuit die model wat ontwikkel is in die huidige studie. Dus verskaf die resultate van hierdie studie ‘n basis vir die insluiting van kliniese mastitis as ‘n teeldoelwit in seleksie programme van die Suid‐Afrikaanse Holstein beeste.

Thesis (MPhil--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The incidence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana is one of the largest in the world taking its toll on many lives and posing developmental challenges to the nation. Nearly 25% of the population is living with HIV and 14% are newly infected; AIDS is acknowledged as the major cause of death. Most HIV and AIDS studies have been dominated by surveillance, biomedical and ethical methodologies. These approaches failed to stem the tide of HIV infection because they did not follow-up with the tracking of risky behaviours and the underlying causes of the behaviours. This research scrutinized socio-economic factors in relation to the spread of the epidemic. Available literature showed that little or no attention has been paid to the socio-economic backgrounds in which individuals exist in connection with understanding HIV and AIDS. This study used an economic model of risky sexual behaviour to explore the link between socio-economic status and the practice of HIV self-protective/preventive behaviours in Maruapula, Gaborone, Botswana. The research is vital as it goes beyond surveillance in an effort to establish why the community of the study is susceptible to HIV infection. This research l used both collected data and that from BAIS II.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is oor die verhouding tussen sosio-ekonomiese status en die praktyk van MIV self-protective/preventive gedrag binne Maruapula distrik. Die doel van die studie is om vas te stel of daar 'n verband tussen sosio-ekonomiese status en die praktyk van MIV-voorkomende gedrag onder die inwoners, van Maruapula, Gaborone, Botswana. Data is ingesamel deur die gebruik van vraelyste en die ontleding van die statistiek het getoon dat die is geen verwantskap tussen sosio-ekonomiese status en die praktyk van MIV self-protective/preventive gedrag onder die inwoners. Aanbevelings gebaseer op die bevindinge is gemaak met betrekking tot MIV-voorkoming in die woongebied in die besonder en in die land in die algemeen.

The Botswana Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programme started in 1989. Its aims were to promote sustainable development through sustainable natural resources management and utilisation to improve rural livelihoods. The country CBNRM programme has recorded mixed outcomes and this has raised questions on the programme performance throughout the country. Since the programme has been recognised as one of the eight main livelihood strategies for rural communities in Botswana, there was a need to evaluate the programme performance and determine the factors that influence it. This thesis therefore evaluated the performance of CBNRM projects along an aridity gradient in Botswana and by so doing answered the two research questions of: (1) What factors influence the performance of CBNRM? And (2) how does aridity influence the performance of CBNRM programmes? Performance was determined in terms of financial benefits generated by CBNRM projects and the projects adherence to the CBNRM principles. Data were collected from seven selected CBNRM projects covering three aridity zones (wet, medium rainfall and dry areas) in the country. Data were also collected from key informants and community based organisations (CBO) project managers. Research findings have indicated differences in the performance of CBNRM projects across the identified three aridity zones. Factors that influenced the performance of CBNRM projects varied among the three aridity zones. These factors included: existence of complimentary rules and regulations for managing CBNRM projects; literacy levels of communities involved in CBNRM; ethnic composition of the project communities; historic and current socio-economic trends within communities; collaboration between CBNRM institutions and other local level institutes; amount of benefits generated through the projects; ability of institutions to resolve outstanding issues in time and type of CBNRM project. Research results also indicated that there was variation in the performance of CBNRM projects across the three aridity zones. Aridity was found to directly influence the performance of CBNRM projects through its influence on the amount of revenues that projects generated.

Neutrophil potential phagocytic capacity (NPPC), measured on 25 AI Canadian Holstein bulls, was investigated for evidence of association with production and type traits, SCC, and survival in dairy cows. Bulls were ranked based on different degrees of NPPC (Uptakes of 0, 1, 2, and 3 or more latex beads), using the solutions coming from an animal model. A total of 42,103 first lactation records, collected from 1985 through 1993 in 2,919 Quebec dairy herds, were used to obtain EBV's for SCC and for log SCC (LogSCC) for 697 sires. Correlations between NPPC measurements and somatic cell EBV's were null. Canadian official ETA's for type traits related with mammary system had a tendency of being positively correlated with higher NPPC and negatively with Uptake-0. Canadian official ETA's for production traits were negatively correlated with higher NPPC and positively with Uptake-0. A total of 17,202 first lactation records of daughters of the 25 AI bulls were used to study the effect of NPPC and log SCC on survival in dairy cows. Survival after first lactation was more closely related to sires' NPPC-EBV's than to LogSCC-EBV.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Botswana is one of the signatories of the Copenhagen Declaration, which was promulgated in Denmark in 1995. The Declaration, among others, called for signatories to eradicate poverty through decisive national actions and international cooperation as an ethical, social, political and economic imperative of humankind. This study, which takes the form of a policy systems analysis, seeks to establish the implementation path followed by the Government of Botswana in its endeavour to bring into effect its commitment to poverty alleviation, using the Copenhagen Declaration as a benchmark. The main methodology that informs this study is a comparative literature review of existing documentary sources, which include research reports and policy documents. This data is supplemented by interviews with some top officials involved in the planning, formulation and monitoring of poverty alleviation programmes. In addition, the author's experience of working as an Assistant District Officer in the Central District greatly supplements collected data. After presenting the background to the study and the research methodology that was followed, the study discusses the Copenhagen Declaration. It then explains the poverty situation at a global level. The picture is then narrowed to sub- Saharan Africa after which a more specific picture of the poverty situation in Botswana is explored. The findings of this study indicate that poverty alleviation policies and programmes implemented by the Government of Botswana are in line with the requirements of the Copenhagen Declaration. The most notable limiting factor affecting proper implementation of the commitments is lack of monitoring and evaluation, hence the study recommends that the Government put in place proper monitoring and evaluation mechanisms among others.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Botswana is een van die ondertekenaars van die Kopenhaagse Verklaring wat in 1995 in Denemarke uitgevaardig is. Die Verklaring het, onder andere, 'n beroep aan ondertekenaars gerig om die uitwissing van armoede deur middel van indringende nasionale aksies en internasionale samewerking as eties, sosiaal, polities en ekonomies gebiedend vir die mensdom aan te spreek. Hierdie studie, wat in die vorm van 'n analise van beleidsstelsels aangepak is, poog om vas te stel watter implementeringsweg deur die Regering van Botswana gevolg is om uiting te gee aan die verbintenis tot die verligting van armoede, met die Kopenhaagse Verklaring as maatstaf. Die vernaamste metode wat gevolg is om aan die studie gestalte te gee, is 'n vergelykende letterkundige oorsig van bestaande dokumentêre bronne, wat navorsingverslae en beleidsdokumente ingesluit het. Hierdie inligting is aangevul met behulp van onderhoude met sommige hoogstaande amptenare wat betrokke is by die beplanning, formulering en monitering van programme om armoede te verlig. Hierbenewens is die versamelde inligting tot 'n groot mate aangevul uit die ondervinding wat die skywer deur haar werk as 'n Assistent Distriks Offisier in die Sentraal distrikte opgedoen het. Die agtergrond tot die studie en die navorsingsmetodologie wat gevolg is, word eers aangebied en gevolg deur 'n bespreking van die Kopenhaagse Verklaring. Daarna word die stand van armoede op globale vlak verduidelik. Vervolgens word die blik vernou tot die gebied in Afrika suid van die Sahara en uiteindelik is daar 'n meer spesifieke ondersoek om 'n spesifieke indruk van die stand van armoede in Botswana te verkry. Die bevindinge van die studie toon dat beleidsbesluite en programme vir die verligting van armoede wat deur die Regering in Botswana geïmplementeer is, by die vereistes van die Kopenhaagse Verklaring aansluit. Die mees opvallende beperkende faktor wat die behoorlike implementering van die verbintenis tot die verklaring affekteer, is 'n gebrek aan monitering en evaluering en die studie stel dus voor dat die Regering behoorlike meganismes vir monitering en evaluering opstel.

The objective of this study was to examine the use of technical indicators, in an econometric context, as guides in making pricing decisions relative to feeder cattle production. Technical indicators were developed for both the short and long term. Short term indicators were designed to capture divergence/convergence between the Relative Strength Index and the futures price stream to form the Price Linked to Divergence index. A long term indicator using an average difference in price over a longer period was developed to form the Price Linked to Trend index. These indicators were used in the econometric models which in conjunction with cash production costs formed a hold/price/sell decision framework. Analysis was conducted on fall-to-spring, spring-to-fall, and fall-to-fall production programs. Results for the three production programs in both the in and out-of-sample environments showed that on average a futures price in the top half of the futures price range was captured. This resulted in average improvement in returns through hedging for every program.
Master of Science

A computer modeling experiment showed that grouping dairy cattle based on requirements of crude protein and net energy per kilogram expected dry matter intake (Grouper) had unique characteristics relative to other grouping systems. The objective of this study was to adapt the computerized Grouper system for practical use by implementing a field trial in commercial dairy herds to determine its managerial benefits and economic merit. Ten cooperating dairy herds participated in the one year trial. Herds were grouped monthly using test day information obtained from the Dairy Records Processing Center, Raleigh, NC and reports mailed to the cooperators. Feed consumption data and a record of cows not placed according to Grouper recommendations were collected during monthly herd visits or by mail. One set of analyses examined trends in Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) variables through trial duration while another set compared Grouper to a comparable milk production grouping program with all herd test day information grouped with both systems. No significant changes in DHI variables could be attributed to the Grouper system. Grouper retained younger, smaller cows and those with higher fat test in the high group longer and moved older, larger cows and cows with lower fat test into the low group sooner than grouping by milk production. Grouper produced higher intraclass correlations among cows in groups for percent Total Digestible Nutrients (0.59 versus 0.41) and percent crude protein (0.65 versus 0.57) than milk production grouping. Economically, Grouper was significantly more expensive when comparing systems based on average feed cost per cow per day. However, this did not consider increased income or decreased costs associated with the system or account for possible benefits such as better health and higher production resulting from feeding more precisely each individual's nutrient requirements. The Grouper program has been automated to be used through either a dairy records processing center or an individual microcomputer and can be considered a practical management tool to help the dairy manager group cows more efficiently and feed more accurately.
Master of Science

This thesis examines the impact of the recapitalisation and development programme on cattle producing farmers in Joe Gqabi and Chris Hani Districts. This research is based on the insight that most of the Eastern Cape cattle producing farmers are facing financial problems and their farms are dilapidated even though there are interventions from the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform and Rural Development and Land Reform through programmes such as CASP and RADP for rescuing the cattle producing farmers. The major challenges faced by the cattle producing farmers into getting the funding will be established in this study. The main focus is on the farms that have already got the funding and also on the ones that are still in the pipeline for being funded by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. To a lesser extent, the thesis draws on findings from careful considerations of case studies comprising ten farms, thus five farms from Joe Gqabi and five from Chris Hani Districts. The research methods under this research design yielded data that was descriptive and exploratory based on human experiences and are associated with discovering changes in situations. The research findings show that delays in releasing recapitalisation and development funds for land reform beneficiaries have been recognised as one of the main reasons for the collapse of land reform projects. In most cases the funds are arriving long after they were needed for important faming activities. The delays are also leading to permanent closure of the farms. Therefore, it is essential for the success of land reform programmes to ensure that the production model is designed so as to generate benefits for land reform beneficiaries. This thesis is concluded by making recommendations to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in order to address the identified Recapitalisation and Development Funding challenges as well as to identify what can be considered as effective financial support to the land reform projects.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the economic feasibility of alternative crop rotations and to determine the economic implications of including forages and livestock during the transition to organic agriculture in Nova Scotia. The rotation systems were distinguished by: (i) frequency of forage in the rotation, (ii) source of nutrient supply, and (iii) type of farming operation. The economic analysis was divided in two parts. The first part analysed data from a four-year crop rotation experiment, using enterprise budgeting and statistical methods to compare differences among rotations under different treatments. The second part involved the development of a multi-period linear programming (LP) model to simulate a commercial operation.
The results from the statistical analysis suggest that crop enterprise net returns tended to be higher in forage-based rotations and in the livestock systems compared to cash crop rotations and the stockless system. Results from the LP model suggest that including forages and beef cattle during the transition to organic agriculture can provide considerable economic benefits, especially when crops were grown under ruminant compost.

A series of studies were conducted to evaluate genetic and phenotypic aspects of culling, herd life and survival in Quebec Holstein herds. Data consisted of lactation records obtained from the Programme d'Analyse des Troupeaux Laitiers du Quebec (PATLQ) files, which included 2.2 Million records before the editing procedures. The average productive herd life in Quebec herds was approximately 33 months, corresponding to an average replacement rate of MIND, for both milk recording options. Herds enrolled in the PATLQ official option had cows with longer calving intervals and culled their heifers earlier than herds in the owner sampler option. The probability of being culled for each major reason for disposal was assessed by logistic regression models, and it was shown that culling for low production (voluntary) had a clearly descending trend from 1981 to 1994, while involuntary culling (assumed to include all the reasons other than production) increased in importance mainly because of the ascending trends observed for cuffing due to reproductive problems, mastitis and feet and legs problems. Proportion of cows culled for involuntary reasons increased with parity number, but the opposite occurred for culling due to low production. Herds in the official option culled less for mastitis and sold more cows for dairy purposes than owner sampler herds. After these preliminary studies, a sequence of Weibull models were fitted to analyze different aspects of the data. The genetic study of herd life traits focused on differences between sires regarding true and functional herd life, but also described the effect of different explanatory variables on the failure time variable. Heritability for true and functional herd life was, respectively, 0.09 and 0.08 in the log scale and 0.19 and 0.15 in the original scale. The difference in the median survival time of daughters of bulls with extreme proofs for functional herd life was 1.7 lactations. Quebec dairymen use classification fo

The closure of the US border to Canadian live cattle and beef products after the confirmation of a single Canadian BSE case in May, 2003 seriously jeopardized the Canadian beef cattle industry, which had relied heavily on exports. The inventory of cattle rapidly increased and farmers were paid record low prices for live cattle. But at the same time, the cattle slaughtering industry experienced a substantial increase in profits. The enlarged price spread between the value of live cattle and beef steak raised concerns about oligopsony market power in the live cattle market. This thesis investigates the hypothesis that the Canadian slaughtering industry exercised this market power in the months following the discovery of BSE. Two models, the conjectural variation model from the New Empirical Industrial Organization and an asymmetric price transmission model were used and the results from both models do not support the hypothesis of oligopsony market power.

This study examines how Bovine Somatotropin (BST) may impact Arizona dairy producers. The results of dairy scientists experimenting with BST are summarized in terms of reported milk yields and possible changes in feeding and herd management. Dairy enterprize budgets representative of Arizona are constructed to examine how income statements may change if BST is approved. The effects of increased milk supply on Arizona milk prices are estimated using the institutional structure of the Central Arizona Order and the United Dairyman of Arizona. Results of experiments with BST in Arizona are used to generate net returns at several rates of adoption under changing milk prices for three dairy farms in Arizona.

BSE was discovered in Canada in 2003. Research on the impacts of BSE indicates that cattle producers suffered significant economic losses, and that these may have reverberated into local communities, where industries connected to cattle production have sustained secondary impacts. Also, the desirability of different forms of agriculture may have shifted as a result of BSE. This study addresses the impacts of BSE in Alberta from a geographical perspective, examining the cattle industry, community economic structure, and regional agricultural economies. The spatial organization and structure of the cattle herd has changed as a result of BSE. Little evidence of a ripple effect was found in the geography of community economic structure. Spatial changes in regional agricultural economies may be tied to changes in the cattle industry resulting from BSE, but do not indicate significant agricultural restructuring. This study places limits on the spatial and economic impacts of BSE in Alberta.
x, 171 leaves ; maps ; 29 cm

The objective of the study was to evaluate cow reproductive performance in the sweetveld and sourveld communal grazing areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In the first experiment, farmer perceptions were obtained using participatory rural appraisals. Farmers ranked lack of fences, tick-borne diseases, poor animal condition during winter and poor breeding practices, respectively as major constraints limiting cattle production in the Eastern Cape. Cattle, sheep and goats, in that order, were ranked as the most important livestock species and were mainly kept for meat, cash and ceremonies, respectively. The non-descript cattle breed was the most common breed found in the smallholder areas. Most farmers preferred Nguni breed because of its adaptive attributes. In the second experiment, structured questionnaires were administered, between June and August 2006, to a total of 551 farmers from 10 communities of the Eastern Cape. There was a significant association (P<0.05) between the use of pregnancy diagnoses and community. About 87 and 77 % of the interviewed farmers did not respond on the extent of pregnancy and calving rates in their herds. A higher proportion of farmers from Hekele (51%) and from Upper Mnxe (45.3%) communities reported low number of bulls as a major constraint to cow reproductive performance. Body condition and ovarian activity were measured in the sweet and sour veld types. Body condition score of animals was measured from March iii 2007 until January 2008 and ovarian activity of cows was performed by a veterinarian through rectal palpation in June, August and October 2007 and January 2008. From March to July, there was a marked decline in body condition on both veld types. In the sweetveld, body condition improved from September until January, whereas in the sourveld the improvement in body condition started in October. The cows in both veld types conceived throughout the year. Most cows in the sweetveld were cycling in January and August (P<0.05) whereas in the sourveld there was no distinct period when the animals were cycling. Overall, there were no differences in the proportion of cows that were cycling between the sour and sweet veldts (P>0.05). There were more cows cycling in sourveld in October than in the sweetveld. Reproductive performance of cows in communal areas could, therefore, be determined by levels and quality of nutrition. Keywords: Participatory rural appraisals; Structured questionnaires; Farmer participation; Farmer perceptions; Body condition scoring; Ovarian activity; Pregnancy diagnoses.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into South Africa have been very low for several decades, and this research examines the reason(s) why this has been the case since 1994. There is a common belief amongst economists that there is a positive relationship between the amount of FDI received and economic growth, thus the desire to attract greater FDI inflows. A literature review was conducted to establish the determinants of FDI globally and then data were collected and assessed to test which causes are most important. The performance of developing nations in attracting FDI was first compared with that of the developed nations. Thereafter, a regional breakdown of FDI flows was presented, with a particular focus on the Southern African region. FDI inflows to South Africa since 1994 were compared against the identified determinants of FDI, as well as with FDI inflows into two other major mining economies, Chile and Botswana. The friendliness of the government towards business was identified as a significant determinant of FDI inflows and the importance of this factor in explaining FDI inflows into environment in South Africa was looked at in more depth. It was found that many investors perceive the South African government as hostile towards business and as corrupt and/or inefficient. The empirical results show that this negative perception helps explain the FDI inflows attracted by South Africa since 1994. Therefore, increased friendliness to business by the government should increase future inward FDI flows into South Africa.

Orientador: Mara de Andrade Marinho
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola
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Resumo: Esse trabalho aborda o tema da política de crédito rural no Brasil, tratando particularmente do Programa para Redução da Emissão de Gases de Efeito Estufa na Agricultura (Programa ABC), instituído pelo Governo Federal em 2010. O objetivo geral da pesquisa foi analisar as condições gerais de financiamento do Programa ABC. Os objetivos específicos foram analisar a oferta e contratação de crédito no período de 2010/2011 a 2012/2013, e realizar uma análise setorial sobre a bovinocultura de corte, uma das principais cadeias produtivas da agropecuária brasileira e maior emissor de gases de efeito estufa. Com relação ao objetivo geral, verificou-se o protagonismo da ação e a característica inovadora do Programa ABC, como uma política de crédito rural na qual o consentimento do recurso é condicionado à adoção de boas práticas de manejo. Variações anuais nas condições de financiamento do Programa ABC, a saber a taxa de juros e prazos de carência e pagamento, tornaram-no mais atrativo ao longo do tempo. A respeito da contratação do crédito, os dados de execução do Programa ABC evidenciaram uma crescente demanda. Do montante ofertado no período entre as safras 2010/2011 a 2012/2013, de R$13,05 bilhões, foram executados 37% distribuídos em 16.445 contratos. No entanto, foram identificados como fatores limitantes ao seu desenvolvimento, a escassez de informações acerca do retorno financeiro de práticas preconizadas como ILP e ILPF, as especificidades da elaboração e análise dos projetos, bem como os entraves decorrentes da regularização ambiental e fundiária das propriedades contratantes. Os resultados obtidos da análise setorial da bovinocultura de corte no âmbito do Programa ABC, permitiram concluir que os prazos estabelecidos ao crédito são adequados aos ciclos de produção; e que suas linhas apresentaram características competitivas em relação aos demais programas de crédito rural para investimentos na bovinocultura de corte. Foi verificado ainda que os estados de Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul e São Paulo podem vir a apresentar maior demanda para a contratação de recursos financeiros com vistas à implantação de sistemas integrados como ILP e ILPF. Contudo, a relação histórica entre a oferta de crédito oficial e o desenvolvimento da bovinocultura de corte brasileira sugere a necessidade de desenvolvimento de formas alternativas ao estímulo da mitigação da emissão de gases de efeito estufa, que não exclusivamente a oferta de financiamento. Neste contexto, ressalta-se a importância das pesquisas acerca das ações de coordenação da cadeia produtiva, a fim de sensibilizar consumidores quanto às externalidades positivas das atividades de baixo impacto, permitindo a precificação diferenciada dos produtos e consequente agregação de valor ao pecuarista
Abstract: This paper addresses the impact of rural credit policy in Brazil, in the area of Planning and Sustainable Rural Development, particularly in relation to the Federal-sponsored Program for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emissions in Agriculture (so-called ABC Program). Established in 2010, the Program aims to set nation-wide targets for reducing greenhouse gases emissions. This research was based on the overall objective to analyze the general conditions of financing the ABC Program. The specific objectives were based on the analyzes of the supply financial credit and contracting credit in the period 2010/2011 a 2012/2013, and a sectoral analysis of beef cattle breeding ¿ the sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated). With respect to the results, there was the role of action and innovative feature of the ABC Program as a rural credit policy in which the resource is conditional upon adoption of good management practices. Changes on the financing conditions offered by the ABC Program (i.e. interest rates and payback schedule) made it more attractive over time. Performance data of the ABC Program showed increased supply and borrowing of credit. The amount offered by the ABC Program between the 2010/2011 and 2012/2013 crops was U.S. $ 13.05 billion, of which 37 % were non-perfoming loans, distributed in 16,445 contracts. The main barriers for hiring ABC Program credit are the lack of knowledge about the Program, difficulties for developing and analyzing the projects, and barriers related to environmental and land regularization. In the time frame of the study, the hiring of credit increased, and the conditions for concession were adequate to finance production cycles from breeding to the complete cycle. The ABC Program showed competitive characteristics comparing with the other rural credit lines offered for beef cattle production. It was found that the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo may present increased demand financing integrated systems such as Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems and Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry Systems, as advocated by the Program. However, the historical relationship between the supply of rural credit and development of beef cattle in Brazil suggests the need to develop alternative forms of stimulus for mitigating the effects of greenhouse gases emissions. In this context, it emphasizes the importance of researching supply chain coordination; alerting consumers about the positive externalities of low-impact activities and allowing for differentiated product pricing and, ultimately, adding value to the farmer
Mestrado
Planejamento e Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável
Mestra em Engenharia Agrícola

This study attempts to identify factors responsible for determining differences in the productivity of cattle managed by communal and private livestock farmers in the southern region of Botswana during 1999/2000. It is hypothesised that herd productivity and investment in southern Botswana are higher on private ranches than on open access communal grazing land. This study is important because livestock, especially cattle, contribute significantly to the livelihood of farmers in Botswana. Cattle are a major source of meat, milk and draught power, and provide a store of wealth that protects against inflation and which can easily be converted into cash. Cattle production is also an important source of employment in the rural economy of Botswana. Furthermore, the export of beef is a major source of foreign exchange earnings, and cattle account for 80 percent of agriculture's contribution to Botswana's gross domestic product. A stratified random sample survey of communal and private livestock farmers was conducted in the southern region of Botswana from August 1999 to May 2000 with the assistance of four enumerators. The sample survey data were used to compute descriptive statistics and to estimate the parameters of a block recursive regression model. The model postulated relationships between agricultural credit, investment in fixed improvement, investment in operating inputs and herd productivity. Some of the equations are estimated with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and some with Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) to account for likely correlation between endogenous explanatory variables and the error term. Descriptive statistics show that levels of investment and herd productivity are higher on private farms than on open-access communal grazing. Private farmers are also better educated, more liquid, and have larger herd sizes, but do not differ from their communal counterparts in terms of age, gender, race or household size. The regression results show that (a) respondents with secure tenure and larger herds use more agricultural credit than those who rely on open access communal grazing land to raise cattle; (b) secure land tenure, higher levels of liquidity and use of long-term credit promote investment in fixed improvements to land; (c) liquidity from short-term credit and wage remittances supports expenditure on operating inputs; and (d) herd productivity increases with greater investment in fixed improvement and operating inputs. Herd productivity is therefore positively (but indirectly) influenced by secure land tenure. It can therefore be inferred that government should (a) uphold private property rights to land where they already exists; (b) privatise open access grazing to individual owner operators where this is politically, socially, and economically feasible; and (c) where privatisation to individuals is not feasible, government should encourage users to convert the grazing into common property by subsidising the costs of defining user groups and the boundaries of their resources, and enforcing rules limiting individual use of common property. This first-step in a gradual shift towards more secure tenure should be followed by the conversion of user groups to non-user groups organized along the lines of investor-owned firms where members exchange use rights for benefit and voting rights in a joint venture managed by an expert.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Arid and semi-arid regions have increasingly become the subject of much research and debate by scientists. By their very nature, these regions characteristically exhibit extremes which complicate the implementation of effective management strategies that ensure sustainable productivity and economic output. Namibia is one such region where low and highly variable rainfall conditions and fluctuating productivity pose a challenge to managers of commercial livestock enterprises, / who seek to optimise economic benefits while controlling the negative effect on herd production and income of unpredictable and unfavourable climatic events. Various management approaches are proposed as a means of exploiting periods of abundant productivity and so optimising income from herd production, while controlling for the effects of drought conditions. To analyse the effects of these various offtake strategies, a rainfall-driven plant-herbivore simulation model is used. The model comprises components simul~tihg vegetation and herbivore dynamics. The vegetation component incorporates soil moisture and nutrient allocation to plant parts. The herbivore dynamics sub-model comprises age and sex classes, population dynamics and animal energy requirements which govern accumulated fat reserves. The model is adapted to account for climatic and vegetation attributes specific to Namibia. An economic component including a seasonal monthly price structure is developed, and a dynamic feedback governing management decisions is incorporated. The much debated issue of whether to maintain a constant stocking rate or to track climatic variation by employing a variable stocking level is investigated, with the performance of management strategies incorporating these approaches ranked according to various factors, including annual returns, associated risk and annual stock mortality. The economic consequences of the timing of offtake are investigated, with the simulation of management strategies that implement destocking in the face of anticipated drought conditions. A dynamic projection of expected income allows the impact of forecasting potential economic gains on decision-making to be analysed. Results indicate that the performance of management strategies is not as dependent on climatic and seasonal price variability as was originally expected, with the application of a constant stocking level proving to be the most favourable strategy in terms of economic gain and variability of income. Tracking climatic variation by adapting stocking levels does not provide the improvement in economic returns from a livestock production system that was anticipated, although this approach is successful in effecting a significant reduction in annual stock mortality. Further results show the sensitivity of income to the long-term average stocking level characterising the management strategies investigated, as well as to the elasticity of the underlying price structure. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of management strategies designed to track climatic variation does not offer significant economic advantages over the application of a constant stocking approach.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

In recent years the use of tourism as a development strategy by third world governments has increased, resulting in the intersection of international tourism and local agricultural strategies. The aim of this thesis is to critically assess the impact of tourism development on local agriculture in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. More specifically, the study appraises the current state of tourism and agriculture in the Okavango Delta, assesses the social, economic and environmental effects of tourism development on the Okavango Delta and its communities, examines local agricultural production and consumption patterns, assesses the patterns of supply and demand of food in the region, and evaluates the impact of tourism on local subsistence agriculture, while making use of both qualitative and quantitative data sources. The Okavango Delta region is faced with several socio-economic problems. These include high unemployment levels, unequal regional development, income inequalities and extreme levels of poverty. 'Rural-urban' migration by local subsistence farmers in search of formal employment opportunities has risen steadily since the early 1990s, resulting in unprecedented social changes to the inhabitants of the Delta, and the abandonment of traditional farming practices. This, together with the limited interaction between the local population and tourism industry, is increasingly leading to tension between local and foreign parties in the region. The large proportion of foreign owned tourist facilities and foreign investment results in major economic leakages, and the exclusion of Motswana from any form of meaningful participation in the tourism industry. The presence of foreign tourists in the Delta enforces the need for imports, increasingly damaging local agricultural production as both production and consumption becomes imported. If tourism is to be of any benefit to the local population in the Okavango Delta, there has to be local involvement and ownership. The fostering of linkages between tourism and other sectors, particularly agriculture, is imperative in attempting to bring about socio-economic growth in this region.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

In most developing countries the characteristics of the poor go beyond the traditional definition of poverty. Whilst the latter broadly refers to lack of access to material resources, there are other factors that are linked to poverty. This thesis identifies one of these factors as social exclusion which is suggested as a barrier to poverty reduction efforts. Drawing from the experience on the concept of social exclusion as developed in the north, and extended to some countries in the south, the social exclusion framework is applied within the context of a country in the south, namely Botswana. The thesis investigates the operation of social exclusion within the Basarwa minority group in the country, by identifying the appropriate mechanisms that drive social exclusion, describing the processes of exclusion, and delineating its characteristics. This is done within the context oftesting the proposition that social exclusion is one of the factors linked to the persistence of poverty. Noting that persistence of poverty is conventionally attributed, among others things, to shortfall in education and skills, lack of opportunities and capital or land, the thesis investigates the root causes ofthese factors in as far as Basarwa are concerned. It is argued that such shortfalls and failure to obtain adequate resources are due to exclusionary processes operating at two levels. The major findings are that the concept is multidimensional and that the target group faces exclusion in political, socio-cultural, economic, spatial and legal terms. This exclusion operates at the national and local levels. Owing to this multiple exclusion, Basarwa generally face difficulties in escaping poverty, with the older generation being the most affected. Social exclusion is a barrier to poverty reduction because it makes it difficult for the Basarwa to obtain equal and satisfactory access to opportunities, assets, and resources available in political, economic and social fields of society. The thesis offers some policy suggestions about how to reduce social exclusion.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

This paper presents a case study from Ngamiland, northern Botswana where community~ based natural resource management (CBNRM), through a joint venture agreement (NA) between a Community~based Organisation (CBO) and the private sector for nonconsumptive tourism has been implemented with the objective of contributing to localised poverty alleviation and livelihood diversification through employment and CBO fee revenue. The economic contribution of these benefits is considered with respect to commonly accepted norms and standards within the development ideology of sustainable development and its global measurements; therefore, a brief background of the concepts of poverty, livelihood and ecotourism is presented to provide context for the evaluation of CBNRM as a preferred land~use in Botswana. An evaluation of the significance of wage employment revenue and consequent remittances in the specific case study is intended to contribute to existing studies which have primarily emphasised the contribution of CBO fee revenue only to households. It is concluded that wage employment revenue makes a significant contribution at a household level to localised poverty alleviation and livelihood diversification compared to the insignificant contribution ofCBO fee revenue.
Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Botswana is considered an exemplary democracy in Africa. It is imperative to assess how an enviable democracy could flourish when the most widely available mass media was not independent. The fact is, despite the fact that media has been at the heart of development in Botswana, it has often been ignored in local academic and popular discussions about democracy and governance. A 1994 seminar on the media in a democracy organized by the Mmegi Publishing Trust (Leepile, 1994), was one of the very few forums where the role of the media in Botswana was given any attention. Even then, most the presentations were not substantive, mainly providing basic information about media institutions in Botswana and laws that protect and threaten freedom of the media. Botswana's contemporary state - media nexus can only be understood within the context of a long history of media dependence and domination by neighbouring South Africa (Zaffiro, 1991) assisted by British colonisation. To appreciate the challenges of cultural production at Botswana Television (BTV) required a study of the problematic encounter between the quest for creative and professional freedom within BTV on the one hand,·and the authoritarian gaze of state power on the other hand. BTV operated under an ill-defined broadcasting model, of a state bureaucratic arm, attempting to fulfil the ethos of public service broadcasting. Through the lens of the Newsroom, in-house productions, commissioning and procurement of foreign and local content, the study shows the subtle ways in which state ownership of the media compromises freedom of expression and freedom of information in Botswana. Yet, Botswana continued to enjoy that status of Africa's exemplar of democracy. Good governance indicators consistently gave media in Botswana cursory attention, thereby reinforcing state authoritarianism in Botswana. With a media dominated by state power, Botswana still emerged as exemplary. This complicated the quest for the ideal communication environment towards democratization in the Third World, particularly in a globalizing context. In situations such as that of Botswana, where the institutions that should protect the media from government control are either absent or weak, universal ideals on media freedom are often not enough. Media practitioners are more likely to find support in the local discourses, repertoires and cultures that call upon all, regardless of status, to tolerate opposition. A local tradition of the kgotla in particular, often heralded as Botswana's indigenous form of democracy, is placed in this chapter, at the heart of much of the freedom, limited as it may be, that BTV enjoyed.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

The use of molecular markers to identify quantitative trait loci ( QTL ) affecting economically important traits has become a key approach in animal genetics, both for understanding the genetic basis of these traits and to help design novel breeding programs. The general goal of the present work was to map QTL for economically important traits in beef cattle. Because of the practical limitations of phenotypic selection for meat quality, these traits are ideal candidates for the use of marker - assisted selection. Thus, the thesis specifically focused on carcass and beef quality traits. Six half - sib families were generated by mating six Limousin x Jersey crossbred sires to purebred Jersey or Limousin cows, producing 784 backcross progeny ( 366 and 418 progeny in Australia and New Zealand, respectively ). The six crossbred sires and all the backcross progeny were genotyped for 285 microsatellite markers ( on average 189 informative loci per sire family ) spread across the 29 bovine autosomes. A large number of traits were recorded on backcross progeny. In the first phase of the research, a single - QTL model based on regression interval mapping was used to map QTL for a wide range of economically important traits in the beef industry. Chromosome - wise significant evidence for linkage was found on BTA12 ( P < 0.01 ) and BTA16 ( P < 0.05 ) for age at puberty. Thirteen QTL were found to affect calving ease related traits ( birth weight, pelvic area and gestation length ). BTA11, 14 and 22 were most significant linkage groups affecting calving ease traits. Several genomic regions were linked to the carcass and beef quality traits. The results revealed a major QTL on BTA2 close to the map position of myostatin gene, affecting yield, carcass fatness and beef quality traits. In the second phase, the pleiotropic effects of a myostatin functional SNP on beef traits were studied. There was no association between this myostatin variant and birth weight and growth traits. However, the variant decreased overall fatness, increased muscle mass and improved meat tenderness, thus providing an intermediate and more useful phenotype than the more severe double - muscling phenotype caused by a major deletion in the myostatin gene described by others. In the third phase, a multiple marker analysis approach in the framework of the mixed - effects model was developed, allowing all markers of the entire genome to be included in the analysis simultaneously. Further, exploiting a factor analytic covariance structure for modeling trait by marker or family by marker interaction terms, the approach was extended to the multi - trait and multiple family situations. The simulation study showed that modeling multiple phenotypes and multiple families in a single linkage analysis simultaneously can markedly increase the power to detect QTL, compared to modeling each phenotype or family separately. Finally, the multi - trait multiple QTL approach developed herein was applied to map QTL influencing carcass and meat quality traits. Several pleoitropic QTL and also traitspecific QTL affecting beef traits were mapped, resulting in a useful resource from which fine mapping can be launched for subsequent gene discovery and marker - assisted selection.
http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&Search_Arg=koshkoih+thesis+adelaide&Search_Code=GKEY%5E*&SL=None&CNT=50
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007.

In recent years the use of tourism as a development strategy by Third World governments has increased, resulting in the intersection of international tourism and local resource utilisation patterns. The aim of this thesis is to critically assess the impact of tourism in the utilisation and management of natural resources in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. More specifically, the study appraises the current state of tourism and natural resource utilisation and management in the Okavango Delta; assesses the past and present forms of resource utilisation practised by the local inhabitants scattered throughout the Delta area; focuses on the implementation of government policy regarding resource use; highlights past and present relationships between tourism and resource utilisation; and examines the impact of tourism on the areas resources, environment and local inhabitants. Research has shown that the Okavango Delta, which is Botswana's primary tourism area, is faced with a number of social, economic and environmental challenges. These include extreme levels of poverty, especially in the rural areas; lack of infrastructure; competition over land and resources; growing regional inequality; social degradation; increased imports leading to foreign exchange leakages; changes in subsistence strategies and increased 'rural-urban' .migration; and the loss of control of the region by the local population to the global tourism system. The Okavango Delta is in the process of undergoing a change from traditional, rural, subsistence economies and livelihoods to capitalist, commercial-driven economic structures. In the Okavango Delta, as in many places around the world, people are in the process of being integrated into national level political, social and economic institutions, both within and outside of their control. The creation of employment for the local population, the sustainable use of the Delta and its resources, the development of the local agricultural industry, the continued growth of the tourism industry, and striking a balance between the conservation/preservation of the Okavango and meeting the water requirement needs of Angola, Namibia, and Botswana's growing populations are amongst the key concerns present in the area. 11 Tourism in the Okavango Delta is directly dependent upon the utilisation of the region's natural resources of wildlife, water and natural vegetation areas for the industry. As such, tourism has increasingly impacted upon the way, and degree to which, these resources are managed and utilised, hence being identified as a key factor effecting the resource sector. If the Government of Botswana is to develop a tourism industry which fosters environmental and natural resource preservation, rather than maintaining a heavy dependence on limited and fragile resources, a better understanding of the relationship between the two sectors is necessary. Enhancing the positive linkages between tourism and natural resource utilisation in the Okavango Delta region represents an important means to stimulate increased natural resource and environmental protection, and improve the distribution of tourism benefits to rural communities. amongst the key concerns present in the area. Tourism in the Okavango Delta is directly dependent upon the utilisation of the region's natural resources of wildlife, water and natural vegetation areas for the industry. As such, tourism has increasingly impacted upon the way, and degree to which, these resources are managed and utilised, hence being identified as a key factor effecting the resource sector. If the Government of Botswana is to develop a tourism industry which fosters environmental and natural resource preservation, rather than maintaining a heavy dependence on limited and fragile resources, a better understanding of the relationship between the two sectors is necessary. Enhancing the positive linkages between tourism and natural resource utilisation in the Okavango Delta region represents an important means to stimulate increased natural resource and environmental protection, and improve the distribution of tourism benefits to rural communities.
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006

Establishment of protected areas continues to be recognized in many parts of the world as one of the most appropriate strategies of conserving biodiversity. As a result, their numbers have continued to increase globally with significant support coming from many national governments and international agencies. Some cases of earlier establishments of protected areas had negative effects on local communities especially where there was displacement and relocation of people, and loss of access to various natural resources important for livelihoods sustenance. In other cases however, protected areas brought positive effects to local communities such as creation of employment opportunities, contribution towards community development and giving the local people the opportunity to actively participate in natural resources management. All these effects have influenced livelihoods of many local communities in several ways. This study focuses on the effects of Mokolodi Nature Reserve on a neighbouring community from the angle of a community that traditionally did not have exclusive access and use of the land that is now the reserve, nor have a claim against it. Effects of the changes that have occurred on the livelihoods of the local people since the establishment of the reserve are looked at, as well as the attitudes and perceptions that people have towards the reserve. Relationships between the reserve management and the local people that have brought changes in the lives of the local people form a key component of this study. Further, ways in which the local people are involved in natural resource management in the area are explored, as well as the reserve‟s contribution towards enhancing better and sustainable livelihoods of the local people The study adopts a qualitative approach, with information being collected by use of structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. The majority of respondents were members of the local community. A few key informants were from outside the community but had associations with the area of study. Data was analyzed and presented in the form of descriptions, tables and graphs. Findings show that the reserve has brought changes, some of which have benefited the local community such as provision of job opportunities and creation of environmental awareness among the people. However, according to some respondents, especially the older, such benefits are minimal and only go to a few people. Such respondents hence consider the reserve to be of little or no benefit to the community. Attitudes and perceptions towards the reserve vary amongst respondents, with younger respondents appearing to have more positive attitudes and perceptions towards the reserve. Indications are that the relationship between the reserve management and the local community is not very well developed. The older respondents however appear to be keen on having good relationships with the reserve management established, as opposed to many of the younger respondents whose main concern is employment. Lack of community conservation initiatives in the area is considered a drawback towards increased people‟s participation in resource management in the area. Despite the varied opinions in terms of benefits and non-benefits, the reserve would still be considered to have played an important role in improving the livelihoods of the local people. Indications that some people have an interest in getting involved in various reserve-related activities, is a good opportunity for developing good relationships. This could also possibly change the negative attitudes and perception some people have towards the reserve. With continued interactions and learning of lessons from the past, there are opportunities for the reserve management and the local people to work together and hence find a balance between conservation priorities and local livelihoods. This would also work towards achieving one of the initial goals of the establishment of the reserve, of improving the standards of living of people in the local community.
Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020
The smallholder dairy sector in South Africa is characterized by a low input production system and poor animal productivity. Research has been carried out to benchmark cow productivity on smallholder dairy herds; however, there is a paucity of information on the current status of breeding practices and the genetic consititution of cattle used in this production system. This information is vital for the development of sound and sustainable breeding programs for SHD production, which can have an enormous positive impact on food security and rural livelihoods. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of genetic diversity and population structure in South African smallholder dairy (SHD) herds using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 192 animals from SHD dairy herds were genotyped using the GeneSeek® Genomic Profiler (GGP) 150K-BeadChip. Four specialized dairy breeds included the Ayrshire(n = 200), Holstein(n = 231), Jersey (n = 224) and Nguni (n = 209) were used as the reference populations. The mean MAF values ranged from 0.30 Ayshire (AYR), Jersey (JER), and Nguni (NGI) to 0.31 Holstein (HOL) and SHD between the populations. There were slight differences in the levels of genetic diversity ranged between 0.39 (JER and NGI) to 0.40 (AYR, HOL, and SHD). A moderate level of inbreeding (0.02) was observed in the SHD population, which results in high genetic diversity among this herds. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed four homogeneous clusters comprising of AYR, HOL, JER, NGI, and a heterogeneous cluster of the SHD. The heterogeneity observed in the SHD population indicates widespread crossbreeding. The model-based cluster analysis corresponded with the PCA and pointed out the predominance of HOL, JER, with marginal gene flow from the AYR and NGI. These results have provided a useful insight into the genetic structure and prevailing breeding practices on South African SHD herds.
National Research Foundation (NRF), Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and University of Limpopo (UL)

Agricultural economists have devoted considerable attention to the financial stress situation of agricultural producers. Many studies have been conducted in various regions of the U.S. in an attempt to better understand the causes of the problem. The costs associated with farm financial stress imply corresponding benefits to be realized by its reduction. Benefits of studying and resolving farm financial stress reach beyond the farms and ranches to many related sectors such as rural communities, agribusinesses, and lending institutions. The specific hypothesis tested in this thesis is as follows: some but not all farms and ranches which have undergone serious financial stress in the early part of the 1980's in Oregon can be assisted in withstanding fluctuations in economic conditions by adopting specific strategies which promote financial stability and profitability. One of the specific objectives of this thesis was to evaluate the level of financial stress for two different agricultural production units in Oregon under differing leverage positions, and macroeconomic conditions. The production units selected for study were a cattle ranch and a wheat farm, based on their relative importance to Oregon. This first objective was satisfied through analysis of a baseline scenario, which was essentially a continuation of current conditions. Debt levels and growth rates were then altered to reflect the desired study conditions. Changing and considering three leverage ratios (20%, 40%, and 70%) and three sets of macroeconomic conditions (baseline, pessimistic, and optimistic) allowed studying of nine alternative situations to the base firm type or a total of 18 alternatives. Analysis of these different alternative production units was accomplished through a deterministic computer-based simulation model. The model simulates the financial structure and performance of a farm business over a transition period of four years with emphasis placed on the financial transactions of the firm. These transactions include purchases and sales of farm assets, financing terms, debt management, cash flows, tax obligations, consumption levels, and growth rates. The computer-based model made necessary calculations of cash flows and changes in financial statements to derive the ratios used for financial analysis over the planning horizon of four years beyond the present input case and is deterministic in the sense that all essential variables are entered by the researcher. Output from this model includes a set of coordinated financial statements for the firm over the planning horizon: a balance sheet, an income statement, statements for changes in net worth, flow of funds statement, and a fund availability report. The model also calculates profitability, liquidity, and solvency ratios used in financial ratio analysis which are provided on a summary sheet. These statements and reports are provided on an annual basis; thus, financial information is provided on yearly changes in financial position over the four year horizon. Another objective of this thesis was to evaluate various policy and management strategies designed to reduce financial stress. This objective was achieved by analysis of various scenarios designed to reduce stress simultaneously with the baseline case, which served for comparison. The specific scenarios considered were: 35% reduction of debt, 35% reduction of interest rates, two year deferral of debt, sales of 35% of total assets with no lease back, sales of 35% of total assets with lease back arrangements, and an infusion of equity capital equal to 35% of total debt. Results from this analysis were intended to show what, if any, courses of action could be pursued by agricultural firm managers and policy makers to reduce farm financial stress. The best test of the ability of these scenarios to reduce financial stress occurred in application to the high leverage wheat farm situations, as these were the cases with the most financial stress. Appropriate programs could be adopted to strengthen the financial position of the farm; in the case of low liquidity, asset sales-lease back; in cases of low solvency, equity infusions; and in circumstances where profitability needs to be enhanced, interest reductions would be the best choice. The results also seemed to suggested that public programs can maintain current levels of financial performance for producers under financial stress but do little to improve those positions.
Graduation date: 1988

The economic necessity of a better production strategy on sourveld promoted this study. Production of marketable two-tooth steers in the summer season and overwintering of all cattle without excessive feed costs were motivating factors. The problems of economic beef production were identified as resulting from the seasonal flow of forage quality from sourveld grass production. Season long rests, early burning and non-selective grazing of nutritious grass were identified as essential elements of a new utilization strategy. A 'forage reserve', built into the system to cater for fluctuations in grass production due to varied climatic conditions, is used as an indicator of the seasonal stocking rate. This provides a barometer in relation to the economic and ecological carrying capacity of the property. Research was conducted on the winter utilization of rested veld and its effects on grass species composition and vigour in the following season. It was found that the winter grazing of the rested veld did not affect (P>0.05) the subsequent production in the three seasons of this study on 'Stratherne' in the Dundee district, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa (30°17'E 28°17'S). The grass species composition of four transects was recorded in 1994, prior to the implementation of the grazing system under test. The same transects were recorded again in 2002 to determine the effect of the change in utilization on grass species composition. It was found that a more productive state was developing in response to the strategy implemented in this study. The general trend has been for sites to move from a Hyparrhenia hirta dominated state to a more productive one associated with species such as Themeda triandra. Summer mass gains of steers (147 kg and 143 kg over the two summers) have improved over the previous systems applied (average 119 kg), as a result of the more nutritious grazing. A greater proportion reached market readiness as two-year old to two and half year olds (97%) on veld, which is far superior to the 38% quoted from research using similar Bonsmara type steers from 'conventional' systems. Monitoring and flexibility are important in the application of the strategy to conditions in Africa. The principles of adaptive management (monitoring, recording, constant learning and adaptation) will build a data base to ensure long-term success of the strategy. A change of focus in grazing strategy from needs of animals to the needs of plants is strongly advocated.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

This dissertation was carried out to try to understand the role of social capital in the migration of Zimbabwean migrants to Botswana. It describes elements and types of social capital Zimbabwean undocumented migrants used to come to Botswana. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to obtain data from respondents. Though the influence of macro factors initially pushed migrants to migrate, there was evidence of the existence of social networks. Findings showed the use of social networks by Zimbabwean undocumented migrants. Though kinship networks were dominant in the initial migration stages there was a wane in the destination as migrants reverted to friendship networks for flexibility. Linking existed at both the place of origin and destination. Social control, channelling and negative social capital were discovered among migrants. Migrants developed mechanisms to counter the Botswana’s enforcement policy.
Sociology

In KwaZulu-Natal the production of beef in summer from veld is a common enterprise. Many techniques are available to optimise the productivity of this enterprise, from improving the quality of the grazing resource (planted pastures) to improving the diet of animals using nutritional supplements. To gain an insight into the production potential and financial returns possible from such improvements a trial was established at the Ukulinga Research Farm during two consecutive summer growing seasons (1997-1998 and 1998-1999). The aim was to determine the optimum beef production system for the area from both veld and kikuyu pastures. To evaluate the benefits of supplying supplementary nutrition, four alternate feed supplements, namely: 1) a Standard commercially available molasses-based protein/mineral/energy supplement; 2) a Brewers grain based protein/mineral/energy supplement, and two supplements consisting of the Brewers grain ration with either; 3) Avoparcin (an additive that improves dietary energy) or 4) Bentonite (an additive that increases the bypass of protein) were compared. As stocking rate has been shown to influence the quality of the diet consumed, the kikuyu pasture was grazed at both the recommended (1.92 LSD ha¯¹) and half the recommended stocking rate for the region. In addition, a commercial hormonal implant was applied to half of the cattle in each treatment. Grazing was monitored using the falling plate disc meter to measure pasture bulk density and laboratory analyses of herbage grab samples for digestibility and crude protein percentage. Cattle were weighed on a weekly basis and their condition was scored prior to slaughter. All enterprise costs and returns were recorded to facilitate financial analyses of the five treatments. Low rainfall and high midsummer temperatures had a detrimental effect on the productivity of the grazing and hence it was difficult to optimise production in either season. In the first season, a midsummer drought decreased the quality and quantity of both veld and kikuyu, limiting mass gain during the latter part of the season. A delay in the onset of rain at the start of the second season limited the available grazing season to 121 days as opposed to 154 days, though fodder production during the season was not limited. Trends in herbage production (quality and quantity) from veld showed moderate quality (Crude protein 7.02%; digestibility 50.2%) with an average available herbage of 1670 kg DM ha¯¹. As anticipated, kikuyu had higher quality (Crude protein 10.84%; digestibility 53.5%) and available herbage (2730 kg DM ha¯¹). These results were similar to regional benchmarks. The variable rainfall highlighted both the drought tolerance of veld and the minimum water requirements of kikuyu pastures. Lighter stocking rates tended to reduce the negative impact of moisture stress on Kikuyu pastures. The best method of producing beef (averaged over two seasons) was from heavily stocked Kikuyu pastures using the Standard supplement (1107.63 kg livemass ha¯¹). Cattle grazing veld and utilising the Avoparcin supplement produced beef at a rate of 95.96 kg ha¯¹. In comparison, the unsupplemented cattle grazing Kikuyu produced 834.87 kg ha¯¹, whilst veld grazing produced 64.43 kg ha¯¹. Hormonal implants significantly (P≤0.05) improved beef production from all sources of grazing. A lack of rain limited grazing time, causing all the cattle to be marketed whilst too lean - this negatively affected live mass gain and, hence, net financial. Although improved biological production is desirable, it is important to ensure that these gains are financially sustainable. Within the trial environment, implanted cattle fed the Standard supplement and grazing Kikuyu pastures at a high stocking rate provided the highest average gross margin of R 859.59 ha¯¹. Changing to this production system from unsupplemented veld improved expected profit by R 632.58 ha¯¹ (averaged over both seasons). Further financial analyses indicated that beef purchase price had the greatest influence on the added profit from switching from the control treatment. From a scientific standpoint these data are conclusive but it is important to remember that consumer pressure and concerns can often limit the introduction of production improvements. Such is the case with both hormonal implants and antibiotic feed additives (Avoparcin) although considering the impact of such limitations is speculative and beyond the scope of this trial.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The study focuses on an evaluation of the anti-corruption initiatives in Botswana and their relation to Botswana’s development. An evaluation was needed to find out whether the anti-corruption initiatives were effective and whether there were a correlation between the effectiveness of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) and the level of development in Botswana. This study showed that, the DCEC has succeeded to low corruption in Botswana through its most successful public education mandate and debatable good governance. The DCEC has helped to enhance service delivery in the public sector through the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Units (ACUs) within the Ministries aimed at tackling corruption in-house. Consequently, a significant slight improvement was registered in both public health and education sectors. However, that improvement was still minimal to the extent that it has been hampered by the challenging working conditions of the DCEC attributable to the inadequacy of legislation, lack of manpower, shortage of required skills and slow criminal justice system as well as the debatable independence of the DCEC, evidenced by its reporting and appointing lines. This implies that the impact of the DCEC in the development of Botswana has been minimal, as the country is still devastated by socio-economic disparities especially in rural areas.
Development Studies
M.A. (Development Studies)

Dairy farming is one of the most important agricultural industries in South Africa, and thus improving the performance of dairy cows, with respect to economically important dairy traits, would be beneficial. Selection of dairy cows has traditionally been phenotypic, but new molecular techniques have made it possible to evaluate phenotypic dairy traits at the DNA level, providing the possibility of more accurate selection. The economically important dairy traits, milk production and reproductive performance, are quantitative traits, and are therefore controlled by many genes and the environment. A number of genes have been identified that have been shown to influence economically important dairy traits, including the lep gene. This gene encodes the hormone leptin, which has been proven to regulate feed intake, energy balance, fertility and immune function. A polymorphism has been identified in the lep gene, which may be associated with economically important dairy traits. This study on a South African Jersey herd investigated the possible association of the polymorphism, RFLP-Kpn 21, with milk production and reproductive performance. The lactation records of fifty Jersey cows that completed their first lactation between 1997 and 2004 were collected, and these cows were genotyped for the RFLP-Kpn 21 polymorphism, located at exon 2 of the lep gene. This involved the extraction of DNA from venous blood, using a salting out technique. The extracted DNA was amplified using PCR primers; the reverse primer included a purposeful mismatch. The role of the purposeful mismatch was to create a recognition site for a restriction enzyme (Kpn 21), thus allowing the alleles of the polymorphism to be identified through a restriction digestion protocol. Two alleles were identified, the C- and the Tallele. The genotype of each cow was identified using PAGE. The significance of the genotype effects on the milk production traits and the reproductive performance traits were estimated using the F-statistic provided by a GLM Univariate analysis. In conclusion, no significant effect of the RFLP-Kpn 21 polymorphism was found for milk yield, butterfat and protein percentage, ICP and SPC (p > 0.05), but a possible association with lactose percentage was suggested by the statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Further investigation of South African Jersey cows will be necessary in order for conclusive results to be obtained.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Feedlot finishing of beef cattle in Southern Alberta involves income risk due to the variability of prices of feeders, feed and finished cattle. Several strategies are available to reduce this risk, including hedging of cattle on feed, participation in a Federal- Provincial government and producer established income stabilization program for finished cattle (National Tripartite Stabilization Plan) and diversification of production plans. This study evaluated the efficacy and interaction effects of these strategies in reducing net income variability in cattle feeding in Southern Alberta. Concerns that were addressed included: (1) whether participation in hedging or Stabilization would increase firm-level slaughter cattle output, (2) whether portfolio effects exist between production and marketing alternatives, (3) whether participation in Stabilization would reduce participation in hedging (4) whether hedging performance could be increased by hedging the Canadian dollar, and (5) whether privately supplied hedging versus publicly supplied Stabilization is better able to handle income risk in cattle feeding. The theory of decision making under uncertainty was reviewed to determine how to best incorporate the risk aspects of the feedlot , management problem. Expected Value-Variance (EV)and safety-first risk analyses were identified as frameworks for formulation of the feedlot management problem in a mathematical programming context. Using data from 1976-87, linear risk programming (MOTAD and Target MOTAD) models of the feedlot process were constructed to analyze the alternatives for reducing income risk. Results for the 1986-87 feeding year suggested that, at moderate levels of risk aversion, feedlot managers should maintain high levels of hedging of both live cattle and the Canadian dollar with moderate participation (25 percent of cattle on feed) in the Stabilization plan. Significant portfolio effects were present. Hedging, but not Stabilization, was found to increase firm-level output by increasing the average weight to which a group of cattle would be finished. Participation in Stabilization was found to reduce hedging participation by an average of 10 percent. Hedging of the Canadian dollar improved the performance of live cattle hedging. Whether hedging was better at reducing risk and maintaining income than Stabilization depended on the definition of risk.
Graduation date: 1989

Backgrounding cattle is risky. Large amounts of short-term capital are required to buy feeders and feedstuffs, and a ten month cost-revenue gap makes financial planning difficult. In addition, finished cattle prices are volatile and, frankly, unknown at the time the management places its feeders. Income risk and financial risk must be addressed by the management. Several strategies are available to reduce return risk, including anticipatory hedging with cattle futures contracts, placing custom feeders, placing feeders at different months and investing off-farm. This study developed a shot-term decision making model for a backgrounding operation that addresses the interaction between feeder ownership options, the feeder placement month, cash flow requirements, hedging alternatives, off-farm investments, the line of credit and the management's degree of risk-aversity. The following backgrounding issues were examined: (1) whether participation in a classical hedging program with Feeder and Live Cattle contracts would result in lower farm return variability and would increase owned feeder placements, (2) whether managements would be deterred from using hedging strategies if a gradually increasing downward BIAS was introduced, (3) whether managements would be deterred from using hedging strategies if margin calls had to be deposited during the hedging period and (4) to what extent cash flow constraints would affect the management's decision set. The literature of decision making under uncertainty was reviewed to determine the approach which would best accommodate the backgrounding management's risk concerns. The Expected Value-Variance analysis was identified to formulate these management concerns in a mathematical programming context. A quadratic programming model was chosen to derive the expected return and return standard deviation frontiers (risk-efficient frontiers). The participation in an anticipatory hedging program provided a compelling risk management tool for reducing the backgrounding operation's return variability. Compared to the no-hedging case, the standard deviation of returns was almost cut by half for the hedging case. The introduction of a downward BIAS reduced hedging ratios drastically, whereas margin calls hardly effected the use of hedging. Custom feeders proved themselves essential in closing the typical cost-revenue gap in backgrounding and, despite offering the lowest returns, enabled the backgrounder to engage in more risky activities.

Text in English
Cow size influences biological efficiency of individual animals, which influences herd composition and stock flow. This in turn influences the economic efficiency of the herd. This research followed the thread from animal size, to biological efficiency, to economic efficiency for beef cattle production under a typical production system in semi-arid South Africa. Cattle were grouped into three groups namely small, medium and large cattle, with mature weights of 300kg, 450kg and 600kg respectively. The net energy requirements of individual cattle were calculated for maintenance, growth, lactation and foetal production, for each of the three sizes. Growth rates, milk yield, reproduction rates, and management practices were assumed from existing research. Next the stock flow for a herd of small, medium and large cattle were calculated from the above. Income and expenses as commonly used in the research area were calculated from the stock flow. Gross profit above allocated costs were subsequently calculated for the three herds under the above-mentioned conditions. When assuming similar reproduction and growth rates for small, medium and large mature cattle, the following results were obtained: more heads of small cattle could be held on a set resource base, but the total live weight of a herd of large cattle that could be held on the same resource base was greater. This was mostly due to proportionately lower maintenance energy requirements in the herd of large cattle. In the simulation in this study, maintenance energy requirements for the herd of large cattle was 71.2%, compared to 72.0% for the herd of medium cattle and 73.1% for the herd of small cattle. Income from the herd of small cattle was the lowest, as less kilograms of beef were available to sell. Allocated costs for the herd of small cattle were the highest, due to a large number of expenses being charged per head of cattle. As a result, the herd of large cattle were more economically efficient than their smaller counterparts. Income above allocated costs for the herds of large, medium and small cattle were R1,182,865, R1,085,116 and R946,012 respectively. Larger cattle generally have a lower reproduction rate under similar conditions. No equation exists that directly links size to reproduction rates, especially considering the vast number of variables that influences reproduction rates. However, in the form of scenarios, it could be calculated that, given a reproduction rate of 80% for mature small cattle, when reproduction rates of large cattle were 24.7% lower than that of small cattle and the reproduction rates of medium cattle were 15.4% lower than that of small cattle, the large and medium herds became less profitable than the small herd. Smaller cattle mature faster than larger cattle which provides the opportunity for early breeding. When small cattle were bred early, at 15 months, at a calving rate of only 44.5% it was more profitable than when the same cows were bred at 24 months. When medium cattle were bred at 15 months, a calving rate of 37.0% was needed to be more profitable than when they were bred at 24 months. Even when the herd of small cattle were bred at 15 months with a reproduction rate of 100%, it could still not match the profitability of the herd of large cattle bred at 24 months given the reproduction rates of all other classes of animals were similar. When the herd of medium cattle were bred at 15 months, at a calving rate of 53.7%, it matched the profit of the herd of large cattle that were bred at 24 months, when the reproduction rates of other classes were equal. Scenarios were considered were feed intake was limited. When feed was limited to a specific amount, smaller cattle were more biologically efficient and cattle with potential for small mature sizes would grow to a larger size than cattle with potential for medium and large mature sizes. When feed was limited by a factor of the calculated energy requirements of small, medium and large cattle, large cattle were more effective. This is because large cattle use proportionately less energy for maintenance, which allows more energy to be allocated to growth, lactation and foetal production. When energy was limited to an amount per unit of metabolic weight, small cattle were more efficient than medium and larger cattle in the growth and production phases. Small, medium and large cattle were equally efficient (or inefficient) in the maintenance and lactation phases. Energy requirements of cattle in South Africa are commonly calculated using the Large Stock Unit (LSU). The LSU typically overestimates energy requirements for cattle, except in the lactation phase. When using the LSU to match small, medium or large cattle to a resource base, the LSU overestimates energy requirements of large cattle proportionately more than that of small and medium cattle. This is excluding the lactation phase, where energy requirements for all three sizes are underestimated and that of large cattle underestimated proportionately more. There are more considerations when matching cow size to managerial practices. A smaller body size is a natural adaptation to a semi-arid environment and this adaptation can be expressed in different ways. The number of animals on a resource base has implications on management practices. Having more heads of cattle on a resource base increases genetic variation of the herd, allowing for genetic progress to be made faster than in herd of fewer cattle.
Agriculture and  Animal Health
M.Sc. (Agriculture)

This dissertation investigates the hypotheses that high transaction costs contribute to relatively low participation rates in livestock leasing in South Africa; and that specific contractual characteristics contribute to minimising total transaction costs of livestock leasing contracts in South African commercial agriculture. Many emerging livestock farming businesses may value the option of leasing-in livestock. Likewise, many established livestock farming businesses are currently undergoing expansion (especially dairy farms) and may also value the option of leasing-in livestock. A reduction in transaction costs and an improvement in efficiency of the livestock lease market could prove beneficial for emerging/expanding livestock farms. Likewise, investors, who anticipate competitive rates of return from investments in livestock, may value the option of owning and leasing-out livestock to suitable farm businesses. Transaction costs in livestock rental contracts include costs of information about contracts, costs of monitoring and enforcing contracts, costs of finding party members to contract with, the costs of risk of an agreement being terminated due to exogenous factors such as land claims, the risk of incomplete contracts and the costs of risk bought about by adverse selection and moral hazard. The magnitude of transaction costs incurred by participants of a livestock leasing contract are a function of how costs and risks are shared between the lessee and lessor, the inclusion of specific contractual clauses, the type of leasing contract, the relationship between party members and additional contractual characteristics. A census postal survey of two populations of livestock farmers, namely members of the Jersey Breeders' Societies of South Africa, was conducted during April and May 2007 to collect data on farmers' perceptions of and their participation in livestock rental contracting agreements. Elicited data was analysed using a multinomial discriminant analysis to identify factors that discriminate between non-participants of the livestock leasing market, lessees of livestock and lessors of livestock. Ordinary least squares regression was used to identify preferred characteristics of livestock lease contracts. Results of the first analysis suggest that a livestock leasing market does exist in South Africa; however, the market is characterised by high transaction costs. Non-participation in livestock leasing markets amongst survey respondents is partially attributable to the high perceived costs of obtaining market information and establishing and enforcing livestock lease agreements. Findings of the second analysis show that survey respondents, on average, showed a preference for formal agreements, leasing commercial animals for shorter periods and keeping detailed inventories. It is concluded that providing livestock farmers with information about important characteristics of successful livestock lease agreements may reduce transaction costs, and thus reduce market inefficiency in the market.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

This dissertation looks at the impact of East Coast Fever on African homestead society in Natal in the period 1901-1910. The disease broke out in Natal at the beginning of 1904. With the realization that East Coast Fever was another lethal epizootic, the Natal Colonial Government introduced measures to control the spread of the disease and finally eradicate it. The campaign was, however, not successful. The disease thus spread throughout the colony and led to the loss of many cattle owned by Africans. By 1909 not more than four divisions in the colony remained free of the disease. The death of many cattle deprived Africans of the means of extensive cultivation, the source of income for the payment of rents and taxes, and Ilobolo. Many African males were forced to leave their homesteads for the towns and the mining sector in search of work. This eventually changed the nature of the homestead society.
History
M.A. (History)