Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Graziani'

This thesis investigates the epic genre between Tasso's "Gerusalemme liberata" (1581) and Graziani's "Il conquisto di Granata" (1650). During this period, the epic genre developes thanks to some factors: firstly, the proclamation of two classics (Tasso's and Marino's poems), which means that these masterpieces were analyzed by theorists and redrafted by writers; secondly, the addition of new thematic and stylistic innovations that changed the way of wrinting. In this thesis I consider the majority of poems and theoretical books written between Tasso and Graziani searching for the reason of the Baroque's turning point.
Partendo dal 1581, data di edizione delle prime versioni integrali della "Gerusalemme liberata", questa tesi prende in considerazione gli sviluppi del genere epico, in un percorso che ne ricerca le motivazioni da un lato nella canonizzazione di alcuni determinanti autori (Tasso, Marino, letti in un processo che, prima di accettare, mette in discussione i loro testi), dall'altro nel crearsi di alcune specifiche tipologie testuali indipendenti dalla ricezione di questi grandi modelli. La storia del genere epico viene dunque letta per i 70 anni successivi al poema tassiano come un capitolo intimamente coeso della storia letteraria, che si può spiegare leggendo poemi e opere teoriche senza dover ricorrere alle generalizzazioni utilizzate di norma per il tardo Cinquecento e il Seicento, volte a metterne in luce la sporadicità e casualità. Al contrario, l'epica rimane il genere principe tra i generi letterari e mostra delle linee di sviluppo estremamente razionali sotto il profilo dei temi e della forma, che trovano un ricettore formidabile in Graziani. Con Graziani si chiude la seconda grande parentesi dell'epica moderna, dopo quella che va da Ariosto a Tasso: il "Conquisto di Granata" è, infatti, il poema che meglio di tutti si presta a spiegare i meccanismi evolutivi di un genere che si sposta progressivamente verso la storia contemporanea e assume all'interno del proprio codice la lezione di Marino. Su queste due direttrici ho svolto la mia indagine.

Il presente lavoro di tesi s’inserisce all’interno del progetto Language Toolkit, nato dalla collaborazione tra la Camera di Commercio di Forlì-Cesena e la Scuola di Lingue e Letterature, Traduzione e Interpretazione di Forlì, al fine di avvicinare il mondo dell’università al mondo del lavoro. In particolare, la tesi è frutto della collaborazione tra la laureanda e la Graziani Packaging, azienda italiana leader nel settore del packaging ortofrutticolo e industriale, e consiste nella revisione di una brochure, nella localizzazione del sito web www.graziani.com e nella traduzione di una presentazione PowerPoint, il tutto dall’italiano al tedesco. Il lavoro si compone di tre capitoli. Nel primo, che rappresenta un approfondimento teorico sul tema della localizzazione, si analizza nel dettaglio l’acronimo GILT, si espongono brevemente le tappe principali che hanno caratterizzato la nascita e lo sviluppo del settore della localizzazione e si esaminano le caratteristiche linguistiche, culturali e tecniche della localizzazione di siti web. Il secondo capitolo è dedicato al concetto di qualità in ambito traduttivo e al tema della revisione. In particolare, nella prima parte si analizzano gli standard di qualità professionali, i criteri di qualità proposti da Scarpa (2008) e la classificazione degli errori di traduzione sviluppata da Mossop (2001), mentre l’ultima parte riguarda il processo di revisione in concreto. Nel terzo capitolo, infine, vengono analizzati i tre testi di partenza forniti dall’azienda al traduttore (brochure, sito web e presentazione PowerPoint), e viene esposto e commentato il lavoro di revisione, localizzazione e traduzione degli stessi, ponendo una particolare enfasi sugli aspetti linguistici, culturali e tecnici più interessanti che lo hanno caratterizzato. La tesi si chiude con un glossario terminologico contenente i termini chiave, in italiano e in tedesco, relativi al dominio del packaging ortofrutticolo e industriale, individuati nel corso del lavoro di revisione, localizzazione e traduzione.

La ultrasonografía de alta resolución ha demostrado ser un método útil en la evaluación del escroto y su contenido. La microlitiasis testicular(MT) es un hallazgo ultrasonográfico caracterizado por la presencia de 5 ò mas pequeñas imágenes hiperecogénicas sin sombra acústica posterior, localizadas en el parénquima testicular, vistas en por lo menos un campo de ultrasonido. Histológicamente la MT representa depósitos de calcio en la luz de los túbulos seminíferos, y recientemente Holmetal, han propuesto la hipótesis de que la MT sea consecuencia de un desarrollo testicular dañado seguido por degeneración y subsecuente calcificación de tejido inmaduro. La literatura extranjera refiere que esta entidad, en la población general, se presenta con una frecuencia que oscila entre 0.6% a 2%.
Tesis de segunda especialidad

El Objetivo del estudio fue determinar el nivel de riesgo ocupacional en las profesionales de enfermería que laboran en sala de operaciones. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas. Material y Método. El estudio fue de nivel aplicativo, tipo cuantitativo, método descriptivo, de corte transversal. La población fue de 24 enfermeras. La técnica fue la encuesta y el instrumento un formulario tipo escala de Likert modificada aplicada previo consentimiento informado. Resultados. Del 100% (24), 72.7% (17) tienen riesgo medio o mediano riesgo ocupacional y 36.3% (7) alto de riesgo ocupacional. En cuanto al riesgo biológico, 95.8 % (23) es medio y 4.2% (1) alto riesgo; en el riesgo ergonómico 95.8 % (23) alto riesgo y 4.2% (1) riesgo medio; a nivel de riesgo psicosocial 70.8% (17) riesgo medio, 16.7% (4) bajo riesgo y 13.5% (3) alto. Conclusiones. El nivel de riesgo ocupacional en los profesionales de enfermería que laboran en sala de operaciones, es riesgo medio referido a que frecuentemente manipulan fluidos corporales como orina, sangre, manipulan excesiva carga física en un solo intento, y no se siente reconocidos por la institución, seguido por un porcentaje menor considerable de enfermeros que expresan riesgo alto ya que no utiliza protección personal al manipular sustancias, se mantiene de pie por más de 2 horas durante el turno y frecuentemente realizan movimientos de prensión.

El Objetivo del estudio fue determinar el nivel de riesgo ocupacional en las profesionales de enfermería que laboran en sala de operaciones. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas. Material y Método. El estudio fue de nivel aplicativo, tipo cuantitativo, método descriptivo, de corte transversal. La población fue de 24 enfermeras. La técnica fue la encuesta y el instrumento un formulario tipo escala de Likert modificada aplicada previo consentimiento informado. Resultados. Del 100% (24), 72.7% (17) tienen riesgo medio o mediano riesgo ocupacional y 36.3% (7) alto de riesgo ocupacional. En cuanto al riesgo biológico, 95.8 % (23) es medio y 4.2% (1) alto riesgo; en el riesgo ergonómico 95.8 % (23) alto riesgo y 4.2% (1) riesgo medio; a nivel de riesgo psicosocial 70.8% (17) riesgo medio, 16.7% (4) bajo riesgo y 13.5% (3) alto. Conclusiones. El nivel de riesgo ocupacional en los profesionales de enfermería que laboran en sala de operaciones, es riesgo medio referido a que frecuentemente manipulan fluidos corporales como orina, sangre, manipulan excesiva carga física en un solo intento, y no se siente reconocidos por la institución, seguido por un porcentaje menor considerable de enfermeros que expresan riesgo alto ya que no utiliza protección personal al manipular sustancias, se mantiene de pie por más de 2 horas durante el turno y frecuentemente realizan movimientos de prensión.
Trabajo académico

El Sistema de Salud tiene como objetivo estratégico que todas las personas, especialmente las más desprotegidas, logren un bienestar integral que les permita tomar parte plenamente de la vida productiva de la nación. El desafío es amplio y compete a todos lograrlo porque se trata de respetar y promover la dignidad de los seres humanos e impulsar la adecuada gestión del bien común. La salud, es el valor más preciado del ser humano, y por ende, de la sociedad. Avanzar hacia la equidad, significa acercarnos al cumplimiento de principios humanísticos universales y al mandato constitucional que pugna por una justicia social, donde todo ser humano tiene derecho a la protección de su salud. En este contexto, el tiempo prolongado de espera es un problema relevante en las instituciones prestadoras de salud del MINSA, institutos armados y en los privados; este indicador se ha convertido en el termómetro de calidad de los servicios que se brindan. Los expertos opinan que el personaje principal del proceso de atenci6n es el usuario, a quien se debe atender con calidad, oportunidad y eficiencia para satisfacer sus expectativas, las del prestador de servicios y las de la propia institución; con el fenómeno de la globalización, este criterio ha cobrado mayor importancia.
Tesis

L'aventure italienne en Ethiopie s'accompagne d'un climat d'euphorie collective, la propagande fasciste présente l'Ethiopie aux émigrants italiens comme un eldorado. Cette aventure administrative débute avec la loi qui crée l'unité géographique de l'Afrique orientale italienne. Cette aventure est paralysée par la rivalité qui s'installe entre Graziani (vice-roi d'Ethiopie) et Lessona (ministre de l' Afrique italienne). Elle souffre en outre de la carence en personnel indigène. Graziani est un aventurier petit bourgeois qui entreprend une politique de terreur. Le racisme devient une nouvelle composante de la politique coloniale. Délibérément hostiles aux Amhara les fascistes promulguent des décrets racistes en interdisant le "madamisme" (concubinage avec une Ethiopienne). Ces lois furent continuellement transgressées par les Italiens. Le profil social de cette colonie est composé en majorité d'ouvriers et de petits bourgeois. L'expérience coloniale italienne tourne à une mésaventure dans tous les domaines (économique, social) du fait de la guérilla éthiopienne. Cette résistance de masse prend son essor en février dix neuf cent trente sept dans le coeur régional des amhara (Godjam, Bagemder, Choa). Les peuples d'Ethiopie ont inégalement participé au mouvement de résistance et la révolte est en étroite liaison avec le nationalisme amhara
The fascist adventure in Ethiopia started in an atmosphere of collective euphoria inasmuch as the fascist propaganda displayed this country to the Italians settlers as a genuine Eldorado. This legal and administrative adventure started with a law that gave the Italian eastern Africa a geographical unity. The administrative adventure was soon paralysed by the opposition between Graziani (vice-roy of Ethiopia) and Lessona (secretary for African affairs) who became to be rivals. Simultaneously the absence of any native in the administration paralysed this adventure. Graziani proved to be a lower middleclass adventurer who installed a policy of terror. Racism then became a new item of the fascist colonial policy. Definitely hostile to the Amhara, the Italians issued racial decrees against "madamism" (i-e concubinage). This law kept on being infringed by the Italians. The social profile of this colony was widely made of workers (for the road sector) and lower middle-class people. The Italian colonisation became an impossible experience due to the Ethiopian guerilla warfare. This massive opposition increased in February nineteen thirty seven in the regional core of the Aamhara (Godjam, Choa,Bagemder)

Dans ce travail, nous allons traiter de l’économie monétaire. Plus précisément, en utilisant largement l’histoire de la pensée économique, nous tenterons d’abord, d’une part, de reconstruire le chemin qui a conduit à l’émergence du New Consensus Model et, d’autre part, d’examiner ses faiblesses et ses limites d’un point de vue méthodologique. En outre, toujours à partir de l’histoire de la pensée économique, nous essaierons ensuite, d’une part, de reconstruire la pensée monétaire de Kaldor et Graziani et, d’autre part, d’examiner, toujours du point de vue méthodologique, les querelles entre horizontalistes et structuralistes. Une interprétation personnelle de la pensée de Kaldor et de Graziani sera fournie à la fin des chapitres qui leur sont consacrés. Enfin, quelques conclusions préliminaires seront tirées et quelques orientations possibles pour les recherches futures seront indiquées
In this work, we shall be dealing with monetary economics. More precisely, through the extensive use of the history of economic thought, we shall at first try, on the one hand, to reconstruct the path that led to the emergence of the so-called New Consensus Model and, on the other, to examine its weaknesses and limitations from a methodological point of view. Furthermore, again using the history of economic thought, we shall secondarily try, on the one hand, to reconstruct the monetary thought of Kaldor and Graziani and, on the other, to examine, again from the methodological point of view, the querelles between horizontalists and structuralists. A personal interpretation of both Kaldor and Graziani’s thought will be provided at the end of the chapters dedicated to them. Finally, some preliminary conclusions will be drawn and some possible directions for future researches will be pointed out

The most dominant form of wildlife film for broadcast currently upholds a dangerous separation between culture and nature with production practices, editing and film subtext. If wildlife films are to change and incorporate science, they must also relate that science to other discourses to present the subject's greater reality. Wildlife films have a duty to represent their subject fairly, and in that fairness propose a preservation ethic that will serve for many as a stepping-stone to environmental salvation. A look into ecofeminist discourse provides a new methodology for producing wildlife films.

Beef cattle follow a daily, cyclical pattern of grazing, rumination, and digestion that coincides with their environment and season. Traditionally backgrounding operations hand feed any supplement in the morning. However, this practice may interrupt typical grazing patterns during early morning and subsequent rumination during the heat of the day. Self-fed concentrate feeds containing intake limiters are used to minimize the labor associated with hand feeding and allow cattle to eat throughout the day. The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effect of supplement feeding time on performance and grazing behavior of backgrounded beef steers. Crossbred beef steers (n = 54; 7 ± 1 m of age; body weight, BW = 243 ± 2 kg) were sourced from a regional cattleman's association and grazed on tall fescue pasture (Festuca arundinacea) at the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Glade Spring, VA from October 1 to November 7, 2019. Cattle were stratified by BW and source and allotted to 9 pasture groups (6 steers per pasture) in a randomized design. Pasture groups were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (3 pastures per treatment): 1) steers hand-fed supplement at 0930 h (AM), 2) steers hand-fed supplement at 1330 h (PM), or 3) steers fed a self-feeder supplement with an intake limiter (SELF). Hand-fed groups were fed a commercial commodity blend (38% corn gluten feed pellets, 30% cracked corn, 22% soy hull pellets, and 10% dried distillers grains) daily at 1.5% BW on an as fed basis. The SELF supplement was a blend of 70% cracked corn and 30% of an intake limiter-containing pellet that was formulated to maintain voluntary supplement intake at 1.5% BW on an as fed basis. Cattle were weighed on 2 consecutive days at the start and end of the experiment, and feed adjustments were made following three interim weigh-ins. Motion-sensing cameras were used to monitor cattle visits to the feeder and waterer portions of the pasture. Treatment did not impact (P = 0.13) BW, flesh condition score (FCS), dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and backfat thickness. SELF steers were significantly more feed efficient than the AM supplemented groups (P = 0.03) and tended to be a greater G:F ratio (P = 0.08) for the PM supplemented groups vs. AM supplemented steers. Steers with access to a self-feeder showed behavioral differences to hand supplemented cattle, with more feeder visits in a 24 h period (P = 0.01) compared to AM and PM steers. Despite these behavioral observations, any disruption in natural grazing behavior was not dramatic enough to negatively influence backgrounded cattle growth performance.
Master of Science
Grazing beef cattle tend to follow a general pattern of grazing, rumination, and digestion that coincides with their environment and the time of year. Backgrounded cattle managed in pasture-based systems are traditionally offered supplemental feedings in the morning. However, this practice could be decreasing how efficiently cattle utilize forage resources. Natural grazing behaviors are more intense preceding the heat of the day and interruption of morning grazing bouts could decrease forage intake by causing cattle to come to the feeder to consume supplement feedings. To examine how feeding time potentially influences performance and grazing behavior of backgrounded beef cattle, 52 crossbred beef steers 7 to 8 months of age and weighing 243 kg were grazed on tall fescue pastures at the Southwest Virginia Agricultural Research and Extension Center from October 1 to November 8, 2019. Cattle were supplemented with either a commodity blend or cracked corn mixed with an intake limiter. Cattle were sourced from 4 local producers and allotted to 9 pastures by body weight (BW) and source. Pasture groups were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (3 pastures per treatment): 1) steers hand-fed supplement at 0930 h (AM), 2) steers hand-fed supplement at 1330 h (PM), or 3) steers fed a self-feeder supplement with an intake limiter (SELF). Hand-fed groups were fed a commercial commodity blend (38% corn gluten feed pellets, 30% cracked corn, 22% soy hull pellets, and 10% dried distillers grains) daily at 1.5% BW on an as fed basis. The SELF supplement was a blend of 70% cracked corn and 30% of an intake limiter-containing pellet that was formulated to maintain voluntary supplement intake at 1.5% BW on an as fed basis. Adjustments were made to the average BW of pasture groups, following three interim weigh dates at d 11, d 21, and d 30, to keep intake levels accurately at 1.5% BW. Flesh condition scores (FCS) were assigned on a scal of 1 to 9, with 1 considered emaciated and 9 excessively fat. 12th rib fat thickness (FT) was measured using an Aloka 500SC ultrasound. Both measurements were taken on the first and final day of the experiment. Motion-sensing cameras were installed in each pasture to capture pictures every one-minute following motion detection. Subsequent pictures were used to analysis the number of feed and water visits, along with time of day, in an attempt to characterize intake behavior. There were no major differences seen by treatment groups for BW, flesh condition score, DMI, ADG, and backfat thickness. Cattle on the SELF treatment had greater G:F than AM, with PM cattle being intermediate and not different than either. Steers with access to a self-feeder visited the feeder more than double the number of times in a 24 h period than either of the hand supplemented group. Despite differences in observed cattle behavior, any disruption in natural grazing behavior did not negatively influence performance of backgrounded steers.

An important issue in seismology concerns the characterization of the propagation medium, aiming to analyze the behavior of rocks in relation to the generation of earthquakes (both natural and human-made). The basic idea is that seismic waves can be used to image the medium’s physical properties. In this context we placed our research project, concerning the reconstruction of the spatial and temporal changes of physical properties (velocity, attenuation, rock parameters) in complex geological media. In the first part of this thesis we present a detailed description of known and new methodologies useful to track the seismicity, the propagation medium’s features and their temporal variation. In particular, a new rock modelling approach is constructed, allowing the conversion of velocity and attenuation values in rock micro-parameters; and a new equalization procedure for the 4D tomography is developed, allowing at once to optimize the choice of time-windows in the case of massive data-sets and to completely handle seismic tomography issues. In the second part, we show the results obtained by applying this methodologies to three complex areas: the Irpinia fault zones, The Geysers geothermal area and the Solfatara volcano. The relevance of these three areas lies not only in their different physical nature, but also in their different dimension. The obtained results show how the described methodologies can be used in seismogenic and volcanic areas to improve the knowledge of the medium’s properties, in order to mitigate the risk associated to destructive events, and in geothermal areas, to monitor the induced seismicity through the tracking of the medium properties’ temporal variation. Therefore, this thesis represents a useful tool for the characterization of the propagation medium, by providing a compendium of different methodologies and by showing the results of their application to three complex areas characterized by different physical nature and dimensional scale.

Saprotrophic cord-forming basidiomycete fungi are major agents of wood decomposition in woodland and support the decomposer food-web. Limited resource availability and the abundance of mycelium in soil leads to competition between fungi. These fungal interactions are aggressive involving reallocation of mycelial biomass, pigment formation, changes in gene expression and enzyme synthesis. Collembola are abundant mycophagous invertebrates in woodlands and affect fungal morphology and growth. Experiments investigated the effects of collembola grazing on fungal interaction progression and the effects of these interactions on collembola behaviour and mortality. In British woodlands, the collembola Folsomia Candida and Protaphorura armata are common as are the cord-forming fungi Hypholoma fasciculare, Phallus impudicus, Phanerochaete velutina and Resinicium bicolor. Pairwise interactions between these fungi were investigated in agar and compressed soil microcosms. Multiple genetic isolates of two of the fungi studied were also used. Fungal morphology was affected by collembola grazing in soil- but less so in agar- microcosms. In particular, when interacting with H. fasciculare, grazing of P. velutina mycelia accelerated growth over the opposing mycelium but reduced extension over soil. This was associated with an increased ability to colonise the wood resource of H. fasciculare. Grazing did not reduce the transport efficiency of P. velutina but the estimated cost of biomass production rose more steeply with increasing area than in ungrazed systems. Despite changes in progression, interaction outcome was not generally substantially altered by grazing. Collembola exhibited strong preferences for certain mycelia during interactions but showed a change in preference in others. Collembola mortality on fungal interactions in agar microcosms also varied with the species interacting. There was limited evidence of attraction of collembola to the fungal interaction zone. Overall, the results suggest that collembola grazing may have important impacts on fungal species assemblage and their ability to extend in search of new resources.

Increased knowledge of plant interactions is important for our understanding of how ecosystems will respond to climate changes. Using four common low-herb and three tall- herb species as phytometers I measured the net outcome of plant interactions in an alpine environment by a neighbour removal experiment. Grazing and climate were tested as explanatory factors for differences in the outcome of plant interactions, with two altitudes representing different climates. The most important finding in this experiment is that competition is the dominating interaction among plants in this habitat, regardless of plant size, climate and grazing. Climatic exposure and grazing only influenced tall-herb species while low-herbs were mainly limited by competition, presumably for light. These results are important since facilitative interactions and net facilitation in plant communities are often reported to become more common in severe climates.

Grazing is widely used as a tool in conservation management. Many plant communities of conservation importance are dependent on grazing for their existence, maintenance of species diversity and other valued characteristics. Plant community response to grazing depends on many factors, including site productivity and dominant plant species; setting appropriate grazing levels can therefore be challenging. The problems are magnified when more than one species or plant community is the target of conservation goals as they may need different levels of grazing. Where multiple plant communities are present in a mosaic, grazing pressure on the higher productivity community (usually the more attractive to herbivores) can affect the utilisation of the lower productivity communities: grazing on the less productive community is elevated in close proximity (a few metres) to the productive community. This increases the possibility of conflict in managing grazing for the conservation of both communities as low productivity communities can sustain only low levels of grazing. Less well studied are the effect of community layout at larger spatial scales (100s – 1000s of metres) and the effect of vegetation pattern on grazing on the productive community. It is also not well known how the spatial pattern of grazing is affected by changes in herbivore density. I investigated the consequences of the spatial pattern of plant communities and changing herbivore density for grazing patterns on a complex multi-community mosaic and assessed the probable consequence for conservation of these plant communities. The plant mosaic comprised a mixture of species-rich grassland and several less productive communities, primarily heaths and bogs; the main grazers were red deer (Cervus elaphus). The grassland needs higher grazing levels than the others to meet management goals. I used small scale experiments to investigate the effects of reducing grazing on grassland and how the effects varied within the grassland community. Elimination of grazing caused a rapid switch from short, herb-rich grassland towards a graminoid dominated, less diverse sward, as expected. The degree of change in diversity and herb cover was dependent on productivity. Experimental reduction in grazing had mixed consequences for grassland in relation to conservation goals due to pre-existing variation in intensity of grazing on the grassland. The condition of areas of initially heavily grazed and short vegetation improved, whilst taller grasslands deteriorated. Analysis of large-scale datasets was used to investigate the influence of spatial pattern of community types and differences in large scale deer density on the distribution of grazing. There was increased grazing pressure on less productive plant communities where grassland was abundant within 1km and this was fairly consistent across communities and across different grazing indicators. There was an effect on grazing levels on grassland, but the explanatory power was generally lower and the effect less consistently present across indicators of grazing. Sward height and litter depth measures from one dataset indicated heavier grazing with more grassland present nearby (250m); however, lower grazing pressure was indicated by sward height and a combined grazing index when there was more grassland in a more distant zone (500-1000m). Deer density had limited power to explain large scale variation in impacts, probably due to the coarse scale of the information available and correlation with other variables. This limited the ability to thoroughly test the consequences of changes in deer density on the spatial pattern of impacts or investigate whether there was an interaction between deer density and spatial pattern. The inherent conflict in conservation management of grazed communities of different productivities is increased by the influence of the spatial distribution of plant communities on the distribution of grazing; conservation management goals need to account for this and identify a suitable trade-off.

L’Archivio Graziano Arici est une archive photographique d’un genre résolument singulier ; elle réunit des enjeux et ou assemble des finalités qui ne se rejoignent que partiellement. Archive courante des photographies de Graziano Arici (photographe né en 1949 à Venise, résidant actuellement à Arles, et toujours en activité), fonctionnant comme une base d’images permettant au photographe d’accumuler et de vendre ses productions, elle est aussi, dès le départ, conçue comme une forme-conservatoire destinée, dans son ensemble, par son auteur même, à représenter une époque, à rester comme un témoignage porté par un regard sur une époque. Par l’acquisition de fractions d’archives photographiques, la mise en place d’une politique de préservation des images, et par ses créations, son travail plastique, le photographe se fait tout à la fois héritier d’un domaine précaire, mais aussi son passeur. Dans ce cas particulier, en effet, le rassemblement qu’est l’archive photographique se trouve être, non seulement, un lieu d’origine, premier, mais également l’endroit et le moment d’une recomposition, d’un remontage de productions antérieures, donnant ainsi naissance à un art consommé de l’assemblage, dans un lieu devenu paradoxal
The Archive Graziano Arici is a definitely unique photograph Archive of its kind. It concentrates issues, or combine objectives which only partially meet. The standard Archive of Graziano Arici’s photograph (Arici is a photographer born in Venice, now living in Arles and still working) first acting as a picture-base which enables the photographer to gather together and sell his productions, is also, from the outset, designed as a conservation device, and by its author himself intended in its entirety to represent particular times and bear testimony to individual perceptions of those times ; by acquiring fractions of photograph archives, and setting up a picture-conservation policy, but through his own creation and plastic work as well, the photographer becomes heir to a fleeting world, and his go-between, too, giving birth to an art of assembling, and his archive becoming a paradoxical place

Swedish agricultural industry is well known for it’s fair animal tending and ecological processes, the high standards comes at a cost of tough strict regulations. Laws were introduced to keep a low level usage of antibiotics and toxic products among the agricultural industry. The though competition from products imported from other countries with much less strict laws puts puts Swedish farmers under pressure and pushes them to keep an extra good eye on their animals in order to avoid sickness and injuries of their animals. This master thesis is focusing on investigating the possibility keep the low usage of antibiotics and maintaining the high level of standards by introducing new technology that can help the farmer to monitor their animals and keep them healthy. The goal of this thesis is to develop a system that monitors grazing animals in the pasture land and helps farmer to detect injuries and diseases at an earlier stage. For the system to be viable and useful for the farmer it has to keep low power consumption and come at an affordable price. The implemented system solution consists of a wireless sensor network that collects data about estimated position of the animal in the pasture land , interaction patterns and ambient sensor data of the environment. The data is then propagated using a opportunistic network protocol. Hardware prototype is tested using simulations, indoor tests, and field tests with cows on a farm in northern Sweden. The work is concluded with evaluations of the prototype based on requirements, scalability and cost
Svenska lantbruksndustrin är väl känt för sin rättvisa djurhantering och ekoloiska metoder, den höga standared kommer till en priset av hårda stränga regler. Lagar infördes för att hålla en låg användningsnivå av antibiotika och giftiga ämnen bland jordbruksindustrin. Vilket sätter jordbrukare under press och kräver dem att hålla ett extra gott öga på sina djur för att undvika sjukdom och skador på sina djur. Detta examensarbete fokuserar på att undersöka möjligheten att hålla låg användning av antibiotika men bibehålla den höga standarder genom att införa ny teknik som kan hjälpa bonden att övervaka sina djur och hålla dem friska. Målet med denna examensarbete är att utveckla en system prototyp som övervakar betande djur och hjälper bonden att upptäcka skador och sjukdomar i ett tidigare skede. För att systemet ska vara lönsamt och användbart för jordbrukaren behöver den hålla en låg strömförbrukning och komma till ett överkomligt pris. Den genomförda systemlösningen bygger på ett trådlöst sensornätverk som samlar in data om esitmerad position av djuret i betesmarken, interaktionsmönster och omgivnings sensordata av miljön. Prototypen testas med simuleringar, tester i labmiljö samt fälttester med kor på en gård i norra Sverige. Arbetet avslutas med utvärderingar av prototypen baserat på systemkrav, skalbarhet och kostnad.

The thesis describes a management decision-support system for dairy grazing systems based on simulation and multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) models. Appropriate selection of holistic management strategies for livestock farming systems requires: 1) understanding of the behaviour of, and interrelations between, the different parts of the system, 2) knowledge of the basic objectives of the decision-maker managing such enterprise, and 3) understanding of the system as a whole in its agro-ecoregional context. Increasing economic and environmental pressures on livestock production systems have created the need to re-evaluate current management practices and to study new alternatives to ensure their sustainability. As a consequence, the demand for decision-support systems based on mathematical models has increased in the past years. Validated simulation models provide cost-effective means to represent the dynamics of the system and its components, while MCDM models allow for appropriate selection of resource allocation strategies depending on the different objectives and management 'styles' of particular individuals. Integration of both mechanisms provides the necessary elements for efficient decision-support at farm or ecoregional level. A decision-support system based on these techniques has been built to represent pastoral dairy production systems. The biological aspects (grass growth; grazing; digestion and metabolism; animal performance, and herd dynamics) are represented by simulation studies under a variety of management regimes. The outputs from the simulation runs (such as pasture utilisation, stocking rates, milk yields, fertilizer uses, etc.) are used as data input to the MCDM models, and the latter have been used to select the management strategies which make the most efficient use of the farm's resources (i.e. land, animals, pastures).

Reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a grass species that can dominate wet meadow plant communities. This study investigated if grazing by cattle on restored wet meadows suppresses reed canarygrass, thereby promoting the restored plant community. This study was conducted at two locations in northwest Minnesota. Management practices used were a patch-burn grazing treatment and a four-pasture high intensity-short duration grazing rotation. A pretreatment survey was conducted before grazing followed by annual surveys every five years after grazing. Both treatments reduced reed canarygrass canopy cover by 49 percent compared to non-grazed control sites. Grazed patches were moving towards a Carex dominated community. The community not invaded with reed canarygrass had similar native species richness at the end of the experiment in the rotational grazing treatment, and improved plant richness in the patch-burn grazing treatment. This study demonstrates grazing reduces cover of reed canarygrass, while maintaining or increasing native plant species richness.

Sand dunes are important habitats which support a wide variety of flora and fauna. Dunes are under threat from issues such as climate change and scrub encroachmnent. This project examined the impact of conservation grazing by domestic cattle (Bos primigenius) as a management tool for maintaining designated dune systems in 'favourable condition' by reducing scrub cover and generating a species rich sward, whilst accounting for the potentially confounding effect of grazing by naturally occurring wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). GIS analysis of dunes in Northern Ireland suggested that they underwent substantial temporal change from the 1950s to 2010 with loss of open areas of bare sand replaced by increased areas of grassland but most notably scrub and woodland. A factorial experimental approach revealed that grazing by domestic stock reduced vegetation height and biomass whilst controlling the coverage of scrub species such as Ulex europacus (Gorse). Rabbit grazing had 2.6 times the effect of cattle grazing on sward height maintaining a well cropped sward. Rabbit abundance on dunes exhibited significant spatiotemporal variation that fluctuated by orders of magnitude making their impact difficult to predict. Seasonal grazing by cattle had no effect on plant community composition but year round grazing by rabbits skewed plant composition towards unpalatable species, particularly in close proximity to their warrens creating spatial variation in plant community structure. Input of nutrients via the deposition of dung by cattle and rabbits had no discernible· effect on soil pH or nutrient flow including nitrogen, carbon or other trace elements. A review of studies that examined scrub control techniques suggested that effective scrub management is best when using mechanical or manual clearance followed by the immediate application of herbicides with on-going grazing to prevent re-establishment. Recommendations are made for further research and management of designated sand dunes sites throughout Northern Ireland.

Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS)
This dissertation aims at understanding the legal implications of a grazing dispute that was reported in the western Kavango Region a few years after Namibia’s Independence in 1990. This dispute which was between Ovawambo cattle owners and herders from the Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions and the local Vakwangali community members (represented by the UKTA) was reported in 1992 (other reports suggest that it might even have originated as early as the 1960s and 1980s), when it was said that the Ovawambo cattle owners and herders with their hundreds of cattle had entered into western Kavango “illegally” in search of grazing. The Ovawambo cattle owners and herders were first charged in 2005 and were eventually evicted in 2009. This dissertation looks at how legislation was used to deal with the conflict and investigates the impacts of the court order on all parties involved. The methodology employed during this study was predominantly qualitative, mainly utilising individual interviews and focus group discussions with the participants. This study found that the Government of Namibia had delayed acting on the grazing dispute for mainly political reasons. The study also found that many herders had indeed entered western Kavango Region illegally because they could not provide any letters of consent from the Ukwangali Traditional Authority (UKTA); many herders also admitted that there were no written agreements between themselves and the UKTA. The research also found that although the eviction orders were issued to all the herders, some still remained in the area; this selective application of the law rendered the eviction order somewhat ineffective. The study found that some local or affected community members were satisfied with the consequences of the eviction order and reported positive results regarding their farming activities such as better grazing and improved yields in their crop fields. Other community members, however, were disappointed by the refusal of certain herders to vacate the area, as well as by the failure of the government to ensure that all the herders had left the area.

Endophyte infected Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is the most dominant grass used for pasture in the Southeastern U.S. As a result, fescue toxicosis is a major concern. Producers need alternative forages for grazing cattle that do not have this negative aspect. The objective of this experiment was to determine the grazing behavior of cattle grazing Lakota (L) prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl.), endophyte infected (E+), endophyte free (E-), and novel endophyte (Q) tall fescues. Angus-crossbred steers (279±8 kg) steers wore electronic behavior data recorders in four sampling periods, and direct visual appraisals of behavior were taken in five sampling periods during the months of May to September, 2004. Overall, during the visual appraisal phase steers grazing L spent most time (P<0.05) grazing while E+ spent the least time grazing. Overall, steers grazing E+ spent more time (P<0.05) idling than those on L, E-, or Q. Steers grazing E+ spent more time (P<0.05) standing than steers grazing Q. Steers grazing Q and E- spent more time (P<0.05) lying than those grazing E+. During the data recorder phase there were no significant differences between treatments for time spent grazing. Steers grazing E+ spent less time (P<0.05) lying and ruminating than steers grazing Q or L. Conversely, time spent standing and idling for steers grazing E+ was higher (P<0.05) than for steers grazing Q or L. These results indicate that L, E-, and Q may offer benefits to producers due to more time spent in productive activities during summer months.
Master of Science

From the Bronze Age the Aeolian islands play a prominent role as a strategic passage point into the southern Tyrrhenian sea. Such vitality already occurs from the Capo Graziano facies [EBA-MBA2 (2200-1430 BC)] with the emergence of new settlements on the different islands, with the contacts with the Aegean area (imported LH1/2 pottery from the 17th century BC) and with the large diffusion of ceramic of Aeolian typology in Sicily and Italy. The Aeolian archipelago represents a suitable place for an archaeometrical approach since it is formed of a specific series of volcanic rocks that can be easily distinguished from the sedimentary and metamorphic formations outcropping in the near mainland. The first archaeometric analysis carried out in the sixties by John Williams allowed in fact to distinguish the Aeolian productions from the extra-Aeolian ones and to identify the importation of clay from northern Sicily to Lipari. The present research aims, for the Capo Graziano contexts [EBA-MBA2 (2200-1430 BC)] of the Aeolian archipelago, to identify the production centres and technologies in the different islands and to reconstruct the pottery network exchanges, at an inter- and extra-insular level. To this end, 4000 Capo Graziano I-II ceramic samples from Lipari, Filicudi, Stromboli and from extra-Aeolian sites (Milazzo and Vivara) have been examined. The compositional analyses have been then undertaken on 264 of these samples, which include the thin sections collection of Williams and new material sampled during the excavations in Filicudi (Capo Graziano I settlement of Filo Braccio) and in Stromboli (Capo Graziano II of San Vincenzo settlement) and at the Aeolian Museum of Lipari. This research is based on archaeometric methodologies, that are both traditional, such as macroscopic observations and petrographic analysis, and innovative, such as mineral chemistry analysis. In particular, a microanalysis method applied on the single volcanic minerals contained in the ceramic paste allowed to identify some geochemical markers discriminating the productions of the different Aoelian islands and thus representing a base for the reconstruction of the inter-insular network exchange. The major and trace elements composition has been respectively valued with EMPA and LA-ICP-MS. The archaeometric analysis allowed to identify general tendencies in the pottery production and circulation at three different levels. At a strictly insular level, they seem to prove the existence of independent local productions on Lipari, Filicudi and Stromboli. Regarding Lipari there is a constant use of the same raw material, independently from the archaeological context which has been examined (settlement and necropolis), while in Filicudi and Stromboli a differentiated local supply of raw material has been observed in the course of time. From an inter-insular point of view we didn’t observe any importation from the minor islands to Lipari and any pottery exchange between Filicudi and Stromboli. By contrast, from the second Capo Graziano phase (1700-1430 BC) some vases were imported from Lipari to Filicudi and Stromboli. Such Liparian importations are decorated in Filicudi and mainly undecorated in Stromboli. That could suggest the existence of differentiated inter-insular exchange forms. Furthermore, it is possible to notice a diachronic decrease during the second Capo Graziano phase of Liparian importations to Stromboli. Finally, at an extra-insular level, the relationships with the external regions are consistent in Stromboli and mainly concentrated on the Calabrian Tyrrhenian coast and subordinately on northern Sicily and volcanic regions of peninsular Italy. By contrast, the importation amount is low in Filicudi and Lipari and seems to be related with a contact, preferentially established with northern Sicily. In particular, the relationships between Filicudi and Sicily are significant as demonstrated by the Filicudian production of typical Sicilian pottery and by the pots circulation from Filicudi to Milazzo. Furthermore, the importation of decorated pottery from Lipari to Vivara and of undecorated vases from Filicudi to Milazzo suggests the existence of differentiated exchange forms also from an extra-insular point of view. Last but not least, the results evidenced the existence of production and imitation of foreign pottery both in Aeolian (filicudian production of typical Sicilian pottery) and extra-Aeolian (production of Capo Graziano pottery, also decorated, in Sicily and Calabria) contexts.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Texas A&M University, 2003.
"Major Subject: Rangeland Ecology and Management" Title from author supplied metadata (record created on Jul. 18, 2005.) Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The experiments described in this thesis were designed to assess changes in pasture dynamics (biomass and species composition of pasture) of grazing land on the Southern Tablelands of ACT and NSW, after 16 combinations of rabbit control treatments had been applied. The rabbit control performed by CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology consisted of all combinations of presence-absence of Poisoning (using sodium monofluoroacetate, 1080: POIS), Ripping (ripping warrens using a tractor fitted with ripping tynes: RIP), Fumigation (pressure fumigation using chloropicrin: FUM) and repeated follow-up fumigation (using phostoxin pellets one, six and eighteen months after completion of the initial treatment: ANN). The pasture was assessed before treatments were applied, and every six months after rabbit control treatments. Treatment combinations were assigned randomly in a 24 factorial design on a total of 32 sites. There was a significant increase of pasture biomass at the RIP+ANN treatment at post-treatment sample 5. The analysis of covariance did not detect any other significant increase or decrease of pasture biomass for any rabbit control treatment, at any posttreatment sample. A significant increase of grass species occurred for the treatments of POIS+RIP+FUM, POIS and RIP+ANN for the post-treatment samples of 1, 3 and 5 respectively. There was a significant increase of thistles at the rabbit control treatments of POIS+RIP+FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 1), RIP, ANN, RIP+FUM, RIP+FUM+ANN and POIS+RIP+FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 3) and RIP and FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 5). A significant increase of weeds occurred at FUM (post-treatment sample 3) and at FUM+ANN (post-treatment sample 5). No significant changes in the amount of herbs or legumes was apparent for any rabbit control treatment or post-treatment sample. There were no significant decreases for any species group. Except for the significant results for post-treatment sample 1, all significant increases of biomass for any species group occurred during spring (post-treatment sample 3 and 5) which suggests a growth phase during spring then subsequent dieback (particularly for thistles and weeds), as any change was not detected in the following autumn sample. No strong trend is evident for any particular rabbit control treatments, or any combination of treatments. Analysis of covariance revealed that the rabbit control treatment of RIP+ANN showed significant increases in both total biomass of pasture and grass biomass during post-treatment sample 5. This treatment reduced the number of active entrances the most. Significant positive correlations were found between pasture biomass (total) with grass, herb, legume, thistle and weed species groups. Significant negative correlations between grass biomass and the number of active entrances were found when the rabbit control had been highly effective in reducing the number of active entrances. When rabbit control had not been very successful, there was a significant positive but low correlation with the number of active entrances. There was no significant relationship between the number of active entrances with the weight of rabbit dung pellets. It is reasoned that they are different measures of rabbit abundance. More rabbit dung pellets were found closer to the warren than further away from the warren, but there was no correlation between rabbit dung and pasture biomass. Rainfall was above average for most of the experiment, biomass increased accordingly, and rabbit control was highly successful. The resulting changes in the pasture were difficult to detect, although some increases in species composition groups occurred. It is reasoned that the changes observed are partly attributable to seasonal conditions, and to high rainfall. Grazing by domestic animals, sheep and cattle, had been found to be consistent throughout the experiment.

This thesis describes a series of four experiments designed to evaluate the role of the supply of protein in livestock grazing high quality pasture during mating and during pregnancy. The first two studies investigated the effects of high crude protein content of spring or autumn re-growth pasture on the reproductive performance of dairy cows and of ewes at mating. The last two studies investigated how the dietary supply of protein, body condition and their interactions contribute to the breakdown of immunity during the peri-parturient period in ewes and investigated underlying endocrine mechanisms. In the first study (Chapter 3) cows were blood sampled via the tail vein during the breeding period in spring. Plasma was then analysed for urea concentration. Cows with high plasma urea (HPU) or low plasma urea (LPU) were defined as those with plasma urea concentrations of ≥ or < 44.9 mg/dl respectively. Lactating cows (n = 200) were also categorized into high milk producers (HMP) or low milk producers (LPM) relative to an average daily yield of 26.6 l/d. Pasture clipping showed an average pasture CP (crude protein) content of 223 g/kg DM. Concentrations of plasma urea ranged from 26.6 to 64.4 mg/dl. No correlation was observed between plasma urea concentration and either reproductive indicators or milk parameters. Mean blood urea concentration of HPU cows was 50.8 compared to 38.5 mg/dl in LPU cows. There was a trend for more animals (P = 0.09) in the HPU group than in the LPU group not to return to oestrus. Cumulative pregnancy rate in HPU and LPU was similar except at week 6 after the start of mating when more (P < 0.01) HPU than LPU cows were pregnant. Calving to conception interval, calving interval and interval between conception and first service were similar (P > 0.05) between HPU and LPU cows. Gestation length, calving rate, milk yield and milk components were also similar (P > 0.05) between LPU and HPU cows. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in plasma urea concentrations between HMP and LMP milk producers. However, calving to conception interval, interval between calving and first service and calving interval were longer (P < 0.001), submission rate higher (P < 0.001) and NRR (Non-return rate) higher (P < 0.05) in LMP than HMP. The number of services, the interval between first and second service, gestation length and CR (calving rate) were similar (P > 0.05) between HMP and LMP cows. HMP had lower (P < 0.001) milk protein and fat concentrations than LMP cows. This information indicates that, despite the fact that plasma urea was consistently higher than levels in the literature which have been associated with reduced fertility in dairy cows; no impairment of reproductive performance was observed. In the second experiment (Chapter 4) mature and dry Coopworth ewes were blocked by weight, body condition and previous prolificacy (high, HP vs low twinning frequency, LP) into two groups and thereafter randomly allocated to diet which were designed to provided either 1) high protein (163 g/kg DM, ryegrass/red clover pasture, HPP) or low protein (119 g/kg DM, hay and barley grain, HB) supply at joining. These were designed to provide high and low plasma urea concentration. Over a period of 17 days, ewes recorded as mated were examined by laparoscopy, at which time there was no difference in blood urea concentration (58.6 vs 56.1 mg/dl) between HPP and HB groups. Fifty days after the start of joining the number of foetuses present was counted using ultrasonography. As a consequence of lack of difference in the plasma urea concentration, irrespective of treatment group, individual animals were categorized into high (HU) and low plasma urea (LU) status based on whether plasma urea concentration was higher or lower than the sample mean of 51.5 mg urea/dl. Lambs which weighed greater than the mean plus one standard deviation for their litter size were classified as oversize. Ovulation rate and conception rate were similar (P > 0.05) between HPP and BH and between HU and LU ewes. Ewes with previous high reproductive performance (HP) as would be expected had higher ovulation rate (P < 0.001) and conception rate (P < 0.01) than LP ewes. Embryo losses was not (P = 0.06) different between HB and HPP ewes. Urea category (HU vs LU) did not (P > 0.05) influence embryo mortality. Foetal loss, neonatal loss, total reproductive loss and mean lamb birth weight was were not affected by diet, nor urea category (P > 0.05). Single ovulations had tended (P = 0.08) to contribute to higher embryo loss compared to multiple ovulations, and, single foetuses suffered higher (P<0.001) losses compared to multiples. While the study did not achieve large differences in plasma urea concentrations between diets, the levels of plasma urea operating were high yet reproductive wastage rates were similar to those recorded in the literature. Together with similar apparent lack of effect on a high plasma urea environment, the data suggest either that previous findings from controlled studies have a more complex aetiology or that pastoral animals can adapt to high tissue ammonia/urea status. The third trial (Chapter 5) was designed to provide information on the supply of amino acids to the abomasum from protein supplementation which have previously been found to overcome dietary scarcity associated with limitation of peri-parturient increase in FEC. Twin-suckling ewes were fitted with rumen and abomasal cannulae and grazed a ryegrass/clover sward (C) or the same sward but with a 500 g/h/d protein supplement (S). The trial was designed as a cross-over with two 14 day adaptation periods followed by two five-day digesta-sampling periods. All ewes were treated with anthelmintic 14 days after lambing. Weekly analysis of blood glucose was carried on whole blood and analysis of amino acids in plasma. The flows of amino acids (AA) and dry matter (DM) at the abomasum were measured during both sampling periods using intra-ruminally infused markers. Live weight and faecal egg count (FEC) were recorded weekly. Diurnal variation in AA flow at the abomasum peaked between 12:00 and 15:00 h and was greatest in S ewes. Flows of AA, including DAPA, were increased by supplementation by 16%, while sulphur amino acids (SAA) were the most enhanced (by 21%) and flows of leucine, lysine, glutamine and aspartate were increased by about 20%. There were significant time effects in rumen and abomasal pH (P < 0.01; in both cases in both periods) reflecting increase in pH after 09.00 h. During Period II, rumen pH in digesta of C ewes was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of S ewes (6.7 ± 0.05 vs 6.4 ± 0.05 for C and S ewes, respectively). Plasma AA concentrations (P < 0.01) were lower in S ewes 21 days after parturition, but similar (P > 0.05) to those of C ewes at other times. Forty-three days after lambing (after cross over), the order was reversed as plasma methionine and cysteine concentrations of C ewes became low (P < 0.05). These changes in plasma AA were accompanied by changes in body condition score between day 23 and 70 post-partum whereby C ewes lost more body condition than S ewes. There was evidence for a lower FEC in S ewes, being 46 vs. 670 epg, respectively for S and C groups (P = 0.08) 21 days after anthelmintic treatment. There were higher (P < 0.05) blood glucose levels in C compared to S ewes at day +35 relative to lambing which was reversed and significantly higher (P < 0.01) for S ewes by day +56 from lambing (after treatments were reversed). There was no significant effect of treatment on live weight and lamb performance. There are limited data in amino acid supply on lactating ewes on pasture and the present study contributes additional information on the supply of amino acids at the abomasum. The prediction that flow rates that sulphur amino acids may have been enhanced to the greatest degree could be significant since sulphur amino acids are needed for the synthesis of glutathione for immune response. It can be calculated that supplementation to supply the quantities of S-amino acid at pasture would be needed, since it would not be possible for sheep to increase pasture intake to achieve similar S-amino acid flow. Increase in bypass amino acids in S ewes at certain times in the day probably suggests influence by protein supplementation at certain times of the grazing cycle. Reduced plasma free amino acids at day +21 relative to lambing, may indicate sparing of body protein breakdown by protein supplementation. However, the difference in blood glucose on day 35 and day 56 may indicate re-adjustment of hormonal settings, responsible for nutrient partitioning. The last study (Chapter 6) used ewes during the peri-parturient period on pasture. Eighty pregnant ewes were allocated into four groups balanced for anticipated number of lambs. Group 1 had a high body condition score (BCS) of 4.0 which was maintained throughout pregnancy by pasture allowance (HM; n = 20). Group 2 (n= 40) had medium body condition (BCS 3.0) and were split into two subgroups; one was offered pasture to allow gain of condition (MH; n = 20) and the second allowed to lose condition by offering a low grazing allowance (ML; n = 20). Group 3 were thin ewes (BCS 2.4) and pasture allowance was designed to maintain this condition (LM; n = 20). These feeding regimes were maintained for 3 weeks from week -8 of pregnancy. During week -5 to -4 all ewes were acclimatized to a protein supplement (60 g/d). A glucose tolerance test (GTT) was conducted during week -4 after which half of the ewes in each group were offered a protein supplement at the rate of 500 g/d, creating –S and –NS groups. During wk -2, a second GTT was carried out. Animals were treated with an anthelmintic 3 wks before lambing, and were then challenged with a dose of 10 000 Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae on weeks -2 and -1 relative to lambing. Weekly recording of FEC, live weight and body condition was carried out. Lambs were weighed within 24 h of birth and again at 44 and 65 d of age. Computed tomography body scanning was carried out on ewes at weeks -8, -3 and +8 relative to lambing. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in lamb performance due to body condition or protein supplementation. FEC of all groups was low (≈ 9 peg) and there was no (P > 0.05) significant difference between ewes of different body condition or due to effects of protein supplementation. Ewes bearing/bearing multiple lambs had the highest FEC at day -32 and +12 relative to lambing, which was significant (P < 0.05) on the latter date. There were no significant effects of supplementation on parasite status. There were differences in basal plasma glucose concentration between groups (P < 0.001), being highest in HM/S and least in ML/NS ewes and was generally higher (P <0.001) during GTT 2 than GTT 1. Ewes carrying a single foetus had higher (P <0.001) basal glucose than those carrying multiple lambs (2.2 vs. 1.7 mmol/L, respectively). Other plasma glucose response indexes were similar (P <0.05) between groups. There were differences in insulin responsiveness between groups (P < 0.001), being highest in MH/S and least in ML/S ewes. Insulin responsiveness tended (P = 0.06) to be lower during GTT 1 than GTT 2, but was higher (P < 0.01) in ewes carrying singles than multiples. There was tendency for higher though non-significant, basal insulin concentrations in HM ewes. Insulin trends over time after glucose infusion suggest greater insulin response at GTT 1. Basal insulin was not correlated with CT muscle weight. Despite differences in body muscle mass at the start of the trial and differences induced by nutrition during late pregnancy, positive gains in muscle mass occurred during early pregnancy and muscle mass was similar in all groups by day 56 of lactation. Animals with greatest fat content at parturition (HM) mobilised the greatest amount and those with least fat (LM) deposited fat during lactation. Further experimentation may consider the use of the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp approach to more precisely estimate whether hormonal re-setting through insulin resistance may be involved in relaxation of immunity during the peri-parturient period.

The use of alfalfa (Medicago scitiva L.) for grazing is becoming more common. Alfalfa is the most widely planted legume, and is one of the most nutritional forage crops available. It is proposed that alfalfa was cultivated 4000 to 5000 years ago and produces the most protein per acre of any forage crop. Live weight gains for beef cattle grazing alfalfa average 230 to 360 kg ha-1. There is no cheaper way to harvest and utilize alfalfa than for the animal to harvest it directly. Most of the commercially available alfalfa varieties, however, were developed for hay production and thus do not always persist under grazing management. Recent advances in alfalfa breeding have provided "dual purpose" cultivars that are now available to producers. A grazing trial was conducted at the Western Kentucky University Agricultural Research and Education Complex in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Persistence and yield of six commercially available grazing-tolerant alfalfa varieties were evaluated to determine their response to rotational stocking by dairy cows. The varieties, Southern States Graze King, WL 324, Garst 645 II, WL 325 HQ, ABT 405, and Spredor III were established March 29, 2000 and harvested three times for hay throughout the year. Grazing was begun in April 2001 and ended in September 2001. Each plot was grazed when alfalfa reached a minimum height of 36 cm. Twelve dairy cows (nine Jerseys and three Holsteins) grazed each plot down to approximately 13 cm. Yield did not differ among varieties (P<0.05); however, there was a significant difference among varieties for stand count. The variety by harvest interaction was significant; when averaged across varieties, stand counts declined 48% during the whole season. Southern States Graze King with 8.8 plants 0.1m-2, was greater only than Spredor III with 6 plants 0.1 m-2.

Phosphorus (P) losses due to overfeeding of the mineral to livestock can contribute to surface water degradation. The objective of this study was to examine the impact to supplementing various levels of mineral P to grazing beef cattle. A producer survey and a research trial were conducted to examine the effects of supplementing mineral phosphorus (P) to grazing cattle. In the first study, mineral tags, producer surveys, and fecal, forage, and soil samples were collected from beef cattle operations in Virginia's Chesapeake Bay watershed. Samples (n=166) were collected from 120 producers in 11 counties. Soil test P results were based on Virginia Cooperative Extension soil test guidelines characterized as low (12 %), medium (37 %), high (35 %), and very high (16 %). Pasture grab samples contained 0.34 ± 0.12% P and forage P concentration increased (P < 0.01) across soil P categories going from low to very high. Fecal total phosphorus (TP) was lowly correlated (R2 = 0.18, P < 0.01) to forage P concentration. Mineral supplements were categorized as nil (<1.0% P), low (1.0-<3.0% P), medium (3.0-<6.0% P), and high (>6.0% P). Fecal TP and inorganic phosphorus (Pi) concentration increased (P < 0.01) with mineral P levels. Fecal TP and Pi were lower (P < 0.01) when nil and low P mineral were supplemented as compared to medium and high P mineral. Soluble P (defined as fecal Pi/fecal TP*100) also increased (P < 0.01) with increasing mineral P content going from nil to high. All farms surveyed required little or no P supplementation in regard to beef cattle P requirements. The majority (82%) of producers were receptive to modifying mineral P supplementation practices based on forage P levels. A 56-d study was also conducted with eight yearling Hereford steers (261±30 kg) grazing cool-season grass fall re-growth to determine the effects of varying levels of P supplementation on fecal P excretion. Treatments consisted of dicalcium phosphate supplemented at 0 (D1), 10.0 (D2), 20.0 (D3), or 30.0 (D4) g/d in a randomized 4x4 replicated Latin square design. These treatments provided an additional 0, 1.9, 3.7, and 5.6 g/d of P respectively. Two esophageally cannulated steers were used to collect forage samples for nutrient analysis. Forage P content was analyzed from hand collected samples. Forage P concentrations averaged 0.49% of dry matter (DM) across all periods. Chromic oxide (Cr2O3) was administered twice daily via gelatin capsule at 0630 and 1830 to serve as an external marker for determination of fecal dry matter excretion (DME). Indigestible NDF (iNDF) was used as an internal marker to determine dry matter intake (DMI). Due to the high forage P content, average P intake was in excess of National Research Council (NRC) requirements for all diets (D1 = 281%; D2 = 297%; D3 = 323%; D4 =348%). Orthogonal contrasts were performed to assess the relationship between treatment and P excretion. A linear response (P < 0.01) in daily inorganic P (Pi) excretion (0.054, 0.052, 0.062 and 0.063 g/kg of BW ± 0.003 for D1, D2, D3 and D4, respectively) was observed across treatments. Daily total P (TP) excretion increased linearly (P < 0.01) across treatments (0.080, 0.079, 0.092 and 0.093 g/kg of BW ± 0.003 for D1, D2, D3 and D4, respectively. When forage P content is sufficient to meet the requirement of grazing cattle, increasing P supplementation results in greater P excretion without additional benefits to growth or nutrient digestibility.
Master of Science

Two studies were conducted during the grazing season of 1997. Study 1 consisted of three Experiments, and the objectives were to compare milk production and composition, body weight change and body condition score, and to determine time patterns of grazing between cows supplemented with different forms and amounts of corn. Also rumen fermentation parameters were measured in cows supplemented with two different types of corn. In study 2, milk yield was measured when grazing pasture was supplemented to lactating Holstein cows fed a typical TMR diet. Predominantly orchardgrass pastures with lesser amounts of white clover and Kentucky bluegrass were grazed during both studies. In Experiment 1, 36 Holstein cows were supplemented either with 6, 6, 6, or 4 kg/d DM of high moisture corn, coarsely ground corn, finely ground corn, or high moisture corn in two equal feedings, respectively. Milk yield was similar (30.3 kg/d) among treatments. Milk protein (2.97%) and MUN (14.7 mg/dl) did not differ among treatments. Body weight change and body condition score change were similar among treatments (23.1 kg and -0.24). During Experiment 2, four rumen-cannulated cows in mid-lactation were supplemented 6 kg/d DM of either coarsely ground corn or high moisture corn in two equal feedings. After the p.m. milking, ruminal pH was measured and rumen fluid samples were collected to determine ammonia N and VFA. While grazing, this was repeated at 0.5, 1, 2, 3,...8 h post-corn feeding (0 h). Ruminal pH was similar for both corn supplements and was lowest (5.9 and 5.8) at 5 and 8 h, respectively. Rumen ammonia N concentrations started to increase approximately 2 h after cows began grazing, reaching maximum levels 5 h later. In Experiment 3, the number of cows grazing, lying, or standing were recorded every half hour, for two consecutive days, while grazing. Cows grazed an average of 6.4 h/d, 4.1 h in the afternoon and 2.3 h in the morning. Similarity in milk production, milk composition, BW change, and BCS between treatments indicates that the quality and availability of pasture permitted equal response regardless of the type or amount of corn supplemented. Fifty four Holstein cows in mid lactation were used in Study 2. Cows were fed either a TMR diet only, or were fed TMR during half of the day (after the a.m. or p.m. milking according to the treatment) and supplemented with grazing pasture during the other half of the day. Milk production was slightly but significantly higher for cows on the TMR treatment (29.1 vs. 28.2 and 27.6). No significant difference between treatments was observed in FCM (27.7 kg/d), and milk fat (3.47) and protein percentage (3.23). While BW change did not differ among treatments (25.7 kg), body condition score increased more in cows fed only a TMR diet (0.14 vs. -0.06 and 0.01). The TMR intake was significantly different between treatments, being highest for cows on the TMR treatment and lowest for cows grazing after the p.m. milking (26.6 vs. 20.3 vs. 17.5 kg/d DM). Income over feed cost differed between treatments, and was approximately 15.3% higher for cows supplemented with high quality pasture during the afternoon compared to cows on TMR. Dairy farmers may obtain economical benefits by practicing this type of management during the grazing season with little effect on milk yield.
Master of Science