Dissertations / Theses: 'Ostrich farms and farming'

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Cloete, Anya. "Microbial quality and safety of ostrich meat." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2010. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_3372_1319792808.

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The aim of this study was to determine the quality of slaughtered ostrich meat and to evaluate the ostrich slaughter process, to determine whether ostrich meat are contaminated by the in-house slaughtering practices and if prevalence of microorganisms increase with the succession of the slaughter process. Furthermore, the presence of specific foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms was explored by means of molecular and conventional methods to determine whether ostrich meat is a source of these microorganisms. Data obtained from this study provides some baseline information that could be used in future studies on system contamination and the extent of downstream processing steps in the production of ostrich meat. Antimicrobial resistance has become a growing area of concern in both human and veterinary medicine, it is therefore necessary that another aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistant pattern of Staphylococcus aureus in ostrich meat in order to establish whether Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from ostrich meat samples show resistance to antibiotics

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Van, Schalkwyk Salmon Jacobus. "Factors affecting ostrich leather traits." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/19547.

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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although small, the South African ostrich industry contributes 60% to the total world production of slaughter ostriches. Ostrich leather contributes more than 50% of the R2.1 billion turnover of this industry. This study is the first structured investigation into the characteristics of ostrich leather focussing on factors such as age, nutrition, slaughter weight, and genetics, and the influence thereof on intrinsic leather traits. Large variation in terms of skin quality was found between producers, month of the year and production years. The effect of age suggested that leather thickness and tensile strength increased with age while the number of nodules declined by 2.8 for every month increase in slaughter age. Slit tear strength and tensile strength increased with heavier slaughter weights. Older ostriches had higher values for slit tear strength and skin thickness. Nodule diameter increased at a rate of 0.08mm per month increase in age. Nodules with an average diameter of more than 4.0mm were only obtained in the combination of old heavy birds, while nodule diameter of the other age-weight combinations ranged between 3.3mm and 3.5mm. Subjective assessment of nodule traits by participants with or without prior knowledge of age suggested that slaughter age accounted for 46% of the variation in estimated slaughter age. Nodule acceptability scores generally increased with an increase in slaughter age. Moderately acceptable scores were found in skins from birds 11 months and older. The effect of energy and protein concentrations of ostrich diets suggested that raw skin areas were 19.4% and 21.8% larger at slaughter for birds receiving a diet containing 10.5 MJ/ME and 12.0 MJ ME/kg DM respectively, compared to that of birds receiving a 9.0 MJ ME/kg DM diet. Leather thickness taken parallel to the spine was increased by 13% when birds were fed the higher energy diet. Dietary protein concentrations failed to influence skin weight, skin area or any physical leather properties. The genetic variation in nodule size measured at different sampling sites on the skin suggested that nodule size increased chronologically with age at the neck, back, upper leg, and flank and butt areas. Estimates of h² for nodule size ranged from 0.09 ± 0.07 on the flank region to 0.24 ± 0.10 on the upper leg region. Preliminary results seem to suggest that nodule size on different locations of the skin is not necessarily the same genetic trait. It was concluded that measurements at any specific site is unlikely to predict measurements at other sites with a high degree of accuracy due to the large variation that exists between measurement sites. This dissertation provides an insight into the complexity of ostrich leather quality, and the interaction of leather traits, such as nodule size and shape, leather thickness and tensile strength, that determine ostrich leather quality.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel klein, produseer die Suid-Afrikaanse volstruisbedryf 60% van die totale wêreldproduksie van slagvolstruise. Volstruisleer is verantwoordelik vir meer as 50% van die R 2.1 biljoen omset van die bedryf. Hierdie studie is die eerste gestruktureerde ondersoek na die intrinsieke eienskappe van volstruisleer en die invloed van ouderdom, voeding, slagmassa en genetika op hierdie eienskappe. Groot variasie t.o.v. leerkwaliteit is waargeneem tussen produsente, maande van die jaar en produksiejare. Die effek van ouderdom toon dat leerdikte en treksterkte verhoog het met toename in ouderdom, terwyl die aantal knoppies afneem met 2.8 vir elke maand toename in slagouderdom. Skeur- en treksterkte het verhoog met ŉ swaarder slagmassa (64kg vs. 99kg). Hoër waardes vir skeursterkte en veldikte is vir ouer voëls (384 dae vs. 234 dae ouderdom) verkry. Knoppie deursnit het teen ŉ tempo van 0.08mm per maand toename in ouderdom verhoog. Knoppies met ŉ gemiddelde deursit van groter as 4.0mm is slegs waargeneem in swaar-ou voëls, terwyl die knoppie deursnit van die ander massa-ouderdom kombinasies tussen 3.3mm en 3.5mm gewissel het. Die subjektiewe waarneming van 28 respondente, ingelig of oningelig oor die betrokke slagouderdom, dui daarop dat die werklike slagouderdom verantwoordelik is vir 46% van die variasie in geskatte slagouderdom. Die puntetoekenning vir knoppie-aanvaarbaarheid het verhoog met ‘n toename in slagouderdom. Aanvaarbare puntetoekenning vir knoppie-ontwikkeling is verkry vir voëls vanaf 11 maande en ouer. Die effek van energie- en proteïenkonsentrasies in volstruisdiëte toon dat die rouveloppervlakte onderskeidelik 19.4% en 21.8 % groter was met slagting vir voëls wat onderskeidelik ‘n 10.5 MJ/ME en 12.0 MJ ME/kg DM diëte gevoer is, in vergelyking met voëls wat ‘n 9.0 MJ ME/kg DM dieet ontvang het. Leerdikte, geneem parallel met die ruggraat, het met 13% toegeneem wanneer die hoër energie dieet gevoer is. Dieetproteïen konsentrasies het geen invloed op velmassa, veloppervlakte of enige fisiese leerkwaliteitseienskappe gehad nie. Die genetiese variasie in knoppiegrootte geneem op verskillende lokaliteite op die vel toon ŉ chronologiese toename met ouderdom in die nek-, rug-, boud-, sy- en stuitjie gebiede. Beraamde h² vir knoppiegrootte wissel vanaf 0.09±0.07 op die sye tot 0.24±0.10 op die boudgedeelte. Voorlopige resultate dui aan dat knoppiegrootte op verskillende lokaliteite nie noodwendig dieselfde genetiese basis het nie. Die gebruik van een lokaliteit vir die voorspelling van die eienskappe van ŉ ander, blyk nie sinvol te wees nie a.g.v. die groot variasie wat tussen verskillende lokaliteite bestaan. Hierdie studie verskaf insig oor die kompleksiteit van volstruisleerkwaliteit en die interaksie van leereienskappe soos knoppiegrootte en –deursnit, veldikte en treksterkte, in die bepaling van leerkwaliteit.

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Lishomwa, Lileko. "Anything but a head in the sand? : pioneering ostrich farming in New Zealand : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology in the University of Canterbury /." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Sociology and Anthropology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/995.

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The aim of this research was to identify how farmers learn how to farm using pluriactive lifestyle block ostrich farmers who are part of the New Zealand ostrich industry as a case study. Ostrich farming is comparatively new to New Zealand farmers and the industry has attracted innovative individuals who have developed informal learning strategies. Ostrich farmers use other farmers as their main resource which is mainly facilitated through events organised by the New Zealand Ostrich Association (NZOA) and aimed at lifestyle block farmers. Ostrich farmers' community of practice is centred around their membership to the Association which enables farmers to come together to learn and socialise. For learning to effectively take place the key is social interaction, where ideas can be transferred between farmers. This thesis illustrates the important events and structure of the industry and how this has shaped farmer learning. Through semi-structured interviews and participant observation on a chick rearing farm I was able to gain a picture of how lifestyle block farmers balance full time off-farm employment while running stock, in an attempt to satisfy their version of the rural idyll. The industry is now in decline as most of the early players have exited the industry and it is now focused around New Zealand Ostrich Export (NZOE) goals. By exploring the period called the breeder phase which was characterised by some farmers making a fortune as ostrich farming was the 'next big thing' and the history since then, I have identified how these particular farmers have learned how to farm.

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Du, Toit Elloise. "The development of probiotics for use in the ostrich farming industry in South Africa." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10358.

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Includes bibliographical references.
Ostrich farming in South Africa is an important industry but it often suffers from high mortality rates among the ostrich chicks. This is thought to be due in part to environmental stress, leading to the delay in the development of the microbiota, thus making invasion by pathogens likely. Very little is known about the microorganisms inhabiting the ostrich gastrointestinal tract, however they do play an important role in humans and animals and disturbance of this community can be fatal. It has been established that probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp. play an important role in the health of the host. In order to discover novel probiotic strains, bacteria should be isolated from the host, identified, characterised in-vitro to screen their potential suitability, and finally these results should be confirmed in-vivo. The aim of this study was to follow these guidelines in order to find a successful probiotic mix to decrease the mortality observed on ostrich farms, and to compare the effects of the probiotic mix to that of the antibiotic, tylosin, on the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

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Shanmugam, Ramaradj. "Efficiency and productivity of Quebec dairy farms." Thesis, McGill University, 1998. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=20234.

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The analysis of cost and profit efficiencies of a sample of 588 Quebec dairy farms shows significant potential to reduce costs and increase profits. In general, the small farms were more cost efficient while large farms were more profit efficient. Increased use of farm grown feed was associated with higher efficiency while increased use of concentrates was associated with lower efficiency.
The productivity of individual dairy farms were estimated using data envelopment analysis. The average annual growth rate of productivity was 0.70% with a standard deviation of 2.44% for the 1987--93 period. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient did not show any significant relationship between farm size and growth rate.
The Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) approach, used for the first time to estimate technical efficiency, performed equally as good as the regression models in modeling the technology especially at the higher levels of output. The efficiency values estimated using ANN were higher than that estimated by ordinary least squares method. The results indicate the existence of significant potential for improving the efficiency of resources on Quebec dairy farms.

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Van, Schalkwyk Salmon Jacobus. "Improvement of fertility and hatchability of artificially incubated ostrich eggs in the little Karoo." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005399.

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Ostriches are an important commercial species in South Africa and are becoming increasingly so in other parts of the world. Fertility and hatchability of artificially incubated ostrich eggs, however, is generally regarded as low compared to other poultry species and to ostriches in the wild. Investigation into specific farming practices at present indicated scope for an overall improvement in productivity through a sound breeding strategy. This thesis investigated factors that affect egg production, fertility, and hatchability of artificially incubated eggs in the Little Karoo region of South Africa. Specific breeding pair combinations accounted for the major variations in egg weight, hatchability, chick production and offspring weight at slaughter age. An appreciable proportion of variation in reproductive traits was attributable to the repeatable nature of breeding pair performance from year to year, even from first breeding attempts, suggesting that selection of good breeding stock can be made from an early age. Artificially incubated eggs showed improved hatchability when eggs were collected two to three hours after lay rather than the following morning. Storing position of eggs did not significantly effect hatchability when eggs were stored for a maximum of one week. The critical zero temperature for ostrich eggs, below which no embryonical development takes place, was found to be ± 25°C and cooling eggs to temperatures below 20°C for complete cessation of embryonic development during storage resulted in better hatchabilities compared to eggs stored at 25°C room temperature. Hatchability decreased when incubator temperatures were raised from 36 to 37.3°C. Large temperature fluctuations and gradients, which encompass detrimental temperatures, persist within forced draught wooden incubators of the type most commonly in use in the Little Karoo region. The highest temperatures occurred at the top of these incubators and will consequently have a negative impact on hatchability. The ontogeny of ostrich egg metabolism showed an exponential increase during the first 70% of incubation followed by a decline to 75% of the peak value between days 31 and 38 of incubation. From peak levels of embryonic development it was calculated that single stage incubators needs an airflow of 54.4 1/egg.hour to maintain oxygen levels just below 21% and carbon dioxide levels below 0.5%. Lower embryonic mortalities were observed when eggs were turned twenty-four times/day in an electronic incubator compared to hand turning twice a day. Eggs rotated through increasing angles between 60 and 90° resulted in a linear improvement in hatchability. In incubators where turning angles were fixed at 60°, lower hatchabilities were overcome by incubating eggs for 2 - 3 weeks in a horizontal position before placing them vertically. No specific farming practice could be singled out as the main cause of low fertility or hatchability but rather a combination of certain practices applied wrongly.

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Mashego, Ditshwanelo Cynthia. "The production of vegetable crops under protection for small-scale farming situations." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26198.

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Experiments were conducted with tomato under shade netting and with lettuce in a vertical hydroponic system at the Hatfield Experimental Farm, University of Pretoria. The objectives of the study were: 1. To evaluate the effect of different types of shade netting on tomato production 2. To develop a vertical hydroponic system for lettuce production which would be suitable for use by small-scale farmers. In the tomato trial the highest number of fruit per plant (47) was produced under 12% white shade and 40% black shade nets, and the lowest fruit number (35) was produced under 30% black net. The highest yield of 6.2 kg per plant was obtained under the 18% white net while 30% black net produced the lowest yield of 3.9 kg per plant. The test yield of lettuce grown in plastic tubes with eight vertically arranged plant positions were obtained with a continuous high flow rate of the nutrient solution. However, a simplified manual system where the nutrient solution was delivered by gravity from a small reservoir tank resulted in comparable yields.
Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Agronomy))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Plant Production and Soil Science
unrestricted

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Janse, Van Vuuren Maryke. "Faktore wat die oorlewing van volstruiskuikens (Struthio Camelus) verhoog." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/848.

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Hierdie verhandeling is ‘n samestelling van verskeie studies, elk opgeskryf in die formaat en styl soos vereis deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Vereeniging vir Diereproduksie (South African Society of Animal Science). Hoofstuk 1 is ‘n literatuurstudie bestaande uit ‘n algemene inleiding wat agtergrond oor die studie verskaf en sluit die probleemstelling in, naamlik die swak oorlewing van volstruiskuikens wat onder kunsmatige toestande grootgemaak word. Hoofstukke 2, 3, 4 en 5 bestaan uit die eerste vier studies, waartydens sekere bestuurs-aspekte, wat moontlik oorlewing van volstruiskuikens kan verbeter (nl: populasiedigtheid, tipe vloer-oppervlak, die aanwending van broeipare en die aanwending van peetouers), ondersoek is. Hoofstukke 6, 7, 8 & 9 handel oor studies wat gerig is om voeding meer aanloklik te maak vir volstruiskuikens teneinde voedselinname te stimuleer en sodoende produksie en oorlewing te verbeter (nl: verskaffing van groenvoer, geur van voer, kleur van voer en beligting van voer). Die laaste hoofstuk bestaan uit ‘n algemene gevolgtrekking en aanbevelings. Alhoewel daar gepoog is om herhaling in hoofstukke te beperk, was dit onmoontlik om herhaling van sekere gedeeltes van hoofstukke te voorkom.

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Hassani, Mohammed A. "Small scale farming and agricultural risks in the semi-arid areas of Jordan." Thesis, McGill University, 1988. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=74061.

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Jay, Grace Mairi M. "Symbolic order and material agency: A cultural ecology of native forest remnants on Waikato dairy farms." The University of Waikato, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10289/2603.

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Loss of native biological diversity is a world-wide problem of growing international concern. One of the main causes of native biodiversity loss is destruction and degradation of native habitat through land development for agriculture. The Waikato region is an example of the destruction and degradation of native habitat in association with the development and intensification of farming, including dairy farming. This thesis explores cultural reasons for the loss of native forest in the Waikato region, and reasons why fragments of native forest remain. The research involves a participant observation study of 'typical' dairy farm families for 9 months of the dairy year, in-depth interviews of dairy farmers who have protected a significant proportion of their land for conservation of native habitat, a questionnaire of dairy farmers, and an examination of dairy farm magazines and other literature to identify the values and attitudes that motivate dairy farmers in relation to land management and protection of native habitat. The title of the thesis suggests two elements that are important for understanding the loss and persistence of native forest in Waikato's farmed landscapes. Symbolic reason refers to the values, attitudes and perceptions of farmers that derive from socio-political and economic forces which encourage productivist practises that leave little opportunity for native forest to survive. Material agency refers to the local circumstances of particular farms and individual people which enable native forest to persist. The thesis argues that persistence of native forest depends on the idiosyncrasies of material circumstance in the face of relentless pressure to transform the production landscape for economic purposes. The thesis concludes with a suggestion that policies to assist survival of native habitat in farmed landscapes need to include ones that encourage the odds in favour of fortuitous circumstance. In the face of globalised economic pressures, policies for conservation of native biodiversity need to involve a 'portfolio' of measures that apply to individual landowners and the wider rural community by recognising, assisting and rewarding management for non-production values.

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Poynton, S. L. "Parasites of trout : Epizootiology and transmission in the River Itchen and three of its fish farms." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1985. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.384352.

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Heaton, Michael Wallace. "English interwar farming : a study of the financial outcomes of individual farms, 1919-1939." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/36255.

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The interwar years were particularly harsh for the farming community. The big upsurge of prices during the Great War was quickly reversed in 1920-1921. Government considered the plight of farming in 1923 but, when this improved, continued laissez-faire policies throughout the 1920s. However, they became interventionist in 1932-1933, first with subsidies for wheat and then later with cattle and other grain products. There is scant research into the profitability of the different branches of farming. While there is reasonable historiography for the 1920s, there is very little detailed information about the fortunes of farming in the 1930s, a gap which this thesis has filled. This study is based on 35 studies of profitability of individual farming operations, and it uniquely offers an insight into the minutiae of farming in the interwar years. Apart from identifying individual trends of the components of arable and livestock farming, it also evidences benefits of specialisation or competitive edge where these were found. After the price adjustment of 1920-1921, mixed farming was the first to become unprofitable due to increasing imports from major grain producing countries. Cattle were the next to come under pressure from the Meat Trusts of North America. Milk had its problems too, so no sector was immune during the study period. The 1930s were almost universally harsh for farming, with the exception of cattle grazing in the second half of that decade. Where in earlier times there may have been a greater degree of commonality of outcomes with mixed farming at the fore, this later period saw a divergence in farmers’ fortunes, which this thesis articulates.

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Freitas, Neto Oliveiro Caetano de [UNESP]. "Pesquisa de Salmonella sp na cadeia produtiva de avestruzes no Sudeste do Brasil." Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/95967.

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-02-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:56:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 freitasneto_oc_me_jabo.pdf: 351713 bytes, checksum: 82c0d6bd573bc832444c3d0fe2427852 (MD5)
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
As criações de avestruzes vêm se desenvolvendo no Brasil e em outros países. De acordo com a literatura, Salmonella sp está envolvida na mortalidade de filhotes de avestruzes, sendo também importantes causadoras de toxinfecção alimentar em seres humanos. Apesar disso, existem poucos estudos envolvendo a pesquisa de Salmonella sp nesta espécie. Desse modo, elaborou-se o presente trabalho com o objetivo de pesquisar Salmonella sp em avestruzes de uma propriedade da região sudeste do Brasil. Para isso, foram realizados exames bacteriológicos, em 80 amostras de fezes de avestruzes (colhidas nas varias fases da criação), 90 ovos não eclodidos, 30 amostras de ração e em 30 amostras de fezes de roedores presentes na propriedade. Em seguida, investigou-se Salmonella sp em fezes, conteúdo cecal, fígado, baço e carcaça de 90 avestruzes abatidos. Aliado a isso, colheu-se o soro sanguíneo destes animais para a realização do “teste da Pulorose”. Os exames microbiológicos demonstraram ausência de Salmonella sp em amostras de fezes de roedores e em fezes, ovos, conteúdo cecal, fígado, baço e carcaça dos avestruzes analisados. Por outro lado, Salmonella enterica subespécie enterica 4, 12: i:- foi isolada de uma amostra de ração e Salmonella Javiana de outras duas. O teste sorológico foi negativo nas 90 amostras. O sistema de criação, o bom manejo sanitário adotado na propriedade e a adoção dos programas de Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) e Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC) no abatedouro contribuíram para a ausência de Salmonella sp nas amostras examinadas.
In recent years, the ostrich farming has expanded considerably in Brazil and all over the world. According to literature, Salmonella sp causes mortality in ostrich chicks, being also responsible for human food borne diseases. Even though, little research has focused on Salmonella in ostriches. This study was elaborated with the purpose to search for Salmonella sp in ostriches of a farm located on Brazilian southwest region. By conventional microbiological method, Salmonella sp was researched in 80 samples of ostrich’s droppings, 90 eggs, 30 samples of feed and 30 samples of droppings from resident rodent population. In sequence, this bacterium was searched in droppings, caecal content, spleen, liver and carcass from 90 slaughtered ostriches. Also, blood serum of those animals were harvested and submitted to test for Pullorum Disease (Rapid Serum Blood Agglutination Test). No Salmonella sp was detected in eggs, caecal content, liver, spleen, carcass and droppings from ostriches, nor in droppings from rodents. On the other hand, Salmonella Javiana was isolated from two samples of feed and Salmonella enterica enterica 4, 12: i:- from another one. The serologic test was negative for all samples. The management of ostrich farming, the good sanitary management adopted on farm and the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) during the slaughter process contributed for absence of Salmonella sp on samples assayed.

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Freitas, Neto Oliveiro Caetano de. "Pesquisa de Salmonella sp na cadeia produtiva de avestruzes no Sudeste do Brasil /." Jaboticabal : [s.n.], 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/95967.

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Orientador: Angelo Berchieri Junior
Banca: Karin Werther
Banca: Antonio José Piantino Ferreira
Resumo: As criações de avestruzes vêm se desenvolvendo no Brasil e em outros países. De acordo com a literatura, Salmonella sp está envolvida na mortalidade de filhotes de avestruzes, sendo também importantes causadoras de toxinfecção alimentar em seres humanos. Apesar disso, existem poucos estudos envolvendo a pesquisa de Salmonella sp nesta espécie. Desse modo, elaborou-se o presente trabalho com o objetivo de pesquisar Salmonella sp em avestruzes de uma propriedade da região sudeste do Brasil. Para isso, foram realizados exames bacteriológicos, em 80 amostras de fezes de avestruzes (colhidas nas varias fases da criação), 90 ovos não eclodidos, 30 amostras de ração e em 30 amostras de fezes de roedores presentes na propriedade. Em seguida, investigou-se Salmonella sp em fezes, conteúdo cecal, fígado, baço e carcaça de 90 avestruzes abatidos. Aliado a isso, colheu-se o soro sanguíneo destes animais para a realização do "teste da Pulorose". Os exames microbiológicos demonstraram ausência de Salmonella sp em amostras de fezes de roedores e em fezes, ovos, conteúdo cecal, fígado, baço e carcaça dos avestruzes analisados. Por outro lado, Salmonella enterica subespécie enterica 4, 12: i:- foi isolada de uma amostra de ração e Salmonella Javiana de outras duas. O teste sorológico foi negativo nas 90 amostras. O sistema de criação, o bom manejo sanitário adotado na propriedade e a adoção dos programas de Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) e Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC) no abatedouro contribuíram para a ausência de Salmonella sp nas amostras examinadas.
Abstract: In recent years, the ostrich farming has expanded considerably in Brazil and all over the world. According to literature, Salmonella sp causes mortality in ostrich chicks, being also responsible for human food borne diseases. Even though, little research has focused on Salmonella in ostriches. This study was elaborated with the purpose to search for Salmonella sp in ostriches of a farm located on Brazilian southwest region. By conventional microbiological method, Salmonella sp was researched in 80 samples of ostrich's droppings, 90 eggs, 30 samples of feed and 30 samples of droppings from resident rodent population. In sequence, this bacterium was searched in droppings, caecal content, spleen, liver and carcass from 90 slaughtered ostriches. Also, blood serum of those animals were harvested and submitted to test for Pullorum Disease (Rapid Serum Blood Agglutination Test). No Salmonella sp was detected in eggs, caecal content, liver, spleen, carcass and droppings from ostriches, nor in droppings from rodents. On the other hand, Salmonella Javiana was isolated from two samples of feed and Salmonella enterica enterica 4, 12: i:- from another one. The serologic test was negative for all samples. The management of ostrich farming, the good sanitary management adopted on farm and the application of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) during the slaughter process contributed for absence of Salmonella sp on samples assayed.
Mestre

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Xu, Qing Yun. "The competitiveness of Ontario dairy farms : a farm level analysis." Thesis, McGill University, 2009. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=116061.

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The Canadian supply managed dairy sector is likely to face more competitive pressure from challenges through the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the changing global trade environment. Therefore, it is highly prudent for Canadian dairy producers to focus their concern on their level of competitiveness and how to improve it. This study investigated the competitiveness of Ontario dairy sector based on a sample of farm level data with a Box-Cox transformed econometric cost model. The data were gathered by the Ontario Dairy Farm Accounting Project, for the years 2005, 2006, and 2007. The impacts of output, yield per cow and several farm-specific characteristics on the average cost of milk production were examined. Results support the presence of significant size economies and yield economies within Ontario milk production. Minimum costs were achieved for farms with approximately 125 cows. The results also indicated that some farm-specific characteristics, breed and region, also had significant impacts on the cost of Ontario milk production. However, it appears that Ontario farms may find it difficult to survive if they are forced to face international competition. Even at their minimum, average costs were above an indicator international dairy price.

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Mugido, Worship. "A financial cost-benefit analysis of the implementation of a small-camp system in ostrich farming to allow veld restoration." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6640.

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Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Before the ostrich industry started in the Klein Karoo region of South Africa in 1863, the veld was used mainly for large and small stock production. Returns per hectare (ha) from large and small stock production are low due to the low carrying capacity of the veld in this region. However, when the veld is utilised predominantly to provide space for breeding ostriches sustained mainly by lucerne-based feed supplements, the limited-feed production capacity no longer determines the long-term stocking rate. The returns, per ha, from ostrich production can therefore be much higher than from sheep, goats and cattle. This has resulted in high ostrich stocking rates, which in turn, has caused degradation to most of the veld to a greater or lesser extent. Driven by a personal conviction to manage the veld sustainably, as well as by a fear of environmental damage connotations for ostrich leather products, which could restrict market access, ostrich farmers in the Klein Karoo, represented by the South African Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC), increasingly place an emphasis on veld restoration. The various phases of ostrich production are breeding and hatching eggs to produce day-old chicks, rearing chicks, raising birds, and the final phase of weight addition to slaughter. The phase that is considered in this study is the production of day-old chicks. There are two systems that can be used for producing day-old ostrich chicks, namely, the flock breeding system and the small-camp system. Shifting from the flock breeding system to the smallcamp system will enable the farmer to practice genetic selection. This switch from the flock breeding system to the small-camp system requires the farmer to invest in fencing material. The SAOBC requested a study to determine whether the expected private benefits from moving breeding ostriches to small camps in order to free up the large veld camps for veld restoration would justify investing in these small camps. If this investment is not financially justified, the veld restoration will have to be financed via payment for ecosystem services. Both passive and active veld restoration techniques are considered in this study. Passive restoration requires the farmer to invest in fencing material needed for the erection of the small camps. Active restoration requires the farmer to invest not only in fencing material, but also in soil manipulation and seeding. The main aim of this study is to find out if the private (financial) benefits from the switch to small camps can compensate for fencing costs, without the cost of active restoration, or if the switch to small camps can compensate for fencing costs with the cost of active restoration. Typical farm models were developed for this purpose, and the results showed that the private benefits compensate for the investment cost of fencing material used for passive restoration as well as for restoration of 10% of the veld that is heavily degraded. When the full cost of active restoration of the moderately degraded veld (30%) was added, the private benefits could not compensate for the full restoration cost.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voordat die volstruisbedryf in 1863 in die Klein Karoo ontstaan het, is die veld hoofsaaklik gebruik vir groot- en kleinveeproduksie. Die wins per hektaar van groot- en kleinvee produksie in hierdie streek is laag weens die lae drakrag van veld. Wanneer die veld egter primêr aangewend word vir ruimte vir volstruise wat met lusern gebaseerde rantsoene gevoer word, bepaal die natuurlike drakrag nie meer die belading met volstruise oor die langer termyn nie. Die wins per hektaar uit volstruisboerdery kan dus veel hoër wees as wat met skape, bokke of beeste gegenereer kan word. Dit het hoë belading met volstruise tot gevolg gehad wat vernieling van meeste van die veld tot gevolg gehad het. Gedryf deur persoonlike oortuiging om die veld volhoubaar te benut, sowel as deur vrees dat die vernielde veld die beeld van die volstruisbedryf mag skaad en internasionle marktoegang mag belemmer, het volstruisprodusente in die Klein Karoo, verteenwoordig deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Volstruisbesigheidskamer (SAVBK), toenemend klem begin plaas op veldrestorasie. Die verskillende fases van volstruisproduksie sluit in teling en uitbroei van eiers om dagoud kuikens te lewer, kuikens grootmaak, voëls grootmaak en massa toename tot by slag. Die verskillende fases word dikwels deur verskillende produsente behartig. Die fase waarop in hierdie ondersoek gefokus word is die produksie van dagoud kuikens. Daar bestaan twee stelsels vir die produksie van dagoud kuikens, naamlik tropparing en die kleinkamp stelsel. Die oorskakeling van tropparing na die kleinkamp stelsel stel die produsent in staat om genetiese seleksie toe te pas, maar dit verg investering in omheiningsmateriaal. Die SAVBK het ‘n ondersoek aangevra om te bepaal of die verwagte privaat voordele wat verkry kan word uit die oorskakeling na die kleinkamp stelsel om veldrestorasie moontlik te maak, die investering in die kleinkampe sal regverdig. Indien die investering nie finansieel geregverdig kan word nie, sal verder gekyk moet word na finansiering vanuit betaling vir ekostelsel dienste wat moontlik bevorder kan word deur die veldrestorasie. Die koste van beide passiewe en aktiewe veldrestorasie tegnieke word in hierdie ondersoek gedek. Passiewe restorasie vereis alleen van die produsent om te investeer in omheiningsmateriaal vir kleinkampe. Aktiewe restorasie vereis investering in omheiningsmateriaal vir kleinkampe en betaling vir grondmanipulasie en saad vir die hervestiging van plante. Die doel van die ondersoek is om te bepaal of die privaat (finansiële) voordele van die oorskakeling na kleinkampe kan kompenseer vir die investering in omheiningsmateriaal met aktiewe veldrestorasie en sonder aktiewe veldrestorasie (dus passiewe restorasie). Tipiese plaasmodelle is hiervoor ontwikkel. Die resultate toon dat die privaat voordele wel kan kompenseer vir die omheiningskoste van kleinkampe benodig vir passiewe restorasie en vir aktiewe restorasie van 10% van die veld wat die meeste verniel is. Wanneer die koste van restorasie van 30% van die veld wat matig verniel is, bygevoeg word, is die privaat voordele ontoereikend om die totale restorasiekoste te dek.

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17

Sipoko, Nomava. "Effect of irrigation farming potential on commercialization of smallholder farming in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019772.

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Enhancement of smallholder production to improve rural livelihood is an important policy goal in developing countries. Research findings indicate that smallholder production can be improved through establishment of new smallholder irrigation schemes, and the rehabilitation of abandoned ones. Smallholder irrigation has a potential to contribute significantly in shifting smallholder farming to commercial farming. Although the roles of irrigating farmers are clearly defined, smallholder farmer’s development results in South Africa have been disappointing. The performance of smallholder irrigation is unsatisfactory. Smallholder irrigation has failed to improve the standard of living and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in South Africa. The majority of farmers are still producing at subsistence level. This study, therefore, aimed to contribute to smallholder irrigation literature in two ways; firstly by evaluating the extent of irrigation participation of smallholder farmers towards commercialization in the study areas. The study also examined the determinants of irrigation participation among smallholder farmers. A sample of 80 households was drawn by random sampling of smallholders in four villages as follows: 40 respondents from Mgxabakazi and Dinizulu villages and 40 respondents from Ncorha flats and Tshatshu. The sample included both irrigators and non-irrigators. Descriptive analysis shows that irrigators had better production and wellbeing than non-irrigators. For the inferential analysis of the data, two models were employed namely, Binary Logistic Regression Model (BRM) and Truncated Regression Model (TRM). The Binary Regression model was used to predict the probability of farmers participating in irrigation schemes. Whether or not a farmer participated in irrigation was introduced as the binary dependent or response variable that could be explained by a range of explanatory or predictor variables such as source of water, land size, ability to sustain business, membership in the scheme, market access, availability of the irrigation system, willingness to irrigate, farming type commercial or subsistence and institutional support services. From these predictor variables, being part of the irrigation, ability to sustain business and market were found to be factors influencing farmer’s decision to participate. The second model required the in-depth investigation of the influence of irrigation participation as reflected by extent of commercialization. In order to do this, the level of commercialization was measured by calculating Household Commercialization Index. Then the truncated regression model (TR) was used to test the factors that affect the level of commercialization for the farmers who are participating in the irrigation schemes.Age, irrigated land, willingness to commercialize and gross value of production were found to exert strong influence on the level of commercialization among farmers participating in irrigation. The study recommends that investments in smallholder irrigation should receive high priority, with emphasis on collective action, promotion of contract farming and strengthening the support services from government and the private sector, and ensuring enhanced access to market to all farmers.

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Kirwan, Susanne. "Best uses of labour for animal welfare and productuvity in extensive sheep farming systems in Britain." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2010. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=136665.

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In relation to hill sheep, the perception is that they live to a high welfare standard with minimal labour input per ewe, and that there is little reason for concern. This perception has however not been confirmed by science to date, chiefly due to a lack of research interest into the hill sheep sector. Meanwhile, extensive sheep farming faces increasing economic pressures, with low returns and falling government subsidy that may compromise animal welfare. Labour has been shown to be a key input factor for both productivity and welfare in extensive production systems. Despite this, little research has been done to try and optimise the labour input for productivity and welfare. This study is a first attempt to link labour input, productivity and welfare in extensive sheep systems through empirical observation and computer modelling. The fieldwork was undertaken from 2007 to 2009 on three research farms and three commercial farms. Labour use was analysed within a number of defined tasks. Linear programming (LP) modelling was then used to explore eight different scenarios with regard to sheep welfare, labour and productivity, and the potential impacts of specific management changes. Data analysis and model results showed hill sheep live to a high welfare standard according to the low incidence of welfare problems with low risks to productivity, confirming public expectations. Farmers, are however, aware their attention to an individual sheep’s welfare brings poor returns in terms of flock productivity. With this in mind, there is some scope for welfare-beneficial or –neutral reductions in labour, particularly if within-farm movement, e.g. between grazing areas, can be reduced. However, larger reductions of labour, even within legal guidelines, could seriously endanger the welfare of individual sheep, though without great risks to productivity at flock or farm level. Thus considerable savings in labour might, in some circumstances, reduce costs and hence improve profitability.

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Lévesque, Micheline. "Comparison of soil properties between conventional and organically managed farms in eastern and central France." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=67542.

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Field plots under organic and conventional management system were investigated to detect the effects of soil management practices on their soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties. The 16 farms studied, located in France, were arranged into eight matched pairs (organic/conventional).
The study revealed that in comparison with the conventionally managed soils, the organically managed soils tended to have equal to higher pH, buffering capacity, Ca, organic matter and moisture contents, and lower potential acidity values, as well as higher numbers of aerobic mesophyle and lactobacilli, and more intense alkaline phosphatase activity. The differences in soil properties between the members of matched pairs, in general were relatively small.
Soil organic matter content and nutrient availability (Ca, P), the use of lime and/or soil CaCO$ sb3$ concentrations, and use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides were found to have an influence on soil microbial activity. Soil and crop type were also found to influence some of the chemical and biological properties.

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Green, Susan. "Facilitating the transition from conventional to sustainable farming systems on six farms in southern Quebec." Thesis, McGill University, 1991. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=60537.

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The transition from conventional to sustainable farming has been limited in Quebec by the absence of a comprehensive strategy, applicable at the farm level, to facilitate the transition process. This study summarizes the popular discussion pertaining to planning the farm transition, and the following six concepts that are useful to take into account when designing sustainable systems: vision, creativity, values, the efficiency - substitution - redesign spectrum, an holistic, systems perspective of the farm, and popular participation in the development process. Case studies of six farms in the early phase of transition are presented. Farm and farmer characteristics are detailed as well as the potential of each to influence the evolution of the farm. The outcomes of farm-level planning and activities in the first two transitional years are described. Particular attention is paid to the implications of creative visioning and approaches to problem solving, value adjustments, decision-making criteria, and the farmers' perceived restraining forces. A comprehensive, practical strategy designed to facilitate the farm transition process is constructed. This combines the current popular template for appropriate planning and the theoretical constructs of sustainable development, with insights gathered from the six case study farms. Finally, procedures for using the strategy are outlined, together with some requirements for its further development.

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Dickinson, Jeffrey Alan. "Comparative economic and ecological analyses of lower chemical input fruit farms and other farming systems /." The Ohio State University, 1995. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487929745334264.

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22

Smyth, Jolene D. "Doing gender when home and work are blurred : women and sex-atypical tasks in family farming." Online access for everyone, 2007. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Dissertations/Summer2007/j_smyth_071507.pdf.

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23

Van, Zyl Pieter Luttig. "'n Ekonomiese evaluering van volstruisboerdery in die Oudtshoorn-omgewing." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/19874.

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Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACR: Approximately 10 years ago South Africa, and specifically the Oudtshoorn region was the only place in the world that supplied ostrich products for the international market. Today, South Africa is only one of several countries with commercial ostrich farming. The largest concentration of ostrich farmers in the world is, however, still in the Oudtshoorn region. Increasing competition, limited possibilities to diversify and the so-called price cost squeeze put the emphasis on aspects such as higher productivity and lower production costs. The profitability of ostrich farming, especially in the Oudtshoorn region, should urgently be determined and evaluated as farmers rely heavily on this venture as an only source of income. Decreases in slaughter realisations and slaughtering numbers have necessarily negative financial implications for the farmers, as well as for the community as a whole. Diversification is often considered strategic to avoiding or minimising risk. However, the possibilities to diversify especially to existing alternatives, have proven limited. One sure solution is to increase productivity of ostrich farming. Production parameters like the number of day-old chicks per female, chick mortality and slaughtering realisations were found to vary considerable providing scope for improvement. It is evident that several factors that determine the generated income lie outside the sphere of influence of the individual ostrich farmer. The large variation in production performances renders the industry risky, especially for farmers with liquidity problems. Two questionnaires as well as group discussion techniques were used to evaluate the economics of ostrich farming. Income and costing budget models were constructed on Microsoft Excel to be able to do calculations to the level of gross margin. A complete representative ostrich-farming unit was constructed to do calculations to the level of net farm income. The budget models were applied to (1) representative ostrich production practices for each of the three phases in the production process of ostrich farming, and (2) the representative ostrich-farming unit. The effect of different critical factors on the gross margin and net farm income of ostrich farming were thereafter evaluated. Different scenarios were also evaluated. The results of these analyses are representative of ostrich farming in the Oudtshoorn region. A computer model was developed whereby ostrich farming can be evaluated economically. This model can also be applied to assist individual farmers with their planning.As no research results exist on the economics of ostrich farming at micro level, several questions regarding the economics of ostrich farming prompted this study. These questions were answered using the above-mentioned computer models. The survival of the ostrich industry in the Oudtshoom region with its limited resources depends on a secure lead in technology which will enable farmers to produce products of higher quality, but also at lower costs than the rest of the world.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sowat 10 jaar gelede was Suid-Afrika, en spesifiek die Oudtshoom-omgewing, die enigste gebied in die wereld wat volstruisprodukte aan die wereldmark verskaf het. Vandag is Suid-Afrika egter een van vele lande waar kommersiele volstruisboerdery voorkom. Die grootste konsentrasie van volstruisboere in die wereld word egter steeds in die Oudtshoom-omgewing aangetref. Toenemende mededinging, beperkte moontlikhede om te diversifiseer en die sogenaamde pryskoste-knyptang impliseer dat aspekte soos hoer produktiwiteit en laer produksiekoste aandag moet geniet. 'n Behoefte bestaan om die winsgewendheid van die volstruisvertakking, spesifiek in die Oudtshoomomgewing, nie net te bepaal nie, maar ook te evalueer. Voistruisboere in die Oudtshoom-omgewing steun swaar op die volstruisvertakking vir die generering van inkomste. 'n Verlaging in slagrealisasies en 'n inkorting van slaggetalle het dus noodwendig negatiewe finansiele implikasies tot gevolg, nie net vir die volstruisboere nie, maar ook vir die hele gemeenskap. 'n Strategie om risiko te vermy, mag wees om te diversifiseer, maar die moontlikhede om te diversifiseer, veral na die bestaande vertakkings wat reeds verbou word, blyk egter beperk te wees. 'n Oplossing kan wees om die produktiwiteit van volstruisboerdery te verhoog, met ander woorde om bestaande dinge beter te doen. Groot variasies kom onder andere voor in die getal dagoudkuikens per wyfie, vrektesyfer onder kuikens en ook slagresultate. Groot ruimte vir verbetering bestaan dus. Dit blyk dan ook dat daar heelwat faktore is wat buite die invloedsfeer van die indiwiduele volstruisboer val wat bepalend is vir die inkomste wat 'n slagvolstruis realiseer. Die groot variasies, soos genoem, impliseer verder dat die risiko van volstruisboerdery hoog kan wees, veral vir volstruisboere met likiditeitsprobleme. Twee vraelysopnames en die groepbesprekingstegniek is gebruik om volstruisboerdery ekonomies te kon evalueer. Inkomste- en kostebegrotingsmodelle is op Microsoft Excel gekonstrueer ten einde berekeninge tot op die vlak van bruto marge te kon doen. 'n Volledige verteenwoordigende volstruisboerdery-eenheid is vervolgens gekonstrueer om berekeninge ook tot op die vlak van netto boerdery-inkomste te kon doen. Die begrotingsmodelle is toegepas op (0 verteenwoordigende volstruisproduksiepraktyke vir elk van die drie fases in die produksieproses van volstruisboerdery en (2) die verteenwoordigende volstruisboerdery-eenheid. Die effek van verskillende kritieke faktore op die bruto marge en netto boerdery-inkomste van volstruisboerdery is vervolgens geevalueer. Verskillende scenarios is ook aan die hand van die verteenwoordigende boerderyeenheid beoordeel. Die resultate van hierdie ontledings is verteenwoordigend van volstruisboerdery in die Oudtshoom-omgewing. 'n Rekenaarmodel is in die proses ontwikkel om volstruisboerdery ekonomies te kan evalueer. Hierdie model kan ook aangewend word om indiwiduele volstruisboere met beplanning te help. Heelwat vrae oor die ekonomie van volstruisboerdery het aanleiding gegee tot die aanvang van hierdie studie. Navorsingsresultate oor die ekonomie van volstruisboerdery op mikrovlak bestaan dan ook nie. Deur gebruik te maak van die genoemde rekenaarmodelle is vrae oor die ekonomie van volstruisboerdery beantwoord. Die enigste behoud van die volstruisbedryf in die Oudtshoom-omgewing, met sy beperkte hulpbronne, is 'n stewige voorsprong in tegnologie om nie net beter nie, maar ook goedkoper as die res van die wereld te produseer.

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24

Swart, Derick. "Studies on the hatching, growth and energy metabolism of ostrich chicks : Struthio Camelus var. Domesticus." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1154.

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Thesis (PhD(Agric) Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 1988.
Farming with ostriches became established as a new stock-farming activity in South Africa around 1863. Ostrich feathers were then the only commercial product of that activity and fifty years later still held fourth place on the list of exports from South Africa - after gold, diamonds and wool (Smit, 1963). However during the world depression of 1914 - 1945 the appeal of ostrich feathers vanished and the industry collapsed. Today commercial farming with domesticated ostriches (Struthi0 camelus var. domesticus), originating from a cross (Duerden, 1910; Smit, 1963, 1984) between the South African (Struthio camelus australis) and the North African ostriches (Struthio camelus camel us), is again a rapidly expanding activity in South Africa's Little Karoo. This is the only region in the world where farming with ostriches is still encountered at a commercial scale, and although relatively small in the general stock-farming scenario, it provides a livelihood for about 400 farmers who run some 150 000 ostriches. Feathers, together with ostrich leather and meat are all prominent export products that account for foreign exchange earnings of more than R30 million. In terms of monetary value the ostrich industry has grown by more than 300% over the past decade and by al most 100% in the 1ast 5 years. This high growth rate is primarily due to the steady development of the slaughter bird industry in which leather, meat and feathers account for more than 80% of the entire industry's turnover. Ostrich products, however, are primarily exclusive fashion products, of which more than 90% is exported. Because the world market is relatively small, expansion prospects for the industry are limited and sensitive to supply and demand. To ensure the industry's continued economic well-being, ostrich research pays particular attention to production techniques that will help to improve efficiency and result in better product quality and profitability. For the purpose of increased ostrich chick production, ostrich eggs are presently being incubated in large quantities (ca 200 000 eggs per annum). However, hatching success of ostrich eggs in incubators is considerably below that of natural nests, and Burger & Bertram (1981) suggested that it may be due to high humidities (63% relative humidity) commonly used in ostrich incubators. Investigations were undertaken to measure incubation temperatures and humidities during the complete course of 41 days of natural incubation in 6 ostrich nests. In addition, the water vapor conductance of the eggs was measured, as well as the incubation water loss which in other species averages 15% of the initial egg mass and has been proposed as an optimal condition for hatching success (Ar & Rahn, 1978; Rahn 1984). The natural incubation parameters measured during these experiments were adapted and applied to conditions of artificial incubation. This improved the realized hatchability from 50 to 75%. Furthermore the intensive production and finishing of slaughter birds on complete dry meal diets under feedlot conditions is a new development which contains exceptional possibilities for the industry (Swart & Kemm, 1985). Economically and biologically, efficient diet formulation has accordingly become essential for profitable slaughter bird production. The nutritional value of feed constituents for ostriches is, however, still unknown and without it effective least cost diet formulation and programming is not possible. Present growth and finishing diets for ostriches are based on energy values of the dietary components which have been derived from poultry (Blair, Daghir, Morimoto, Peter & Taylor, 1983; Du Preez, Duckitt & Paulse, 1986) and pig values (Kemm & Ras, 1981; NRC, 1973; IAFMM, 1985). This approach may, however, result in unreal estimation of the actual nutritional value of feed constituents for ostriches, so that quantification of their nutritional value has consequently become necessary. During 1985 a multi-disciplinary research programme on ostriches was initiated, the objective being to investigate the energy metabolism and the efficiency of energy utilization in growing farm ostriches. For the purpose of these experiments all ostrich chicks were incubated in an ostrich egg incubator, maintained at a dry bulb temperature of 36°C and a wet bulb temperature of 24,0 ± 1,0°C. These temperature settings were extrapolated from the natural incubation parameters measured in the six naturally incubated nests (Swart, Rahn & De Kock, 1987; Swart & Rahn, 1987). An important aspect of the studies on energy metabolism was to determine the extent to which plant fibre is digested in various segments of the gastrointestinal tract of growing ostriches and whether these birds utilize the end products of fibre digestion, namely volatile fatty acids such as acetic acid, efficiently. The possible use of metabolizable energy to evaluate feedstuffs for ostriches was an initial aim of this study. Subsequently the effect of crude fibre or energy concentration on the digestibility of gross energy, energy loss as methane, heat expenditure, and the effect on the efficiency of ME utilization were investigated. Finally accretion patterns and the partition of metabolizable energy during growth were studied in the young ostrich chick. The findings of the studies on incubation aspects (Section 1) are presented in Chapter 2 and 3 and that of the metabolism studies (Section 2) are presented in Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this dissertation.

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Murithi, Festus Meme. "Economic evaluation of the role of livestock in mixed smallholder farms of the central highlands of Kenya." Thesis, University of Reading, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.266341.

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Yokwe, Stanley Conficious Bartholomew. "Investigation of the economics of water supply as used by smallholder irrigation farmers in South Africa." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02062006-130808.

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Duval, Julie. "Herd health advisory services in organic dairy cattle farms." Thesis, Nantes, Ecole nationale vétérinaire, 2016. http://www.theses.fr/2016ONIR086F/document.

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Améliorer la santé des vaches laitières en élevage agrobiologiques (AB) est bien souvent nécessaire, pour ces élevages ne répondant pas toujours aux principes de l’AB et aux attentes des consommateurs d’avoir un niveau de santé et bien-être animal élevé. Cette thèse explore des voies d’amélioration du conseil sanitaire en vue d'améliorer la santé animale dans ces élevages. Les résultats de nos travaux montrent que les vétérinaires ont le plus souvent un rôle de thérapeute dans les élevages laitiers AB. L'obtention d'un rôle de conseiller a été entravée par des spécificités liées à l’AB, telles que les différences entre éleveurs et vétérinaires dans les objectifs de gestion de la santé des animaux et les pratiques sanitaires. Une étude d'intervention a été effectuée pour tester un dispositif de conseil dans des élevages AB en France et en Suède, basé sur l’utilisation d’outils de surveillance et prévention de maladies de production. Le dispositif a été réalisé en utilisant une approche participative, impliquant l’éleveur et le conseiller ; la flexibilité de l’outil a permis de produire un protocole de surveillance adaptée à chaque élevage. Bien qu’aucun effet sur la santé du troupeau n’a été prouvé, le dispositif a été perçu pour contribuer à la santé du troupeau par ses utilisateurs. Il a rempli la plupart de ses fonctions prévues de surveillance et de prévention des maladies et a stimulé le dialogue entre éleveurs et conseillers. Des outils qui stimulent le dialogue et qui sont adaptables à chaque élevage sont une voie à suivre pour le développement du conseil en santé animale
Improving herd health on organic dairy farms is often needed, since organic dairy farms do not consistently meet the organic principles and consumers’ expectations of high animal health and welfare. This thesis explores ways to improve the pertinence of herd health advisory services in order to improve animal health on organic dairy farms. The results of our studies show that veterinarians mostoften have a role of therapist on organic dairy farms. Obtaining a more advisory role was hampered due to specificities of the organic sector, such as differences between farmers and veterinarians in animal health management objectives and practices. An intervention study was performed testing a Herd Health and Production Management (HHPM) program on organic dairy farms in France and Sweden, based on herd health monitoring and disease prevention activities. The program was built using a participatory approach, making farmer and advisor work together ; the adaptability of the program allowed to design farm specific herd health monitoring tools. Although no effecton herd health measured, the program was perceived to contribute to herd health by its users. The program fulfilled most of its intended functions in herd healthmonitoring and disease prevention and stimulated dialogue between farmers and their advisors. We consider that dialogue promoting and tools adaptable to farm specific situations are a possible way forward for the development of advisory services in animal health

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Ferrell, Ann Katherine. "“Replacing” Tobacco on Kentucky Farms: Discourses of Tradition, Heritage, and Agricultural Diversification." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1253554961.

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Lipai, Monica. "Socioeconomic comparisons of organic and conventional farms in Canada : results from the 2001 Census." Thesis, McGill University, 2007. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=101864.

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This thesis examines differences between organic and conventional farm and operators' characteristics, and identifies which characteristics explain whether a farm is organic or conventional. The data comes from the 2001 Canadian Census of Agriculture, which makes this study the first that is national in scope and includes detailed analysis of the differences between organic and conventional agriculture using a large sample size.
Farms were divided into three groups: conventional, primarily organic, and mixed production (some organic production). Parametric and nonparametric tests were used to analyze farm and operator characteristics. Logistic regression was used to determine which variables explain whether a farm is organic, conventional or mixed. Results indicate that organic farmers are more likely to be younger, female, work less off farm and more on farm, when compared to conventional. Organic farms tend to be smaller, more profitable, more diversified, and have a higher dependency on hired labour. There were no differences in capital intensity. Mixed farms manifested the same patterns as organic when compared to conventional.

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Shubert, Natalie E. "No Farm, No Food: Organizing Appalachian Family Farms around the Politics of 'Good Food'." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1272911792.

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Mkhabela, Thulasizwe. "An econometric analysis of the economic and environmental efficiency of dairy farms in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6768.

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Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation is an analysis of dairy production in the Midlands district of KwaZulu-Natal. The analysis of agricultural production generally ignores undesirable outputs that are produced alongside desirable outputs. This research attempted to integrate a model of nitrate leaching from dairy production into a multiple input/output representation of the production technology, together with the analysis of technical efficiency. Estimation of both technical efficiency and environmental efficiency were done following the parametric econometric stochastic frontier (SFA) and the nonparametric mathematical programming data envelopment analysis (DEA) approaches. The study used unbalanced panel data from 37 individual highly specialized dairy farms for the period 2000 to 2007 and totals to 2130 observations. Production functions for the three outputs; milk, animals and farm produced feed, were fitted as a simultaneous system to model the farms’ production activities for the econometric SFA estimation of technical efficiency. A single equation reduced form was fitted as a frontier to allow for the estimation of the relative efficiencies of the individual farms. The results showed that with data this detailed it was possible to refine the model until it fits very tightly. Indeed, in the gross output model that includes cows, there was nothing left to call inefficiency and what was clearly a frontier becomes a mean response function. Technical efficiency was further calculated using the nonparametric DEA approach using the same dataset. The estimation of environmental efficiency was done using both SFA and DEA approaches. Undesirable emissions of nitrate were represented within the models by calculating nitrogen surplus (kg/ha) for each farm. This nitrogen surplus value was based on the intensity of the use of nitrogen containing inputs and the nitrogen content of marketable products specific information and from farm data which were used to calculate a farm nitrogen balance. The stochastic estimation of environmental efficiency used the same data that were used for the estimation of technical efficiency. However, for the DEA calculation of environmental efficiency, a balanced cross-section dataset for 34 farms participating in a pasture-utilization programme was used. This dataset was used because it had quantities of nitrogen fertilizer and other nitrogen containing inputs. Results indicate that there was minimal “over-usage” (over production) of milk thus reducing milk output alone will not lead to improved environmental efficiency. Farm size, herd size, and quantity of nitrogen fertilizer applied, present the best scope of reducing nitrogen surplus thus improving environmental efficiency of the dairy farms. Reducing imported feed by relying more on home grown feed can also help reduce nitrogen surplus. This is feasible because dairy farmers in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands can produce most of the feed on farm. In summary, to obtain environmental efficiency milk production would have to be reduced by 80 litres per hectare; farm size by 73.69 ha; herd size by 33 cows, nitrogen fertilizer application by 74.3 kilograms per hectare; and imported feed by 13.4 kilograms of dry matter per hectare. The adjustments that would be required if environmentally inefficient farms were to adopt best practice technology and move towards their environmental production frontiers indicate that the production of pollutants (nitrogen surplus) could be reduced at negligible cost to milk production. The positive correlation between technical and environmental efficiencies indicates that improving environmental efficiency could be associated with improvements in technical efficiency. Thus, policies aimed at improving both efficiencies could have substantial rewards.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word suiwelproduksie in die Middellande van KwaZulu-Natal van nader beskou. Met die ontleding van landbouproduksie, word ongewenste uitsette wat saam met gewenste uitsette geproduseer word, gewoonlik oor die hoof gesien. Hierdie navorsing poog om ’n model van nitraatvrylating uit suiwelproduksie in ’n veelvuldige inset/uitset verteenwoordiging van die produksietegnologie, te integreer by die analise van tegniese doeltreffendheid. In opvolging van die benaderings tot die parametriese ekonometriese stogastiese front (SFA) en die omvattingsanalise ten opsigte van die nie-parametriese matematiese programmeringsdata, is beramings van sowel tegniese as omgewings doeltreffendheid gedoen. In die studie is gebruik gemaak van paneeldata van 37 individuele hoogs gespesialiseerde melkplase vir die tydperk 2000 tot 2007, wat altesaam 2130 waarnemings beloop. Produksiewerksaamhede vir die drie uitsette; melkproduksie en diere- en plaasgeproduseerde voer, is as ’n gelyklopende stelsel ingepas om die plase se produksiewerksaamhede vir die ekonometriese SFA-beramings van tegniese doeltreffendheid weer te gee. ’n Enkele vorm om gelykmaking te verminder is daargestel as ’n front vir die beraming van die relatiewe doeltreffendhede van die individuele plase. Die resultate het bewys dat data van hierdie omvang dit moontlik maak om die model sodanig te verfyn dat dit net-net inpas. By die bruto uitset-model waarby koeie ingesluit is, was daar inderdaad niks wat op ondoeltreffendheid gedui het nie en wat eers ’n duidelike front was, het ’n betekenisvolle responsfunksie geword. Voorts is tegniese doeltreffendheid bereken deur aanwending van die nie-parametriese DEAbenadering, deur gebruik te maak van dieselfde datastel. Die beraming van omgewingsdoeltreffendheid is gedoen deur gebruikmaking van sowel SFA- as DEA-benaderings. Ongewenste nitraatvrylatings is in die modelle gevind deur die stikstofsurplus vir elke plaas te bereken (kg/ha) Die waarde van hierdie stikstofsurplus is gebaseer op die intensiteit van die gebruik van stikstofbevattende insette en bepaalde inligting oor die stikstof-inhoud van bemarkbare produkte, sowel as van plaas data, wat gebruik is om ’n stikstofbalans vir die plaas te bereken. Dieselfde data wat aangewend is vir die beraming van tegniese doeltreffendheid, is gebruik om die stogastiese beraming van omgewingsdoeltreffendheid te bepaal. Vir die DEA-berekening van omgewingsxii doeltreffendheid, is egter ’n gebalanseerde kruisseksie datastel gebruik vir 34 plase wat aan ’n weidingsbenuttings-program deelgeneem het. Die bepaalde datastel is gebruik omdat dit dosisse stikstofbemestingstof en ander stikstofbevattende insette bevat het. Resultate het op minimale “oorgebruik” (oorproduksie) van melk gedui en daarom sal die vermindering van slegs die melkuitset nie lei tot verbeterde omgewingsdoeltreffendheid nie. Plaasgrootte, kuddegrootte en die dosis stikstof wat toegedien is, verskaf die beste beeld van verminderde stikstofsurplus, wat dus tot verbeterde omgewingsdoeltreffendheid op melkplase lei. Die vermindering van ingevoerde voer deur meer op plaasgeproduseerde voer staat te maak, kan ook meewerk om stikstofsurplus te laat daal. Dit kan gedoen word omdat melkboere in die Middellande van KwaZulu-Natal die meeste van die voer op die plaas kan produseer. Ter samevatting kan gesê word dat om omgewingsdoeltreffendheid te bereik moet melkproduksie met 80 liter per hektaar verminder word, plaasgrootte met 73.69 ha, kuddegrootte met 33 koeie, stikstofbemestingtoediening met 74.3 kilogram per hektaar en ingevoerde voer met 13.4 kilogram droë materiaal per hektaar. Die aanpassings wat nodig sal wees indien omgewingsdoeltreffende plase beste praktyk-tegnologie sou aanvaar en sou aanbeweeg na hulle omgewingsproduksiefronte, dui daarop dat die produksie van besoedelende stowwe (stikstofsurplus) verminder kan word teen geringe koste aan melkproduksie. Die positiewe verband tussen tegniese en omgewingsdoeltreffendhede, dui daarop dat die verbetering van omgewingsdoeltreffendheid, in verband gebring kan word met verbeterings in tegniese doeltreffendheid. Beleid wat op verbetering van beide doeltreffendhede gemik is, kan daarom aanmerklike voordele inhou.

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Plew, David Russell. "The Hydrodynamic Effects of Long-line Mussel Farms." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Civil Engineering, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/1069.

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The hydrodynamic effects of long-line mussel farms are studied through a two-pronged approach. Large-scale hydrodynamic effects are investigated through the use of field measurements, primarily at a large mussel farm in Golden Bay, New Zealand (230 long-lines, covering an area of 2.45 km by 0.65 km). The research focuses on three areas: the effect of the farm on currents, mixing and stratification, and the dissipation of wave energy. Measurements are also made of the forces on long-line anchor ropes, and a limited investigation is made of phytoplankton depletion. The second approach is the use of laboratory drag measurements and Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) to study the effect of mussel dropper (vertical lengths of mussel-encrusted crop rope) roughness and spacing on flow at small scales. These experiments provide data on very rough cylinders, and on cylinder arrays. The field measurements show that the local effects of mussel farms on currents are significant, but that magnitudes of the effects depend on dropper density, mussel sizes, orientation of the long-lines to the flow, and other parameters that are necessary to characterise the complex interactions between a farm and the flow. The drag on the submerged structures reduces water velocities within the Golden Bay farm by between 47% and 67%. Mussel farms present a porous obstacle to the flow, and flow that does not pass through the farm must be directed around or beneath it. The field measurements indicate that at the study site, most of the flow is diverted around the farm despite its large horizontal dimensions. The droppers at the study site extend over most of the water column (average dropper length ~ 8 m, average water depth ~ 11 m), providing a restriction to the flow beneath the farm. The strength of the density stratification may also favour a horizontal diversion. The flow around the farm is essentially two-dimensional. This suggests that two-dimensional numerical models should be sufficient to obtain reasonable predictions of the velocity drop within, and the diversion around, mussel farms. A simple two-dimensional pipe-network model gives reasonable estimates of the velocity within the farm, demonstrating that the drag of the farm may be adequately parameterised through local increases of bed friction. A wake in the form of reduced velocities extends downstream of the farm, and a mixing layer analogy suggests that this wake spreads slowly. The downstream extent of the wake cannot be determined, although it is likely to be limited by the tidal excursion. The degree of vertical mixing caused by the flow through a mussel farm cannot be quantified, although there are clear interactions between the stratification and the farm. Two mixing mechanisms are considered. A shear layer is generated beneath the farm due to the difference in velocities between the retarded flow within the farm and the flow beneath. Shear layers beneath mussel farms are likely to be weak unless the ambient currents are strong. It will be necessary for stratification to be weak or non-existent for this mechanism to generate significant mixing. The second mechanism is smaller-scale turbulence generated by the mussel droppers. Although the efficiency of this form of mixing is likely to be low, the large number of mussel droppers suggests that there will be some enhancement of vertical mixing. Frequency-dependent wave attenuation is recorded, and is predicted with some success by an analytical model. Both the model and the field data show that wave dissipation increases as the wave period decreases. Wave energy dissipation at the study site averages approximately 10%, although the measurements are made during a period of low wave heights (Hs < 0.25 m). Measurements of long-line anchor rope tension at two study sites indicate that the loadings are induced by the tide, currents, and waves. Dynamic wave loadings may be significant, and higher wave forces are measured at the offshore end of a long-line. The issue of seston or phytoplankton depletion is considered briefly through the examination of fluorescence, turbidity, and acoustic backscatter data. Although the results are consistent with a reduction of seston within the farm, differences between the inside and outside of the farm are not statistically significant. Mussel droppers resemble extremely rough circular cylinders, with the mussel shells forming the surface roughness elements. Drag measurements and PTV flow visualisation are used to investigate the importance of the large surface roughness, and the influence of dropper spacing and long-line orientation on flow. Drag measurements conducted with smooth and rough cylinders show that high surface roughness (ks/D ~ 0.092) has little effect on the drag coefficient of single cylinders in the range 4,000 < Re < 13,000, yet increases the drag coefficient of a row of cylinders normal to the flow. High surface roughness on single cylinders has the effect of shortening the near-wake region, increasing the peak turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) behind the cylinder, and decreasing the Strouhal number (St = 0.21, 0.19, 0.17 for ks/D = 0, 0.048, and 0.094 respectively). Arrays of rough cylinders (ks/D = 0.094) demonstrate similar flow characteristics to those of smooth cylinders. At cylinder spacings of S/D < 2.2, the surface roughness acts to favour the formation of a particular metastable wake pattern, whereas different metastable wake patterns are formed each run behind the smooth cylinders. The experiments show that the drag on single row arrays of cylinders are related to the cylinder spacing (increasing drag with decreasing spacing), and the drag also varies with the sine of the angle to the flow, except where the array is at low angles to the flow. The PTV measurements provide new data regarding the two-dimensional distributions of velocity, TKE, and turbulence statistics behind the cylinder arrays.

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Bruynis, Chris Lambert. "The effect of farm structure on civic engagement in farming dependant counties in the United States' corn belt region." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1173113229.

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Jörgensen, Hans. "Continuity or not? : Family farming and agricultural transformation in 20th century Estonia." Doctoral thesis, Umeå universitet, Ekonomisk historia, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-382.

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This doctoral thesis explores the agrarian development in 20th Estonia and the role of family farming during three major agricultural transformations. It consists of four papers and an introductory chapter for which the common departure are the situation appearing in the Estonian farming landscape after the regained independence in 1991. The first three studies analyse comparative aspects on Estonia's interwar experiences with focus on land reform, agricultural co-operation, and agricultural export development. The fourth study focuses on the role of private plots during the Soviet period and the conversion of these into subsistence holdings after 1991. By merging the perspectives in these papers, the introductory chapter explores the impacts and legacies of previous transformations on the post-Soviet agricultural transformation up to 2004. The thesis specifically analyses the long-term effects of perceptions of markets and the role of agricultural production, changes in the agrarian property relations, organisation of agricultural production and co-operation. In analytical terms, this is discussed from the perspectives of continuity and discontinuity. Besides the several societal changes affecting the agrarian property relations in 20th century Estonia, the radical and decisive shifts have also affected markets, trade and economic integration. Since the end of the First World War, Estonia has been quickly thrown between different economic-political systems and legal environments. From the perspective of the small state’s dependence on trade and reliance on a few markets, the upheavals in the early 1920s, after World War II, and not least the fall of the Soviet Union, Estonia’s long-term economic development has been significantly affected. In this context the role of agriculture has changed. Most important, however, this dissertation shows how the idea of small-scale family farming survived throughout the planned economic period and became an indispensable production unit, even though it turned out to be a myth as soon as the Soviet system was dissolved and the exposure to international competition began after 1991.

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Sibindi, Angels. "An analysis of the impact of contract farming on smallholding farming as a mechanism for value chain efficiency enhancement : the case of Mashonaland central province (Zimbabwe) smallholder tobacco farmers." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95661.

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Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research study has examined the impact of contract farming on enhancing efficiencies with the agricultural value chain for smallholder tobacco farmers in Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe. The major challenges facing smallholder farmers in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular relate to financial constraints, technical expertise and market access. Contract farming as a transactions-cost-focussed-model is considered more effectively responsive to those challenges than the pure market approach which insufficiently addresses the impact of information asymmetries, bounded rationality, uncertainty, governance challenges and infrastructure challenges, among others. It allows for closely monitored smallholder financing by agribusiness entities which reduces or eliminates the probability of loan default. Contract farming is seen as an important mechanism in transforming the fragmented, subsistence agriculture in rural Africa into high commercialised and viable business undertakings. In this study, extensive reference is made to literature on agriculture financing; empirical research data on smallholder productivity and loan recoverability is drawn and analysed using the quantitative research methodology. The analysis sought to test for relationships among a set of variables and in the process examined the impact of contract farming. A comparative analysis of national data on the contract and auction system of tobacco marketing was done with emphasis on production and sales volumes, crop quality, price stability and market access. The results from the quantitative analysis of farmer-level and country-level data indicated a strong correlation between smallholder farmer production, productivity and loan recoverability and contract farming value chain intervention mechanisms.

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Carter, Marc Robert. "A process for supporting natural resource management on farms : a case study in the Australian sub-tropical dairy industry /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2005. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe19115.pdf.

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Nowata, Matsoba Sandile Jethro. "Farmers perspectives towards the rehabilitation and subsequent interventions by the LDA in the irrigation schemes in Sekhukhune District." Thesis, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/1293.

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Thesis (M.Sc (Agriculture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014
Small-scale irrigation farming has been found to have potential to improve agricultural production of the small-scale farmers and thereby improving their livelihoods. The Government of South Africa through the RESIS programme embarked on a project to increase agricultural production through investment in new or existing small scale irrigation schemes. Contrary to expectations, most of the government supported irrigation schemes have failed to meet the expectations of both government and farmers. The objectives of this study was to determine the perceived reasons for the failure of the irrigation schemes and determine the association between socio-economic characteristic of farmers and the perceived reasons for these schemes. Farmers who participated in the scheme or had participated (in the case of failed/dysfunctional schemes) in the RESIS irrigation schemes were randomly sampled and interviewed. Multinomial regression analysis was used to determine the association between farmers’ socio-economic profiles and their perceptions on the reasons for the failure of the schemes. According to farmers’ ranking, economic, competition and socio-cultural factors were perceived as having a large influence on the success of the schemes. Climate/ecological and technological factors were cited as having lesser influence on the success of the schemes. Socio-economic characteristics (literacy level, age, education level) of farmers and number of beneficiaries in a scheme had influence on how farmers perceive the influence of economic, competition, socio-cultural, technological, climate and administrative/management factors.. The strategic partnership model was generally found to encourage dependency and thus discouraging the sense of ownership. The findings revealed the importance of considering the socio-economic circumstances of farmers in future planning of the irrigation schemes to enhance the success of these schemes. The findings may also have implications for other government supported projects that involve communities with diverse needs and socio-economic profiles.

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Penston, Michael. "Dynamics of planktonic larval sea louse distribution in relation to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) farms in a Scottish sea loch." Thesis, Available from the University of Aberdeen Library and Historic Collections Digital Resources, 2009. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?application=DIGITOOL-3&owner=resourcediscovery&custom_att_2=simple_viewer&pid=25799.

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 2009.
Title from web page (viewed on June 26, 2009). With: Spatial and temporal distribution of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) larvae in a sea loch containing Atlantic salmon, Salmo salra L., farms on the north-west coast of Scotland / M. J. Penston ... et al. Journal of fish diseases. 2008: 31, 361-371. With: Reduced Lepeophtheirus salmonis larval abundance in a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland between 2002 and 2006 / Michael J. Penston, Colin P. Millar, Ian Davies. Dis. Aquat. Org. 2008: 81, 109-117. Includes bibliographical references.

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Kleynhans, Maria Magdalena. "An exploration of conflict in farming family businesses in the southern Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011275.

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Family businesses are considered to be among the most important contributors to wealth and employment in virtually the world. This qualitative study looked at farming family businesses. Farming family businesses present certain unique features that discern them from other family businesses and are worthy of investigation. Two domains are identified in the literature and research about conflict in family business: The business and the family. The researcher postulated that the domain of the family is too broadly drawn and that farming family systems in the Sibling Partnership Stage, with their unique way of life and functioning, consist of several sub-systems which impact on the business. Conflict develops in and between the sub-systems. This study looked at conflict within farming family businesses from a systemic viewpoint, particularly focusing on the process aspects, the interactional dynamics in and between the sub-systems. Four active types of subsystems were identified in the case studies: Couples subsystems, parent child subsystems, sibling subsystems, in-law subsystems or subsystems of which at least one member is an in-law. The research aim was to explore the circular patterns in the two cases as systems and to uncover the function of the conflict in these systems. In both cases, circular conflict patterns came to the fore with the subsystems part of the feedback loops. The conflict escalation happened between the subsystems as elements and the conflict paths were circular, not linear. Sub-themes around family scripts, communication and perceptions about fairness were also uncovered in the research. Both cases were family businesses in the two-generational development stage. The function of the conflict in both systems could only be hypothesised due to the exploratory nature of the research. The researcher hypothesized that the function of the conflict in the systems centred around conflict as an attempt in the system to shake loose from entrenched restricting family scripts. The important themes that presented themselves in the research not envisaged in the planning stage. These themes are part of the systemic patterning in both the cases: Perceptions of fairness or rather unfairness feed into the conflict loop. Rewards and compensation are sensitive matters in all families. The more there are perceptions of unfairness in a subsystem, the more entrenched that belief becomes, the more the conflict in the system escalates and the bigger the emotional distance gets from the assumed beneficiaries of benefits.

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Wheeler, Anita. "Factors influencing ecological sustainability in the ostrich industry in the Little Karoo, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1011741.

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The Little Karoo, situated in the Succulent Karoo biome of South Africa, has been heavily transformed by land use, and only 8.6% of the remaining natural vegetation is considered to be intact. There is ample evidence that the main cause of degradation is the overstocking of ostriches, an industry that has been the major economic driver of the area for more than 150 years. The ostrich stocking rate currently recommended is 22 ha.ostrich⁻¹. A literature review was used to examine the evidence, assumptions and rationale on which recommended and actually implemented stocking rates for ostriches are based. No experimental evidence using ostriches was found that supported the recommended stocking rate as either ecologically or economically sustainable. From the literature, there appears to be a wide gap between what are considered to be economically and ecologically sustainable stocking rates, with the implication that these two aims may be impossible to reconcile when practicing ostrich farming on natural veld. A comparison of recommended with actual stocking rates among land managers in the Little Karoo showed that all land managers far exceeded the recommended agricultural stocking rate of 22.8 ha.ostrich⁻¹. However, the stocking rates reported by land managers to the South African Ostrich Business Chamber were found to accurately reflect actual numbers determined when whole flocks had to be slaughtered after an outbreak of avian influenza. The recommended stocking rate appeared to be irrelevant to ostrich flock breeders and there appeared to be a trade-off between profitable ostrich farming and sustainable land-use practices. This study also investigated the attitudes and behaviour of ostrich farmers. It was found that environmental attitude is most likely the most important characteristic of a land manager to ensure positive conservation behaviour. This characteristic was most prominent in younger land managers with larger farms. The last component of the study integrated the context and complexity of the long term social, economic and ecological sustainability of this industry through the development of a logic model. The results showed a general lack of linkages between industry elements which impact on achieving sustainability targets. Greater collaboration between industry role-players, organized agriculture and conservation organizations is required to find a balance between utilization and conservation in the ostrich industry.

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Bhiya, Clovis Solomon. "The effect of different slaughter age regimes on the primary and secondary production parameters of Ostriches (Struthio Camelus Domesticus) and the economic consequences of different slaughter ages." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/837.

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The South African ostrich industry is presently characterised by a drastic decline in the slaughter price of slaughter birds, due to the drop in the price of meat as well as leather. As a result, the economic viability of ostrich farming is severely hampered by these developments, and many generally accepted industry practices have to be reviewed. Among the practices under review is the possibility of slaughtering ostriches at an earlier age than the traditional slaughter age of 12 - 14 months, in order to minimise feed costs and the incidence of damage to the skin. However, little information is available on the effect of the slaughter age on the yield and quality of the economically important end-products. The effect of slaughter age on production and the economic viability of a commercially intensive ostrich production system was consequently evaluated in a completely randomised experimental design involving two batches (n= 81 and n= 94) of ostriches. The experiments took place at Kromme Rhee experimental farm of the Elsenburg Research Centre near Stellenbosch. The birds were subject to experimental treatment at the age of 4 months (n= 81, from May 2004 to March 2005) and 6 months (n= 94, from August 2004 to August 2005) respectively. The ostriches were randomly divided into 10 groups of between 16 and 20 birds per group. Standard production practices, as applied in an intensive ostrich production unit, were implemented. Clean drinking water and self-mixed grower diet (min 15 percent crude protein, 0.68 percent lysine and 11.4 MJ ME per kg feed) and finisher diet (min 14 percent crude protein, 0.55 percent lysine and 9.8 MJ ME per kg feed) were provided ad libitum to the birds. Birds were slaughtered at the ages of 8.5, 10.5, 12.5, 14.5, and 16.5 months respectively. Data on feed intake and yields of cold carcass, crust skin size, skin grade and total feathers was recorded for birds slaughtered at the respective ages. Data was analysed according to the analysis of variances. Values for meat yield, skin size yield and feed intake were predicted by regression analysis based on experimental values. Industry figures and norms were used as proxy for other production inputs and costs. A gross margin type analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of different slaughter ages on the profitability of each production system. There was a positive correlation between age and feed intake (r2= 0.40), slaughter weight (r2= 0.97), cold carcass yield (r2= 0.48), skin surface area (r2= 0.39), skin grade (r2= 0.19) and total yield of feathers (r2= 0.29). The dry skin grade showed deterioration as slaughter age was prolonged. Highly significant differences (P< 0.01) in slaughter weight, cold carcass yield, skin surface area, dry skin grade and total feathers were detected at the different slaughter ages. There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) with respect to gender for slaughter weight, skin surface area and dry skin grade within the different age groups. Males had significantly higher (P< 0.05) cold carcass yield and total feather yield than their female counterparts. From this study it can be concluded that an increase in slaughter age significantly increases feed intake, slaughter weight, cold carcass yield, and skin surface area. It is also clear that an increase in slaughter age can be detrimental to dry skin grade. The relative income contribution of the three main products (skin: meat: feathers) occurred in a ratio of 47:53:0, 52:47:1, 47:50:3, 44:51:5, 39:56:5 at the respective slaughter ages. Total income revealed an increase of 26 percent from 8.5 to 10.5 months slaughtering, an increase of 4 percent between 10.5 and 12.5 months, and an increase of 11 percent between 12.5 and 14.5 months. The income dropped by 0.3 percent between 14.5 and 16.5 months slaughtering. Total costs increased with slaughter age, particularly feed costs which showed an increase (at a decreasing rate) between the different slaughter ages. The margin above specified cost per bird was the highest for birds slaughtered at the age of 10.5 months. The margin above cost showed a steady decline as birds were slaughtered at higher ages. Slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative margin. To compare the effect of differences in time span on different slaughter age regimes, margin above costs for each system over 5 years were discounted to a present value. In this study, with current feed costs and income from end products, slaughtering at 10.5 months revealed the highest present value for the margin above cost. Furthermore, slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative present value on the margin above cost after 5 years. Financial viability calculations are relevant and valid for data obtained in this case study. Financial viability is however case-specific and may vary between producers, depending on their individual management practices, production systems and cost structures. Results from this study may be of significant value to managerial decision-making in the ostrich industry.

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Karnopp, Erica. "Kleinbauern zwischen konventioneller und ökologischer Landwirtschaft : das Beispiel der Region Vale do Rio Pardo (Brasilien)." Tübingen Geograph. Inst. der Univ, 2006. http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&docl̲ibrary=BVB01&docn̲umber=014801337&linen̲umber=0001&funcc̲ode=DBR̲ECORDS&servicet̲ype=MEDIA.

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Curran, Mary E. "PIGS IN SPACE: GHOSTS, GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN A DEBATE ABOUT REGULATING INDUSTRIAL HOG FARMS IN KENTUCKY." Lexington, Ky. : [University of Kentucky Libraries], 2002. http://lib.uky.edu/ETD/ukygeog2002d00052/mcurran.pdf.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Kentucky, 2002.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 285 p. : ill., maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 251-270).

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Sebolai, Bridget. "Rural women's participation in commercial farming in Tweespruit." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20466.

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This study assesses the challenges confronted by rural women participating in small-scale commercial farming in Tweespruit, a rural town of the Free State Province. A qualitative, descriptive and explorative study was used for the study, and data was collected using focus group discussions during August 2015. The study found that rural women farmers are extremely challenged, as they are inadequately equipped as farmers, and they do not receive adequate aid from government or other entities, to enable them to turn their form of farming from subsistence farming to a more beneficial, commercialized form of farming. As a result, the study made the following recommendations. Firstly, the government should intensify programmes and strategies aimed at assisting rural women involved in farming activities. Secondly, it should also assist these farmers with training, especially in modern farming technologies, so as to grow their business into a commercialized form of farming. Finally, it was recommended that government facilitates these farmers to obtain funding from foreign donors to further grow their business.

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Netshifhefhe, Shandukani Rudolf. "The compilation of indigenous knowledge regarding insect pests in small-scale farming communities in North Eastern South Africa." Pretoria: [s.n.], 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-06302005-113354.

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Sishuta, Happy Babalwa. "The viability of small-scale farming at the Tyhefu Irrigation Scheme, Eastern Cape." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004924.

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This investigation is conducted against the background of current attempts to rehabilitate and revive the now defunct Tyhefu irrigation scheme. The poor track record of many irrigation schemes (despite huge investments) in the former homelands has prompted the government to reconsider its active and direct role in small-scale irrigation farming. This has resulted in the closure of many irrigation schemes including Tyhefu irrigation scheme. The new policy framework in South Africa, known as the irrigation management transfer, is premised on the transfer of ownership, authority and responsibility of small-scale irrigation schemes from government to the farmers. Tyhefu irrigation scheme was a state-driven, top-down initiative. This study argues that the justifications for the Tyhefu irrigation scheme were conflated, with the result that the need for political control of the Tyhefu area far outweighed the considerations regarding the financial viability and sustainability of the proposed project. Given the repressive political climate of the time in South Africa, the planners' proposals were a mechanism for the realization of the socio-political and economic agendas of the apartheid state and Ciskei government. Although technical factors critical for project success were examined, little or no attention was paid to the socio-economic aspects. For the planners, the main requirements for success entailed centralized managerial control, no participation of the beneficiaries, capital intensive and sophisticated agricultural techniques and the production of high value crops. Therefore, it can be argued that the nature of the planning and implementation of the Tyhefu irrigation scheme was ill-conceived, short-sighted and misguided. A review of the literature on irrigation development on the African continent provided useful insights for this study. The lessons from irrigation development experience in Sub-Saharan Africa indicate that the continent is littered with examples of derelict and costly failures. What stands out in many of these irrigation projects is their over-emphasis on technical issues to the complete neglect of human and other social aspects. Working partnerships between the farmers and irrigation scheme management could, thus, not be realized. Almost without exception the case studies used here indicate that the industrious type of farmer was never developed as was envisioned in the planning documents. Neither were rural livelihoods improved in a sustainable manner. The findings of this study suggest that irrigation management transfer is a complex and delicate process. In this new set of arrangements, beneficiaries face formidable challenges in terms of capacity (human and financial) if small-scale irrigation farming is to become a viable sector. No doubt, the viability and sustainability of the Tyhefu irrigation scheme demands a comprehensive package of interventions that address various issues of markets and marketing, capital investment and access to finance, technology, education and training, support and extension services. It is evident that institutional aspects and the related issue of functional literacy require much more attention than thus far. As a result, at the moment there is no possibility for independent agricultural production.
KMBT_363

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Pienaar, Petrus Louw. "Typology of smallholder farming in South Africa’s former homelands : towards an appropriate classification system." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85627.

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Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The agriculture sector continues to be viewed as a vehicle through which economic growth and development can be achieved; particularly for developing economies. This view is incorporated in South Africa’s rural development framework in the National Development Plan, which indicated that this sector will be the main driver in developing the country’s rural economies. However, the South African agricultural sector is known to be dualistic; consisting of a large-scale commercial and a small-scale subsistence sector. This study is particularly focused on smallholder farming in South Africa, which have developed as a result of the decades of government intervention that have guided reform driven by the general political and economic philosophy of white domination. The most notable interventions, which drew the line between white and black landholding, were the Natives’ Land Acts of 1913 and 1936, followed by various policy interventions to support White, large-scale agriculture. The question remains whether or not an expanded smallholder sector can significantly contribute to rural development, employment creation and poverty reduction in the former homeland areas of South Africa. In order to answer this question, the need arises for reliable data on smallholder farming, conceptual clarification on definitions of “smallholder” or “small-scale” farmers and diversity among farming systems needs to be taken into account. These considerations are crucial in order to design and implement effective rural development policies. One way of addressing this question is the use of farm typologies. Given the diversity that exists within agricultural systems, various schemes of classification have been developed and evolved over time. The objective of this study is to provide an empirical framework that would classify smallholder farmers in the former homeland areas of South Africa according to their livelihood strategies. This study seeks to achieve the objective in three distinct ways. Firstly, by giving a broad overview of the smallholder sector in South Africa. Secondly, by utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to identify farming households situated in the former homeland areas, using the General Household Survey (GHS) and the Income and Expenditure Survey (IES). Thirdly, apply multivariate statistical techniques, specifically Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA), to develop the ultimate classification system. The results from both typologies suggested eight distinct types or groups of farming households in the former homeland areas. Important findings suggest that higher salary incomes are crucial for the enablement of households to market their produce. Social grants were found to be key in determining livelihood strategies among faming households, most notably old age and child support grants. One of the groups that were identified was typically food insecure, with their agricultural production not sufficiently feeding the household. Lastly, direct agricultural support from the government was clearly focused on livestock services which placed a minority of households at a distinct advantage to sell produce to the market.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die landbousektor word algemeen gesien as een van die moontlike drywers vir ekonomiese groei en landelike ontwikkeling, spesifiek in ontwikkelende lande. Hierdie siening word ook uitgesonder deur die Suid-Afrikaanse ontwikkelingsraamwerk, en by name in die Nasionale Ontwikkelingsplan wat aandui dat die landbousektor die hoofrol behoort te vervul om landelike gebiede te ontwikkel. Die vermoë om hierdie mandaat uit te voer moet in die konteks van die kenmerkende dualisme raakgesien word. Suid-Afrika het hoofsaaklik twee tipes boere; grootskaalse kommersiële boere en kleinskaalse, meestal bestaansboere, wat meestal in die voormalige tuislande opereer. Hierdie dualisme is die resultaat van verskeie regeringsinmengings, hoofsaaklik gedryf deur die algemene politieke bestel, ideologie en beleid wat op rasseklassifikasie gegrond was gedurende die vorige eeu. Sekerlik een van die mees bekende was die Naturellegrond Wet van 1913 en 1936, wat die skeidingslyn tussen swart en wit grondbesit ingestel het. Verder is verskeie wetgewings implimenteer om die kommersiële landbousektor te bevoordeel gedurende hierdie tydperk.. In hierdie konteks is dit belangrik om te vra of die uitbreiding van die kleinskaalse landbousektor werklik kan bydra tot landelike ontwikkeling, werkskepping en armoedeverligting in die voormalige tuislande van Suid-Afrika. Om hierdie vraag te beantwoord word betroubare inligting benodig, moet die konsep van “kleinskaalse boere” uitgeklaar word en laastens moet diversiteit tussen verskillende boerderystelsels in ag geneem word. Die antwoorde op hierdie vrae is noodsaaklik vir die ontwikkeling en implimentering van effektiewe landelike ontwikkelingsbeleid. Die gebruik van boerderytipologieë is ‘n oplossing om hierdie kwessies aan te spreek. Verskeie klassifikasiesisteme is in die verlede ontwikkel om die diversiteit in boerderystelsels te ondersoek. Die hoof doel van hierdie studie is om ‘n empiriese raamwerk te ontwikkel om kleinskaalse boerderye, wat in die voormalige tuislande voorkom, volgens hul lewensbestaanstrategieë te klassifiseer. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik, sal die studie eerstens ‘n oorsig gee van die kleinskaalse landbousektor in Suid-Afrika. Tweedens sal Geografiese Inligtingstelsels (GIS) tegnieke gebruik word om spesifiek huishoudings in die voormalige tuislande te indentifiseer in die Algemene Huishoudings Opname (AHO) en die Inkomste en Uitgawes Opname (IUO). Derdens sal meerveranderlike statistieke gebruik word, spesifiek Hoofkomponentanalise (HKA) en Bondelontleding (BO), om die klassifikasiesisteem te ontwikkel. Die resultate van die tipologieë wat in hierdie studie ontwikkel is gee agt spesifieke groepe van boerderyhuishoudings. Hierdie groepe was beduidend verskillend van mekaar en elkeen se lewenbestaanstrategieë word uitgewys. Die hoofbevindings dui aan dat addisionele salarisinkomste ‘n belangrike rol speel in die vermoë van kleinskaalse boere om hul produkte te verkoop. Verder is dit opmerklik dat maatskaplike toelaes ‘n aansienlike rol gespeel het in die vorming van die groepe, spesifiek wat betref ouderdomspensioene en kindertoelae. Daar is ook ‘n spesifieke groep huishoudings in beide tipologieë wat probleme ondervind om voedselsekuriteit op huishoudelike vlak te handhaaf. Laastens wys die studie dat direkte landbou-ondersteuning teenoor kleinskaalse boere ‘n kenmerkende fokus op lewendehaweboerderye plaas wat sulke boerderye bevoordeel het om vir die mark te produseer.

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Mago, Shamiso. "The impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on rural livelihoods: the case of smallholder farming in Zimbabwe." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007185.

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This study seeks to determine the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The study was motivated by the fact that benefits of ICT development still need to be known among rural smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. ICTs have been upheld as catalysts for the promotion of rural livelihoods the world over. The question that remains is whether ICTs in Zimbabwe promote livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Although the Government formulated the ICT policy in 2005, the benefits still need to be known among rural smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The challenges faced by smallholder farmers include limited access to ICTs, high costs in ICT services and lack of ICT infrastructural development in the country. The challenges hindered ICT benefits that are expected to accrue to smallholder farmers. This study is significant in the view that most studies on ICT have focused on the general roles of ICT on rural development without giving particular attention to smallholder farming that has a potential of reducing poverty and promoting food security. For a theoretical lens, the Sustainable Livelihood Approach was used with special attention to Chapman et al (2001)’s information wheel. Regarding methodological issues, the study followed a qualitative research methodology guided by a secondary analysis research design. Data were collected from published reports of government, reports from the Ministry of ICT, internet, journals, newspapers and periodicals. The study established that ICTs promote livelihoods of smallholder farmers through the dissemination of vital information for improvement of agricultural productivity. From the research findings, the study proposes four main recommendations. Firstly, strengthening of ICT policy for effective smallholder farmers. Secondly, the government to organise ICT awareness campaigns directed towards rural people especially smallholder farmers. Thirdly, up scaling ICT Infrastructural development .Finally, a large-scale ICTs and livelihoods research must be commissioned in the country.

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Beyene, Atakilte. "Soil conservation, land use and property rights in northern Ethiopia : understanding environmental change in smallholder farming systems /." Uppsala : Dept. of Rural Development Studies, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, 2003. http://epsilon.slu.se/a395-ab.html.

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Legesse, Belaineh. "Risk management strategies of smallholder farmers in the eastern highlands of Ethiopia /." Uppsala : Dept. of Rural Development Studies, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, 2003. http://epsilon.slu.se/a404.pdf.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Ostrich farms and farming'

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