Literatura académica sobre el tema "Beef cattle – Economic aspects – Botswana"

A gap between national beef consumption and beef production becomes an opportunity for beef cattle fattening business. The purpose of this research is to analyze the feasibility of beef cattle fattening. The research was conducted at the main office of PT Catur Mitra Taruma at South Jakarta and its feedlot stall at Desa Cariu, Kabupaten Bogor. Aqualitative analysis method was used to analyze the non-financial feasibility, that covered market aspects, technical aspects, management and law aspects, and also social, economic, and environmental aspects. The financial feasibility was analyzed quantitatively by investment criteria and switching value analysis. The result shows that beef cattle fattening in PT Catur Mitra Taruma is feasibleand it is more sensitive to the decreasing sales of beef cattle than to the increasing price of feed.

Ethology, the research field of animal behaviour, during the past half century developed into an independent science and became more important in recent years as the farming industry has turned toward quality production. Farm animals respond for every environmental factor. Essential to know the answers to avoid unpleasant economic consequences. Based on the shepherds’ experience, this science has merged with modern technology, constantly expanding and searching new methods. According to the literature the article summarizes the observation methods in cattle grazing. This paper introduces the beginnings and shows the future trends. Finally we share personal experiences as the Hungarian Grey cattle grazing behaviour at conditions of Hortobágy, Hungary.

POTENTIAL ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT PATTERN OF CATTLE WITH INTEGRATED COCONUT-COW IN SOUTH DISTRICT HALMAHERA NORTH MALUKU PROVINCE. Animal agricultural integration often found in South Halmahera district is the integration using coconut plantation and local beef pattern called coco-beef integration. Expected potential of land area, population of cattle supported by human and natural resources as well as market opportunities could develop coco-beef integration patterns providing the increasing economic impact for farmer welfare. This study aims to analyze the potential and development strategy of beef integration with coconut plantations in South Halmahera district. The research was conducted in South Halmahera district of North Maluku Province since November 2014 to February 2015. The determination of respondents was performed using simple random sampling method. Criteria of respondents involved in this study were household farmers running a coco-beef integration, at least animal maintenance of more than one year and they had sold cattle. The results showed the particular characteristics of household farmers including coconut plantation ownership of 3.2 ha with the average number of animals of 8.7 heads, the average education level of junior high school, the animal breeding experience of 7.9 years and animal maintenance purposes as beef production and animal labor . Management aspects of farm animals were still under the traditional maintenance systems, animals were resistant to disease, and house hold farmer knowledge on animal reproduction was still limited. Aspects of feed resources were positively supporting in the development of beef cattle under integration pattern, especially the nutritional value of forage and land carrying capacities. Livestock productivity aspects had quite well potential and supported facilities, including infrastructures. Therefore, it can be concluded that South Halmahera District has potential in the development of beef cattle farm applying cattle integration patterns in form of coco-beef natural resources supported by potentials of human resources, good government policy, infrastructure availability and market opportunities based on the analysis of the potential of South Halmahera district located in a strategic position as a development area of beef and coconut plantation integration patterns. Keywords: Cattle, Coconut plantation, Integration, South Halmahera regency.

The article conducted with a scientific assessment and substantiated organizational and economic aspects of the functioning of the field of cattle breeding. The field of cattle breeding has been traditionally and remains one of the leading ones for Ukraine. The dynamics of livestock, milk production and beef and veal production were analyzed. It was established that the main producers of products of cattle breeding were the economy of the population, which provide more than 70 % of production volumes. The problematic issues of the functioning of the field of cattle were generalized: a reduction in the number of cattle, reducing its productivity, deterioration of production indices and its efficiency, unsatisfactory level of feed base, breeding and tribal work and technological support, insufficient state support, reduction of the level of consumption of products of cattle breeding. It was substantiated that the further functioning of the industry and its efficiency depends on the policy of the government and the motivational mechanism. The important areas for increasing the efficiency of the field of cattle are the concentration of production, including on the basis of co-operation of manufacturers, improvement of feed base and tribal affairs, modernization of logistical support, investment and innovation activity was argued

Abstract Pregnancy loss in beef cattle causes both management and economic challenges to a producer. Recent studies have been conducted to quantify reproductive failures that occur during fertilization, early embryonic development, and late embryonic/early fetal development periods of gestation in beef cattle. Minimizing reproductive inefficiency, specifically embryonic mortality (EM), is vital. Although fertilization rates are reportedly high in beef cattle, significant developmental failure occurs within the first 7 days of gestation. Approximately 28.4% of embryos will not develop past day 7 of gestation with most embryonic losses occurring before day 4. By the conclusion of the first month of gestation, 47.9% of cows submitted to a single insemination at day 0 will not be pregnant. Overall, late embryonic/fetal development between days 32 to 60 and 100 is 5.8% with a range of 3.2 to 42.7%. This talk will highlight some of the work our group is focusing on to determine timing and detection of pregnancy loss during these pivotal periods of pregnancy loss and potential management aspects to mitigate reproductive inefficiency. This was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2017-67015-26457 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Global warming is affecting agribusiness in its economic aspects. Therefore, the prediction of the evolution of Brazilian beef cattle production cost was made using the IPCC forecast scenario for global warming. The methodology consisted of two steps: (i) the development of a fuzzy model that estimated the grazing land capacity (RP) decrease risk as a function of the changes in the average total rain index, air temperature and increase in extension of the dry season; and (ii) the design of an algorithm for predicting the decrease in production as function of the RPfuzzy model, that results in the impact in beef cattle productivity, and consequent increase in production costs. Historical environmental data from important producing counties in the Cerrado were organized and a set of fuzzy Gaussian functions were developed, and three possible settings (optimistic, medium and pessimistic) were considered. The decrease in beef cattle productivity was estimated using the losses in production due to the increase in air temperature and vulnerability of pasture capacity. The boundary settings for the total increase of production cost scenario used the number of animals per area of grazing land, the adoption of grain supplement and its future scenario; and the result output function pointed to a threshold within a variation from an increase in production cost of 80% (optimistic) to 160% (pessimistic). Under the optimistic scenario the total cost of Brazilian beef cattle production in the Cerrado became near to US$ 2.88 kg-1, while in the pessimistic scenario this cost reached US$ 4.16 kg-1, challenging the international competitiveness of this economic segment.

This study aims to evaluate the preparation of feed formulations and the manufacture of complete feed fermentation based on local ingredients of coffee leaves. This research has three stages: preparation of complete feed formulations using trial and error methods using Microsoft Excel, trials of making complete feeds, and evaluating complete feed products. Evaluation is carried out on four aspects, namely; The nutritional composition of the complete feed has been fulfilled compared to the SNI for Beef Cattle Feed, which analyzed through a bar chart, the complete feed characteristic organoleptic test for texture, color, aroma, and presence of mushrooms through 24 respondents, palatability test carried out on six beef cattle belonging to farmer group members, and the economic aspect of the manufacturing cost component. The evaluation results show; the formulation and manufacture of complete feeds are by the SNI for Beef Cattle Feed. The characteristics of the compiled complete feeds are solid texture, not thick, not slimy and brittle, yellowish-green with sour aroma, and no fungus found are the characteristics of successful fermentation, preference test that all cows like complete feeds, and the results of the economic evaluation that each kilogram of complete feed costs Rp. 1,629.34, which is lower than the price of rice straw per kilogram.

The aim was to evaluate the proximate food composition, cholesterol content, coloring and economic aspects of the main nutrients present in by-products from the slaughter of cattle. The samples were collected from 14 organs, with four repetitions each, of which we conducted the analyses of moisture, crude protein, mineral matter, cholesterol and fat content. The color was measured through the coordinates L*, a*, b*. The differences between the groups of red and white viscera were evaluated by contrasts analysis. Subsequently, the data were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance, which was complemented by the principal component technique. In the analysis of contrast between red and white viscera, the results showed that the components with the highest content of total fat does not necessarily have the highest content of cholesterol and vice-versa. For minerals, the red viscera presented higher content than white viscera and, in order to analyze the protein composition, there was less variability for red viscera in relation to white viscera. In the color analysis, the values for the color readings indicated uniformity between the external and internal readings, except for the tongue. On mean, the proximate composition values for the offals are similar to the values for beef, especially regarding the red viscera.

A study has been conducted on the crop-livestock integration innovation using palm oil by-products technology to support beef cattle production in 2014. The collected data consisted of (i) Socio-economic aspects, (ii) The body weight gain of cattle, and (iii) Palm oil production. These data were taken from Sri Langgeng farmers group (13 respondents) in Dharmasraya district and Tanjung Keramat farmers group (10 respondents) in West Pasaman district. The results of the socio economic aspects showed; the average age of farmers was 39 years old, owned palm oil plantation of 2,2 and, 4,1 ha, and owned of 4.2 and 6.2 head of cattle in Tanjung Keramat and Sri Langgeng respectively. The average monthly income was Rp 1.63 million and about Rp 1.05 million derived from livestock contribution in Tanjung Keramat, and Rp 1.65 million and about Rp 1.71 million derived from livestock contribution in Sri Langgeng. Feeding a supplement of palm oil by-products increased cattle growth by about 0.14 and 0.09 kg/head/day at Sri Langgeng and Tanjung Keramat respectively. In contrast, the animals in a control treatment experienced body weight losses of -0.17 and -0.11 kg/head/day. The application of organic fertilizer from cattle manure, above the inorganic fertilizer, increased the palm oil fruit by 39.4% and 48.4%. The research proved that there is an opportunity to accelerate the adoption process of crop-livestock integration in palm oil plantation areas in West Sumatra.

Evidence for genetic variation in feed efficiency of beef cattle is reviewed in this paper, and ways in which this variation might be used in selection programs to improve beef cattle in Australia are discussed. Efficiency of beef production systems is determined by feed and other inputs of all classes of animals in the production system as well as outputs in terms of slaughter progeny and cull cows. Different indices have been used to express aspects of efficiency on cattle over certain periods of the production cycle. Use of these indices is discussed, and then evidence for genetic variation in both growing animals and mature animals is reviewed. Genetic variation in feed efficiency exists in both growing and mature cattle, although information is lacking to determine whether variation in total production system efficiency exists. The physiological basis for observed variation in feed efficiency is discussed, with differences in requirements for maintenance, body composition, proportions of visceral organs, level of physical activity, and digestion efficiency identified as possible sources of variation. Selection to improve efficiency might be achieved by measuring feed intake of growing animals and utilising genetic correlations that are likely to exist between efficiency of growing animals and mature animals. Measurement of feed intake might occur in central test stations, or methods may be developed to measure feed intake on-farm. Ways of utilising information generated in genetic evaluations are discussed, and it is concluded that estimated breeding values for feed intake after a phenotypic adjustment for growth performance would be most practical, although not theoretically optimal. Such estimated breeding values would best be used in an economic selection index to account for genetic correlations with other traits, including feed intake of the breeding herd, and the economic value of feed in relation to other traits. Future research should be directed towards understanding the genetic relationships between feed intake and other traits in the breeding objective, and to find ways to reduce the cost of measurement of feed intake, including a search for genetic markers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Orientador: Mara de Andrade Marinho
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola
Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T22:47:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maluf_Cintia_M.pdf: 1111592 bytes, checksum: e0d85a87354d7219b73f0892099372c4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014
Resumo: Esse trabalho aborda o tema da política de crédito rural no Brasil, tratando particularmente do Programa para Redução da Emissão de Gases de Efeito Estufa na Agricultura (Programa ABC), instituído pelo Governo Federal em 2010. O objetivo geral da pesquisa foi analisar as condições gerais de financiamento do Programa ABC. Os objetivos específicos foram analisar a oferta e contratação de crédito no período de 2010/2011 a 2012/2013, e realizar uma análise setorial sobre a bovinocultura de corte, uma das principais cadeias produtivas da agropecuária brasileira e maior emissor de gases de efeito estufa. Com relação ao objetivo geral, verificou-se o protagonismo da ação e a característica inovadora do Programa ABC, como uma política de crédito rural na qual o consentimento do recurso é condicionado à adoção de boas práticas de manejo. Variações anuais nas condições de financiamento do Programa ABC, a saber a taxa de juros e prazos de carência e pagamento, tornaram-no mais atrativo ao longo do tempo. A respeito da contratação do crédito, os dados de execução do Programa ABC evidenciaram uma crescente demanda. Do montante ofertado no período entre as safras 2010/2011 a 2012/2013, de R$13,05 bilhões, foram executados 37% distribuídos em 16.445 contratos. No entanto, foram identificados como fatores limitantes ao seu desenvolvimento, a escassez de informações acerca do retorno financeiro de práticas preconizadas como ILP e ILPF, as especificidades da elaboração e análise dos projetos, bem como os entraves decorrentes da regularização ambiental e fundiária das propriedades contratantes. Os resultados obtidos da análise setorial da bovinocultura de corte no âmbito do Programa ABC, permitiram concluir que os prazos estabelecidos ao crédito são adequados aos ciclos de produção; e que suas linhas apresentaram características competitivas em relação aos demais programas de crédito rural para investimentos na bovinocultura de corte. Foi verificado ainda que os estados de Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul e São Paulo podem vir a apresentar maior demanda para a contratação de recursos financeiros com vistas à implantação de sistemas integrados como ILP e ILPF. Contudo, a relação histórica entre a oferta de crédito oficial e o desenvolvimento da bovinocultura de corte brasileira sugere a necessidade de desenvolvimento de formas alternativas ao estímulo da mitigação da emissão de gases de efeito estufa, que não exclusivamente a oferta de financiamento. Neste contexto, ressalta-se a importância das pesquisas acerca das ações de coordenação da cadeia produtiva, a fim de sensibilizar consumidores quanto às externalidades positivas das atividades de baixo impacto, permitindo a precificação diferenciada dos produtos e consequente agregação de valor ao pecuarista
Abstract: This paper addresses the impact of rural credit policy in Brazil, in the area of Planning and Sustainable Rural Development, particularly in relation to the Federal-sponsored Program for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emissions in Agriculture (so-called ABC Program). Established in 2010, the Program aims to set nation-wide targets for reducing greenhouse gases emissions. This research was based on the overall objective to analyze the general conditions of financing the ABC Program. The specific objectives were based on the analyzes of the supply financial credit and contracting credit in the period 2010/2011 a 2012/2013, and a sectoral analysis of beef cattle breeding ¿ the sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated). With respect to the results, there was the role of action and innovative feature of the ABC Program as a rural credit policy in which the resource is conditional upon adoption of good management practices. Changes on the financing conditions offered by the ABC Program (i.e. interest rates and payback schedule) made it more attractive over time. Performance data of the ABC Program showed increased supply and borrowing of credit. The amount offered by the ABC Program between the 2010/2011 and 2012/2013 crops was U.S. $ 13.05 billion, of which 37 % were non-perfoming loans, distributed in 16,445 contracts. The main barriers for hiring ABC Program credit are the lack of knowledge about the Program, difficulties for developing and analyzing the projects, and barriers related to environmental and land regularization. In the time frame of the study, the hiring of credit increased, and the conditions for concession were adequate to finance production cycles from breeding to the complete cycle. The ABC Program showed competitive characteristics comparing with the other rural credit lines offered for beef cattle production. It was found that the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo may present increased demand financing integrated systems such as Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems and Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry Systems, as advocated by the Program. However, the historical relationship between the supply of rural credit and development of beef cattle in Brazil suggests the need to develop alternative forms of stimulus for mitigating the effects of greenhouse gases emissions. In this context, it emphasizes the importance of researching supply chain coordination; alerting consumers about the positive externalities of low-impact activities and allowing for differentiated product pricing and, ultimately, adding value to the farmer
Mestrado
Planejamento e Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável
Mestra em Engenharia Agrícola

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

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

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