Draught Animals Research Articles

Smallholder farmers' willingness to pay for two‐wheel tractor‐based mechanisation services in Zambia and Zimbabwe

AbstractMechanisation is back among top development policy priorities for transforming African smallholder agriculture. Yet previous and ongoing efforts ubiquitously suffer from lack of scientific information on end‐user effective demand for different types of mechanical innovations to inform public investment or business development programmes. We assess smallholder farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for two‐wheel tractor (2WT)‐based ripping, direct seeding and transportation using a random sample of 2800 smallholder households in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Applying the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak Mechanism (BDM) experimental auctions, we find that at least 50% of sample households in Zambia and Zimbabwe were willing to pay more than the prevailing market prices for ripping. In nominal terms, sample households in Zimbabwe were willing to pay more than those in Zambia for the different services. Empirical results suggest that wealth is the strongest driver of WTP for tillage and seeding 2WT services while labour availability and using animal draft power reduce it. These findings imply a need to (i) raise awareness and create demand for 2WT‐based services in an inclusive business manner that does not create perverse incentives and (ii) better target mechanisation to operations with comparative advantage, using approaches that bundle 2WT‐based and other mechanisation services with asset‐agnostic credit schemes or other interventions meant to overcome asset‐mediated barriers.

Dogs (14–18th centuries AD) from Nadym Gorodok archaeological site (Western Siberia, Russia): Morphology and function

AbstractAn osteological collection of dogs from an aboriginal population settlement (Nadym Gorodok) in Western Siberia is described in this work. There were numerous bones (more than 1600) well preserved in the permafrost cultural layer, including almost complete skeletons of dogs of various ages. Craniological characteristics and reconstructions of the size and functions of the aboriginal dog were studied. The analysis of the finds showed that there was a large number of dogs in Nadym Gorodok in the 14–18th centuries AD. Dogs were bred on site in the settlement. During the 4 centuries, middle‐size dogs of the same build were kept in Nadym Gorodok. In size and general skull shape, the dogs were similar to the modern laika breed. The dogs were used mainly for hunting. During a hunt, dogs stalked prey and pulled sledges as a draft animal. There were no herding dogs.

Arrogance in Neurosurgery and Neurocritical Care: A Barrier to Effective Teamwork

Teamwork in all facets of life requires collaborative and collegial relationships among the team members. A team is defined as several persons associated together in work or activity. The original concept is the middle age English word teme—a group of draft animals.[1] A group of animals used to pull the cart is called a team. The actual focus of the task is the cart which needs to go from point A to point B. This cart contains all the valuables. The same holds for the team taking care of neurological impair patients.

Agricultural Mechanization and Its Impact on Production, Productivity and Employment of Labour

Due to the country's strict inheritance laws and increased population density, over two-thirds of Indians live in rural areas. Which contributes to the country’s agriculture being characterized by excessively small holdings? The estimated 142 m ha area is rain fed to a degree of over 62%. Both animate (people and draught animals) and inanimate (diesel engines, tractors, and electric motors) sources are significant sources of farm power. In the middle of the 1960s, India launched its carefully choreographed Green Revolution. It was brought about by the prompt government intervention as well as the adoption of larger and balanced amounts of biological, chemical, and mechanical inputs.

First evidence for cattle traction in Middle Neolithic Ireland: A pivotal element for resource exploitation.

The power harnessed by cattle traction was undeniably a valuable asset to Neolithic communities. However, data are still lacking on the timing, purposes, and intensity of exploitation of draught animals. This paper sheds new light on a region of Europe-Neolithic Ireland-for which our knowledge is particularly restricted as evidence from both Ireland and Britain in this period has been so far patchy and inconclusive. Using a suite of methods and refined criteria for traction identification, we present new and robust data on a large faunal assemblage from Kilshane, Co. Dublin that strongly support cattle traction in the middle 4th millennium BC in Ireland. Bone pathology data combined with osteometric analysis highlight specialised husbandry practices, producing large males, possibly oxen, for the purpose of cattle traction. This new technology has important implications for early agriculture in the region since it provides a key support for more extensive land management practices as well as for megalithic construction, which increased considerably in scale during this period. We argue that access to draught animals and the exploitation of associated resources were at the heart of wider changes that took place in Neolithic Ireland in the second half of the 4th millennium BC.

The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal

PurposeThis study examines the adoption drivers of scale-appropriate mechanization in Nepal's maize-based farming systems. The authors also assess the contribution of scale-appropriate mechanization to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger (SDG2) and no poverty (SDG1).Design/methodology/approachPropensity score matching and doubly robust inverse probability-weighted regression adjusted methods were applied to estimate the effects of mini-tiller adoption. These methods control the biases that arise from observed heterogeneities between mini-tillers users and nonusers.FindingsThe study findings show that farm size, labor shortages, draft animal scarcity, market proximity, household assets and household heads' educational level influence the adoption of mechanization in Nepal. Mechanized farms exhibited enhanced maize productivity, profits and household food self-sufficiency. Reduced depth and severity of poverty were also observed. Nevertheless, these effects were not uniform; very small farms (≤0.41 ha) facing acute labor shortages benefited the most.Research limitations/implicationsThe study results suggest that policymakers in developing nations like Nepal may wish to expand their emphasis on scale-appropriate mechanization to improve farm productivity and household food security, reduce poverty and contribute to the SDGs.Originality/valueThis first-of-its-kind study establishes the causal effects between scale-appropriate farm mechanization and SDG1 (no poverty) and SDG2 (zero hunger) in a developing nation.

ミトコンドリアDNA D-loop 領域およびY 染色体<I>ZFY</I> 遺伝子を用いた ラオス在来スイギュウ集団の遺伝的多様性

In Laos, water buffaloes are traditionally used as draft animals, but their role as movable property for wealth accumulation has increased in recent years. However, little is known about the genetic makeup of these water buffaloes. This study aimed to clarify the gene composition and genetic diversity of four native water buffalo populations in Laos using the mtDNA D-loop region as maternal information and the ZFY gene on the Y chromosome as paternal information. A total of 82 D-loop sequences from four populations were compared, and 18 haplotypes with 36 substitution sites were identified. From the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree and the median-joining network, it was confirmed that the Laos native water buffaloes belong to the swamp buffalo, and two lineages were clarified. It was also found that the nucleotide sequence of the ZFY gene was identical to that of the swamp buffalo and that there were two haplotypes. Both the neutrality test and the analysis of molecular variance suggested that the population size of Houaphan and Attapeu had decreased in the past. These results indicate that the native water buffaloes of Laos are a genetically diverse population with at least two maternal and paternal ancestors each.

Draught animals: Eco-friendly energy source for the country

Draught animals: Eco-friendly energy source for the country

EXCURSION TO THE HISTORY OF TRACTOR BUILDING AND THE INTRODUCTION OF TRACTORS IN AGRICULTURE

Attempts to build steam plows have been made since the XIX century. By the middle of the century, steam traction engines began to appear in the fields. (Research purpose) The research purpose is making a brief overview of the initial period of the history of agricultural mechanization in order to highlight the designs of machines that initiated new directions in this field, to determine the chronology of the main stages of the development of motorcycle culture in industrial countries, to identify factors that had a significant impact on the course of world tractor development. (Materials and methods) Studied literary sources, publications in periodicals, patents on the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity and reliability accepted in the history of technology. (Results and discussion) It was noted that the mechanization of agriculture began in the era of steam, as soon as it became possible to create mobile engines. It was shown that at the end of the XIX century, internal combustion engines began to be used to drive cars. It was determined that the path to mass tractor farming was not easy, it took a quarter of a century; the number of tractors was significantly inferior to the number of cars. The agrotechnical revolution began with the introduction of automotive technologies into tractor construction during the First World War. The interaction of tractor builders with farmers, open competition contributed to the development of the most effective types of tractors, which led to the beginning of mass tractor farming. (Conclusions) In the history of motorization of agricultural work, the following stages can be distinguished: the beginning of the steam era since the forties of the XIX century; the beginning of the era of internal combustion engines since 1890; the introduction of automotive technologies in tractor construction since 1917; the development of the most efficient types of tractors for plowing by 1920; mass tractor farming in the early 20s of the XX century. The decisive role in the widespread introduction of the tractor into land processing was rendered by the World War, which caused an acute shortage of food, workers, draft animals in agriculture.

Страница истории Успенского собора Г. Осы в период антицерковной кампании

The country was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe in 1921-1922. The food policy in the countryside, the lack of workers and draft animals, crop failure, the Red Terror are the main causes of famine. The events take place in the small county town of Osa, Perm region. The parishioners of the Dormition Cathedral refused the proposal of the local authorities to hand over church property to the Committee for Assistance to the Starving in the Volga Region. The purpose of the study is to show the attitude of the Orthodox residents of the county to anti-church policy using the example of unique archival documents. The methodological basis of the study is the principles of objectivism and historicism. In order to demonstrate the influence of objective facts on historical events, an ideographic method was applied. The use of archival documents as a primary source allows us to restore a picture of the relationship between the authorities, parishioners and the church. After the devout of the Dormition Cathedral refused to hand over church property to the famine relief committee, arguing that it would be looted, an anti-church campaign was launched with the mediation of local authorities, and a criminal case was opened against two priests. The protocol of the meeting of the devout is the only document that has been preserved and filed with the criminal case - the last manuscript of the parishioners of the Assumption Cathedral. Most of the documents of the case are represented by protocols of searches and interrogations of priests, testimonies of witnesses and sentencing. The Orthodox residents of the Osinsky district decided not to go into conflict with the district executive committee and decided to allocate personal funds for the fight against hunger, realizing that their funds would be embezzled. It was an attempt to save the Dormition Cathedral from ruin. But, as the subsequent course of events showed, the local authorities did not appreciate the deed of the parishioners, and the refusal to hand over church items was used as a pretext for initiating a criminal case and starting anti-religious propaganda in the press. All the accused were ultimately sentenced by the Perm Provincial Revolutionary Tribunal to community service. It is not known how the further fate of the clergy and parishioners developed. The Dormition Cathedral, built at the expense of parishioners in the late 18th - early 19th century, which was once the center of world of spirit suffered a sad fate. The central dome and bell tower were demolished, and the rest of the building is occupied by the local museum.

Animal traction, two-wheel tractors, or four-wheel tractors? A best-fit approach to guide farm mechanization in Africa

Summary Farm mechanization promises to help raise labor productivity and reduce the heavy toil of farming on the world’s millions of smallholder farms, hence contributing to socioeconomic development in the Global South, in particular in Africa. While mechanization is therefore high on the African development agenda, there are heavy – at times dogmatic – debates on which technological pathway toward farm mechanization – animal traction, two-wheel tractors, and four-wheel tractors – should be supported by African governments and development partners. One discussion area relates to the future of animal traction. Proponents see a continued scope for the use of draught animals, whereas opponents see animal traction as old-fashioned and see a potential to leapfrog this mechanization stage. There are also debates on the potential of two-wheel tractors, with proponents arguing that such walk-behind tractors are more affordable and suitable for smallholder farmers, and opponents believing that such tractors lack efficiency and power and still come with a high drudgery. This paper argues that there are no blueprint answers on which technological pathway is ‘best’ but only answers on which one ‘best fits’ the respective conditions. Based on this premise, this paper introduces a ‘best-fit’ framework that allows for assessing the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the three technological pathways in different agroecological and socioeconomic conditions. The results suggest that all three forms of mechanization are associated with areas where they ‘best fit’. All three farm mechanization pathways hinge on public policies and investments to create an enabling environment for private markets, as, ultimately, innovation processes should be market driven. The ‘best-fit’ framework enables governments and development partners to focus efforts to support farm mechanization on solutions that ‘best fit’ their country’s farming systems and not on those that are politically most attractive, thereby contributing to sustainable agricultural mechanization and development.

Development of a mathematical model for determining the draft force of ard plow in silt clay soil

Due to Ethiopia's rising population, the prediction of a draft force has several crucial in improving tillage performance in smallholder farmland. It helps in proper usage of animal draught; minimizes operator tragedy and full input data for the ard plow designer. This study aimed to develop an effective mathematical model by selecting appropriate soil properties, tool geometries, and tillage operating conditions for estimating the draft force of the ard plow. A mathematical equation was established using dimensional analysis related to PI-Buckingham-pi theorem. The model was verified and validated using the IBM SPSS statistical software. The correlation between draft force between the measured and predicted value of R2 was 0.877. The developed model was effective in predicting the draft force success for ard plow as much as 87.70%. No significant difference existed between the measured and predicted values at a 0.05 significance level. The scoring standard of the measured draft and the anticipated draft force is normally distributed with a level of confidence of 99%. Investigation consequence showed a developed mathematical formula for estimating the draft force of ard plow in silt clay soil is effective.

Farmers’ perspectives on drivers of rice yield in the Fogera Plain of Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, rice productivity varies over locations. However, there is limited understanding about rice yield drivers for design appropriate policies and strategies to enhance rice productivity. This study focuses on assessing the patterns of rice yield and its drivers. Data were collected from 220 households and field measurements were made accordingly. Descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and biplot were to assess yield groups, drivers ranking, and driver yield group association, respectively. Four yield groups were identified 2.1 (Y1) t ha−1, 3.0 (Y2) t ha−1, 4.1(Y3) t ha−1, and 5.2 (Y4) t ha−1. Water stress, low soil fertility, lack of draft animals, shortage of credit, pests, weak extension, and weeds were yield affecting drivers in Y1. Similarly, labor shortage, increase input price, credit, and weed was yield-limiting drivers in Y2 while flooding, poor marketing, and the lack of storage were the drivers in Y3. Poor seed system, post-harvest losses, lack of farm tools, price fluctuation, lack of storage, and poor marketing were drivers in Y4. This study showed that the major drivers that significantly affect yield varied among the yield groups. Perceived drivers of the different yield groups have a better understanding and prospect for strategic target policy and intervention support to minimize yield losses thereby increasing productivity.

Famines in the manorial economy of eighteenth-century Poland

AbstractOn the basis of eight available terriers of a large royal estate of Niepołomice in southern Poland and of the vital records of two parishes located on its area, all dating from the early eighteenth century, this article examines the effect of famines on the economic situation of both feudal lords and their peasant tenants. The restrictive framework of the second serfdom in Poland did not prevent two severe mortality crises at the time triggered by crop failures. The key hazards caused by the famines for demesne economy were shortages of corvée labour and peasant-owned draught animals. While the famine mortality that affected the peasants reported as farmers in the terriers was not high, the famines were conducive to peasant impoverishment and reshuffled groups of various financial statuses.

A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO MECHANIZATION TO COMMERCIALIZE CASSAVA VALUE CHAIN IN KENYA

Cassava is produced in Kenya mainly as subsistence and is the second most important food crop after maize in the Country’s Western and Coastal regions. Its production and use as human food, animal feed and industrial starch is low due to poor agronomic practices postharvest handling and processing, bulkiness and low application of mechanised operations to scale production to commercial levels. An average yield of 15.3 MT/ha on 0.2 to 1 ha household units was realised against a potential of 90 MT/ha in 2014 producing 935,089 MT of cassava valued at $ 168 million. Kenya is a low mechanized country with a mechanical power usage indicated at 30%, hand power at 50%, and animal draught power at 20%. Mechanisation models that apply a systems approach by taking into account the value chain cycle is muted as feasible a pathway for ascertaining the technical and economic sustainability of the cassava enterprise in the country. Commercialization of the cassava value chain requires household production at scales beyond 4 ha. Such scales require mechanised production and primary processing for technical feasibility. A system that will provide mechanised tillage, planting, weeding, harvesting and processing through organised delivery and technical back up support is projected as the best entry to address this limitation. This would unleash the commercial viability of the cassava value chain and grow the livelihood system of producers and processors beyond subsistence thresholds.

Water and Work in Mughal Gardens and Landscapes

Abstract Laborers and draft animals played underexamined roles in building and operating the waterworks of Mughal gardens and landscapes. This article analyzes four sources of evidence about water-related work: Mughal paintings; historical texts on the political economy of Mughal waterworks; historical sources assessed in relation to modern estimates of human and animal energy needed to build and operate the waterworks; and historical sources considered in relation to the work of natural waters shaping land and society in material and cultural terms. Taken together, these four lines of inquiry provide a unified framework for research on Mughal waterworks and livelihoods.

Domestic donkey (Equus asinus asinus) at Gonur Depe and its distribution in the Ancient East

The domestic donkey (Equus asinus asinus) is a hardy, versatile working animal. This species still plays an important role in the traditional economy of the peoples of Central Asia and adjacent regions. At the same time, very little is known about the ways in which this domestic species appeared in the region and the nature of its use in the early historical epochs. The morphological features of ancient donkeys are also poorly studied. It is as-sumed that donkeys appear in the Middle East in the 4th millennium BC. Zooarchaeological data shows that the ancient population of Turkmenistan did not breed the donkey until the Late Bronze Age. Equid bones found at Chalcolithic, Early and Middle Bronze Age sites belong to the onager (Equus hemionus). Donkey bones first ap-peared in the materials from the excavations of the sites of the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Culture (BMAC). One of the most famous site of BMAC is Gonur Depe, the administrative and ceremonial center of ancient Margi-ana. It is located in the ancient delta of the Murghab River. Gonur Depe dates from 2500 till 1500 BC. The protourban center includes two main sites — North and South Gonur. During the excavation at Gonur, 142 indi-vidual bones and 9 complete skeletons of the domestic donkey were found. Perhaps the isolated donkey bones fell into the trash layers during the destruction of the ritual objects. No traces of purposeful slaughter of these animals and consumption of their meat were found. The donkey skeletons were found inside the human burials or in associated structures, although there are independent burials of these animals as well. So, for example, at the area 8, the donkey, surrounded by ceramic vessels was placed in a tomb made of adobe bricks. In the burials 3200 and 3900, the skeletons of donkeys were found alongside the skeletons of double-humped camels and re-mains of four-wheeled wagons. In total, 4 burials with carts were found at Gonur, where the skeletons of camels are always present, whereas only in two of them — the skeletons of donkeys. It is possible that the bulls and camels were main draft animals of the Gonur people, while the donkeys mainly played the role of a pack and rid-ing animals. The height at the withers of the Gonur donkeys, reconstructed on the basis of measurements of the complete skeletons, was 115–120 cms. These were animals of average size for their species.

Participatory appraisal for healthcare and welfare management strategies of donkeys (Equus ascinus) in Balochistan, Pakistan.

In spite of the significant importance of the donkeys (Equus ascinus) as draft animal in resource-poor countries like Pakistan, they are equines not receiving the appropriate care. They face challenges including injuries, diseases, lack of basic environment and mismanagement by their owners. The present study aims to provide a brief update on the current status of management of healthcare and the welfare of domestic donkeys using participatory epidemiological tools. These tools can help to provide better strategies for improving their productivity and inclusion in human society. This study was mainly focused only on donkeys and horses, mules and ponies were excluded from the study. We carried out a systematic review of the relevant available published literature and shortlisted 50 articles reporting on the different health related characteristics of donkeys. A comprehensive questionnaire was completed by 191 donkey owners, including nine farriers (all men, average age = 38.24 ± 12.43) over a time span from October 2021 to March 2022. Multivariate Odds Ratios (MORs) and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the predictions of health management and welfare measures for the surveyed donkeys. The most common observed medical problems in donkey health were hyperlipaemia (28.06%), lameness (16.33%) and dental (20.41%) problems. One-third (34.31%) of the donkeys were underweight. The dull donkey with poor appetite needs a clinical emergency owing to a high risk of developing hyperlipemia, which may be life-threatening. These findings are quite useful for the improvement of healthcare management and the welfare of donkeys.

The Sasanian Elephant Corps Revisited: Ammianus Marcellinus on the Tactics of Persian Elephantry

Abstract According to Ammianus Marcellinus, elephants substituted, to some extent, siege towers; he describes wooden towers on the backs of the animals, armed with Persian warriors who attacked the defenders of a fortress. Certainly, elephants may have served as an element of ancient psychological warfare. But, at the same time, it appears that the Sasanians employed elephants in their battle fighting, bearing warriors who attacked their enemies with various missiles. In open-field battles, elephants, as a rule, were introduced into the battle in an offensive situation. Ammianus Marcellinus does not offer any evidence as to elephants functioning as beasts of burden or draught animals; on the contrary, he always stresses the fact that they were military animals who posed a real danger to the Romans in battle.

Influencing factors and GIS-based spatial interpolation for distribution of draught animals in Madhya Pradesh

Influencing factors and GIS-based spatial interpolation for distribution of draught animals in Madhya Pradesh