Development Of Livestock Production Research Articles

Development of livestock production in the tropics: farm and farmers’ perspectives

Because of an increasing demand for animal-source foods, an increasing desire to reduce poverty and an increasing need to reduce the environmental impact of livestock production, tropical farming systems with livestock must increase their productivity. An important share of the global human and livestock populations are found within smallholder mixed-crop–livestock systems, which should, therefore, contribute significantly towards this increase in livestock production. The present paper argues that increased livestock production in smallholder mixed-crop–livestock systems faces many constraints at the level of the farm and the value chain. The present paper aims to describe and explain the impact of increased production from the farm and farmers’ perspective, in order to understand the constraints for increased livestock production. A framework is presented that links farming systems to livestock value chains. It is concluded that farming systems that pass from subsistence to commercial livestock production will: (1) shift from rural to urban markets; (2) become part of a different value chain (with lower prices, higher demands for product quality and increased competition from peri-urban producers and imports); and (3) have to face changes in within-farm mechanisms and crop–livestock relationships. A model study showed that feed limitation, which is common in tropical farming systems with livestock, implies that maximum herd output is achieved with small herd sizes, leaving low-quality feeds unutilised. Maximal herd output is not achieved at maximal individual animal output. Having more animals than required for optimal production – which is often the case as a larger herd size supports non-production functions of livestock, such as manure production, draught, traction and capital storage – goes at the expense of animal-source food output. Improving low-quality feeds by treatment allows keeping more animals while maintaining the same level of production. Ruminant methane emission per kg of milk produced is mainly determined by the level of milk production per cow. Part of the methane emissions, however, should be attributed to the non-production functions of ruminants. It was concluded that understanding the farm and farmers’ perceptions of increased production helps with the understanding of productivity increase constraints and adds information to that reported in the literature at the level of technology, markets and institutions.

Econometric analysis of the impacts of climate change on the livestock production in Qinghai Province

This study aims to investigate the effect of the impact mechanism of climate change on the livestock production at small watershed level and county level with the Multi-level Model (MLM) in Qinghai Province. The result indicated that the gross livestock output value was greatly influenced by the climatic factors of the small watershed level. Higher temperature promoted also by the increase of precipitation, relative humidity and sunshine duration was found to be beneficial to the development of livestock production, except in some areas where temperature rise restrained the development of local livestock production to some degree when exceeding a certain level; besides, the impact of the socioeconomic factors on the livestock output value is obvious at the county level. The gross economic output measured with GDP has some inhibitory effects on the reinvestment of livestock production, while population growth promotes development of livestock production to some degree. The results not only provide scientif...

Tracing Cattle Breeds with Principal Components Analysis Ancestry Informative SNPs

The recent release of the Bovine HapMap dataset represents the most detailed survey of bovine genetic diversity to date, providing an important resource for the design and development of livestock production. We studied this dataset, comprising more than 30,000 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) for 19 breeds (13 taurine, three zebu, and three hybrid breeds), seeking to identify small panels of genetic markers that can be used to trace the breed of unknown cattle samples. Taking advantage of the power of Principal Components Analysis and algorithms that we have recently described for the selection of Ancestry Informative Markers from genomewide datasets, we present a decision-tree which can be used to accurately infer the origin of individual cattle. In doing so, we present a thorough examination of population genetic structure in modern bovine breeds. Performing extensive cross-validation experiments, we demonstrate that 250-500 carefully selected SNPs suffice in order to achieve close to 100% prediction accuracy of individual ancestry, when this particular set of 19 breeds is considered. Our methods, coupled with the dense genotypic data that is becoming increasingly available, have the potential to become a valuable tool and have considerable impact in worldwide livestock production. They can be used to inform the design of studies of the genetic basis of economically important traits in cattle, as well as breeding programs and efforts to conserve biodiversity. Furthermore, the SNPs that we have identified can provide a reliable solution for the traceability of breed-specific branded products.

Reorientation of China's Agriculture over the Next Two Decades

Arable (cereals, pulses and tubers) production has been the most important object of Chinese agriculture. China has long insisted on‘self-reliance on grain’, often at the expense of resources and the environment. The impact of globalization and its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) require China to reorient its agriculture over the next two decades so that it is based on ecological and economic principles. The alternatives are: (1) to increase grain imports to about 10% of total consumption; (2) to develop horticulture, livestock and aquaculture with their greater comparative advantages; (3) to expand the notion of agriculture by, for example, developing‘energy farming’. The real future challenge for grain production will come from the rapid development of livestock production and its requirements, rather than growing edible grains for human consumption. To address this new type of livestock revolution, there will be a need to promote Chinese ecological agriculture (CEA) as well as to improve feed efficiency. The measures taken must focus on increasing farmers' incentives to help bring about the changes and on achieving the sustainable development of agriculture.

Decision support for spatially targeted livestock policies: Diverse examples from Uganda and Thailand

Public policies are needed to guide livestock sector’s changes along a path that is sustainable in economic, social and environmental terms. These policies should include multiple development objectives and be adapted to location-specific contexts. Policy makers need assistance in dealing with such complex decisions. Spatial information can be integrated in decision support tools to support policy making, and is becoming increasingly available in the developing world. Spatial information, however, has seldom been used in livestock sector policy formulation because policy makers generally do not have access to resources for spatial modelling. The objective of this paper is to bridge this gap by proposing an approach to consolidating and analysing spatial information in the context of limited modelling resources. Rooted in practical experience, a method is proposed that combines two multiple criteria decision-making techniques (weighted linear combination and analytical hierarchical processes), parameterised in a participatory process and implemented in a GIS. The method is tested in two different contexts: support to single objective decision-making for targeting trypanosomiasis control interventions in Uganda, and support to multiple objective decision-making for spatial planning of livestock production development in Thailand. The results show the advantages of such an approach, in terms of stakeholder involvement and practical application to support decision-making, but also highlight two shortcomings: dependence on high quality data and uncertainty with regard to the decision rule. While the former will be addressed as digital information becomes increasingly available, the latter, embedded in any decision-making process, calls for thorough sensitivity analyses and careful scrutiny of results.

Evaluation of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) by-product using the semi-automatic In vitro gas production technique

The major constraint limiting the development of livestock production in many developing countries is inadequacy of animal feed; although there are a wide range of valuable by-products and residues eligible to complement it. To estimate whether a material is appropriate for animal feeding, in vitro gas production (GP) technique have been used to evaluate the potential of different classes of feedstuffs to supply nutrients to ruminants. Thus, the fermentation characteristics of artichoke by-product (Cynara scolymus), alfalfa and Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp) hay were evaluated by in vitro GP technique.

Labor allocation in transition: Evidence from Chinese rural households

Empirical models are developed in this paper to quantitatively analyze households' participation in decisions on hiring labor and supplying labor off the farm, hired labor demand and off-farm labor supply of rural Chinese households. Econometric estimates use micro-level data from Zhejiang province over the period 1995–2002. The main results suggest that the decisions to hire labor and participate off the farm are made jointly and are positively correlated. A household's labor demand decreases with increasing wages for hired labor, whereas the effect of the wages of off-farm workers on a household's labor supply differs significantly depending on the household's kind of labor market participation. The results also indicate that the accumulation of productive assets, the development of livestock production and agricultural prices have increasing effects on labor demand but reducing effects on a household's off-farm labor supply. Land market integration enhances participation significantly but has no significant impact on time allocation. Finally, the results suggest non-separability between hired labor demand and household characteristics, indicating the rural labor market in Zhejiang province is still functioning imperfectly.

Development of livestock production in Montenegro and its adaptability to integration processes

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Ethical, legal, and social aspects of farm animal cloning in the 6th Framework Programme for Research.

Cloned livestock have potential importance in the provision of improved medicine as well as in the development of livestock production. The public is, however, increasingly concerned about the social and ethical consequences of these advances in knowledge and techniques. There is unevenness throughout Europe in different Member States' attitudes to research into livestock cloning. Although there is EU legislation controlling the use of animals for research purposes, there is no legislation specifically governing cloning in livestock production. The main EU reference is the 9th Opinion of the European Group on Ethics, which states "Cloning of farm animals may prove to be of medical and agricultural as well as economic benefit. It is acceptable only when the aims and methods are ethically justified and when carried out under ethical conditions." The ethical justification includes the avoidance of suffering, the use of the 3Rs principle and a lack of better alternatives. The Commission addresses these issues in the 6th Framework Programme by promoting the integration of ethical, legal and social aspects in all proposals where they are relevant, by fostering ethical awareness and foresight in the proposals, by encouraging public dialogue, and by supporting specific actions to promote the debate. Research must respect fundamental ethical principles, including animal welfare requirements.

Livestock and products adjustment to the European Union legislation and standardization for marketing, quality and environment protection

Livestock protection and quality of livestock products in European Union is a result of long, systematic development of economic system. This system is quite different from socialistic system, in its roots. Countries in transitions from socialistic system tends toward western European integration. The adjustments of livestock production and its products to the EU regulations cannot go by pure copying of certain provisions. What is really needed is adjustment of basic regulations which compose a economic and market system. Only by this would be achieved the same way of ensurement of equal quality of products in marketing and valorization of products as well as right approach to environment protection. Basic rules of EU and its members, in marketing, quality health and environment protection which directly or indirectly effect the adjustments of livestock production, quality and environment protection in Republic of Croatia have been presented. Regulations in force in Croatia do not content complete sense of these basic rules for production, marketing and quality of livestock products which are valid in EU. They are related only to certain parts of livestock production and quality. For this reason, it should be immediately and comprehensively organize and enforce laws for livestock production development in Croatia.

7.4 Intensive sheep and goat production in Cyprus — landmarks of development

It can be safely said that animal husbandry is one of the two limbs of the agricultural sector which is called the “backbone” of Cyprus economy.Following the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, particular attention was focused on and efforts geared towards the development of livestock production and the attainment of a greater degree of self-sufficiency in meat and dairy products. The gross value of livestock output increased from £6.7 million in 1960 to £34.7 million in 1973. The production of sheep and goat meat, in particular, rose from 3 900 tonnes in 1960 to 10 140 tonnes in 1973 and that of milk from 21 300 to 52 700 tonnes, respectively. With such a high rate of growth, the share of animal husbandry in total agricultural output increased from about 27% in 1961 to about 46% in 1973. In 1978, the contribution of sheep and goats to the national economy was £17.2 million or about 41% of the total livestock income and 14.6% of the gross agricultural output.

Fall and Winter Mortality among Hungarian Partridges in Bottineau and McHenry Counties, North Dakota

In connection with fall and winter studies of the resident game species on the Lower Souris National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota, covey counts of Hungarian partridges were made in 1938-39 and 1940-41 for the purpose of estimating mortality and determining the adaptability of this species to winter conditions in the agricultural districts of McHenry and Bottineau counties in north central North Dakota, within which the refuge is situated. Counts were not restricted to the refuge but were made throughout the two counties. The major part of this region is devoted to grain farming, but there is a considerable acreage of native grass and waste land. Corn growing has received increasing attention in recent years, since failure of wheat crops, the prevalence of lower prices, and the development of livestock production have prompted some of the farmers to diversify their crops. Graded and graveled roads are important locally to the welfare of Hungarian partridges. They provide the only supply of grit ordinarily available during the winter months, and probably much of that obtained at other seasons. When the snow is deep the windswept roads are apparently utilized also as feeding areas. Covey counts along roads satisfactorily sampled the population, there being a decided tendency for the partridges to include a graveled, or at least a graded, road within their winter range, especially during periods of moderately deep snow. Although counts were made in all partridge habitats, the majority were made on or near roads. Covey counts were not taken during the winter of 1939-40. There was very little snow (3 to 6 inches) until the latter part of February and partridges were not nearly so dependent upon graveled roads as they were in 1938-39 and 1940-41. Of 85 partridge deaths or injuries noted during the period from August, 1938 to March 11, 1941,1 68 were attributable to automobiles, 10 were the result of injuries caused by collision with telephone, power, or fence wires, and 6 the result of collision with either automobiles or wires. In this period one bird was killed by a prairie falcon. During the winter of 1937-38 a snowy owl was flushed from a freshly-killed partidge. Golden eagles and snowy owls were the most common winged predators on areas frequented by partridges. One or two golden eagles hunted regularly over grain fields near refuge headquarters each winter. Probably not more than four snowy owls wintered on the refuge during any one year, and but few were seen elsewhere in the two counties. These birds, and also mammalian predators, probably contributed to winter losses of the partridges. The weight and general appearance of partridges found dead along highways compared favorably with those of birds trapped for banding at feeding stations. Even during periods of deep snows and I Hunting season mortality excepted.