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2. Offering collegiate livestock judging as a student organization
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Miller, Maryfrances (author), Edgar, Don W. (author), and Logemann, Lyle (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2024-05-10
- Published:
- USA: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13545
- Journal Title:
- The Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- 61(4) : Article 5
- Notes:
- 4 pages, Resource constraints have lowered the number of collegiate livestock judging teams, dropping the number of opportunities for collegiate judging, even though interest among students remains high. These opportunities can be provided for less expense through student-led extracurricular organizations. This approach increases the student initiative required, but also provides an increased opportunity for developing and demonstrating leadership skills.
3. How do grazing beef and dairy cattle respond to virtual fences? A review
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Wilms, Lisa (author), Komainda, Martin (author), Hamidi, Dina (author), Riesch, Friederike (author), Horn, Juliane (author), and Isselstein, Johannes (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2024-04-15
- Published:
- USA: Oxford University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13552
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Animal Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 102
- Notes:
- 11 pages, Virtual fencing (VF) is a modern fencing technology that requires the animal to wear a device (e.g., a collar) that emits acoustic signals to replace the visual cue of traditional physical fences (PF) and, if necessary, mild electric signals. The use of devices that provide electric signals leads to concerns regarding the welfare of virtually fenced animals. The objective of this review is to give an overview of the current state of VF research into the welfare and learning behavior of cattle. Therefore, a systematic literature search was conducted using two online databases and reference lists of relevant articles. Studies included were peer-reviewed and written in English, used beef or dairy cattle, and tested neck-mounted VF devices. Further inclusion criteria were a combination of audio and electrical signals and a setup as a pasture trial, which implied that animals grazed in groups on grassland for 4 h minimum while at least one fence side was virtually fenced. The eligible studies (n = 13) were assigned to one or two of the following categories: animal welfare (n studies = 8) or learning behavior (n studies = 9). As data availability for conducting a meta-analysis was not sufficient, a comparison of the means of welfare indicators (daily weight gain, daily lying time, steps per hour, daily number of lying bouts, and fecal cortisol metabolites [FCM]) for virtually and physically fenced animals was done instead. In an additional qualitative approach, the results from the welfare-related studies were assembled and discussed. For the learning behavior, the number of acoustic and electric signals and their ratio were used in a linear regression model with duration in days as a numeric predictor to assess the learning trends over time. There were no significant differences between VF and PF for most welfare indicators (except FCM with lower values for VF; P = 0.0165). The duration in days did not have a significant effect on the number of acoustic and electric signals. However, a significant effect of trial duration on the ratio of electric-to-acoustic signals (P = 0.0014) could be detected, resulting in a decreasing trend of the ratio over time, which suggests successful learning. Overall, we conclude that the VF research done so far is promising but is not yet sufficient to ensure that the technology could not have impacts on the welfare of certain cattle types. More research is necessary to investigate especially possible long-term effects of VF.
4. The animal agriculture industry, US universities, and the obstruction of climate understanding and policy
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Morris, Viveca (author) and Jacquet, Jennifer (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2024-02-26
- Published:
- Netherlands: Springer Nature
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13549
- Journal Title:
- Climatic Change
- Journal Title Details:
- 177 : Article 41
- Notes:
- 42 pages, The 2006 United Nations report “Livestock’s Long Shadow” provided the first global estimate of the livestock sector’s contribution to anthropogenic climate change and warned of dire environmental consequences if business as usual continued. In the subsequent 17 years, numerous studies have attributed significant climate change impacts to livestock. In the USA, one of the largest consumers and producers of meat and dairy products, livestock greenhouse gas emissions remain effectively unregulated. What might explain this? Similar to fossil fuel companies, US animal agriculture companies responded to evidence that their products cause climate change by minimizing their role in the climate crisis and shaping policymaking in their favor. Here, we show that the industry has done so with the help of university experts. The beef industry awarded funding to Dr. Frank Mitloehner from the University of California, Davis, to assess “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” and his work was used to claim that cows should not be blamed for climate change. The animal agriculture industry is now involved in multiple multi-million-dollar efforts with universities to obstruct unfavorable policies as well as influence climate change policy and discourse. Here, we traced how these efforts have downplayed the livestock sector’s contributions to the climate crisis, minimized the need for emission regulations and other policies aimed at internalizing the costs of the industry’s emissions, and promoted industry-led climate “solutions” that maintain production. We studied this phenomenon by examining the origins, funding sources, activities, and political significance of two prominent academic centers, the CLEAR Center at UC Davis, established in 2018, and AgNext at Colorado State University, established in 2020, as well as the influence and industry ties of the programs’ directors, Dr. Mitloehner and Dr. Kimberly Stackhouse-Lawson. We developed 20 questions to evaluate the nature, extent, and societal impacts of the relationship between individual researchers and industry groups. Using publicly available evidence, we documented how the ties between these professors, centers, and the animal agriculture industry have helped maintain the livestock industry’s social license to operate not only by generating industry-supported research, but also by supporting public relations and policy advocacy.
5. Beefing up communication skills of upper-level animal science students
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Norris-Parish, Shannon L. (author), Leggette, Holli R. (author), Pesl Murphy, Theresa (author), Parrella, Jean A. (author), Richburg, Audra (author), and Herring, Andy D. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2024-01-12
- Published:
- UK: Oxford University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 208 Document Number: D13252
- Journal Title:
- Translational Animal Science
- Journal Title Details:
- V.8
- Notes:
- 9 pages, Animal scientists face an increasing need to communicate with the lay public because of the public’s interest in the origin and production of animal-sourced foods. Consumers’ increased interest infers a critical need for effective communication skills among animal science graduates. Effective communication skills are mandatory if students are to explain scientific information and mitigate misinformation about livestock production. The purpose of our study was to investigate the communication styles and communication effectiveness of upper-level animal science students enrolled in a beef cattle production and management course at Texas A&M University across five semesters (N = 241; spring 2018 = 61, summer 2018 = 15, Fall 2018 = 54, spring 2019 = 55, and fall 2019 = 56). Male animal science students (n = 25; 32.9%) preferred assertive and direct communication (a driver communication style) and female students (n = 32; 19.4%) preferred collaborative and accommodating communication (an amiable communication style). Students were moderately experienced with beef cattle production (M = 3.09, SD = 1.07) before enrolling in the course; however, former beef cattle experiences did not influence their preferred communication style [F(10, 230) = 0.36, P = 0.96]. Researchers also observed students’ communication skills during an end-of-semester beef cattle production and management project presentation and identified strengths and weaknesses. Students demonstrated strong, in-depth animal industry knowledge, an ability to connect beef production techniques to management success, and critical thinking skills when answering questions. Oral communication skills warranting improvement included integrating visual aids and/or visual slides to support findings, using improved stage presence and confidence, and sharing responsibilities when presenting as a team. Finally, completion of a supplemental communication training module, intended to develop oral communication skills, significantly improved [F(1, 55) = 4.16, P = 0.046] students’ beef cattle production and management project presentation scores. As students become aware of their communication preferences and tendencies, they become equipped to adjust their communication practices and techniques when needed. Through this study, we gained insight into students’ communication tendencies and skills, which can be used to provide curricular recommendations and enhance students’ workforce readiness.
6. Why has animal science not led to improved farm animal health and welfare?
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Sundrum, Albert (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2024-01-05
- Published:
- Switzerland: Frontiers
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13548
- Journal Title:
- Frontiers in Animal Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 4
- Notes:
- 17 pages, o sustain the economic viability of a livestock farm in a global market, characterised by a price undercutting competition, farmers are forced to adapt to what the market demands. At the same time, they have to care for the functionality of the farm system as a whole and of the subsystems, such as the farm animals, so that they for their part they can contribute to an economic success. Now, that animal health and welfare (AHW) has become an increasingly important issue for citizens and consumers, not only the decision makers but also the disciplines of animal science are challenged to improve an unsatisfying AHW level that has been neglected for long. However, to reduce AHW problems requires a quite different approach than to increase productive efficiency. A common sense can be assumed concerning the need to strive for an optimal cost-to-benefit ratio while balancing positive and negative impacts of production processes on economic and AHW target figures. However, what is often not adequately considered is the fact that economic and biological demands have to be balanced within a living system, e.g. in the individual animal and farm system. These function as the relevant reference systems in all cases where measures to reduce AHW problems are considered. Furthermore, there is a large gap of scientific knowledge, however, not in the traditional sense. While the predominant approaches, scientists generate context-invariant, and thus generalisable disposal knowledge in diversified subdisciplines, problem solving requires contextualisation, orientation and action-guiding knowledge within transdisciplinary approaches. The reason is that AHW problems are highly context-sensitive as well as multifactorial. They develop within the farm specific interconnectedness of manifold and highly varying factors, emerging a complexity that does not allow predictive statements via inductive approaches but requires an iterative procedure to approach to a farm specific AHW level, which is balanced with the overarching goal of economic viability. Recommended action guiding knowledge has to be of high external and ecological validity, before farmers might consider it to be implemented in farm practice. From the reflection about the discrepancy between the knowledge needed to reduce AHW problems and what is offered by animal science, it is concluded that not only the farm systems but also the predominant approaches of animal science have to be transformed. Otherwise, there is not a big chance to considerably reduce AHW problems in farm animals.
7. Comparison of the welfare of beef cattle in housed and grazing systems: hormones, health and behaviour
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Cooke, Andrew (author), Mullan, Siobhan (author), Morten, Charlie (author), Hockenhull, Joanna (author), Le-Grice, Phil (author), Le Cocq, Kate (author), Lee, Michael R. F. (author), Cardenas, Laura M. (author), and Rivero, M. Jordana (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2023-06-29
- Published:
- United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 206 Document Number: D12951
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Science
- Journal Title Details:
- V.161, Iss.3
- Notes:
- 14 pages, Animal welfare encompasses all aspects of an animal’s life and the interactions between animals. Consequently, welfare must be measured across a variety of factors that consider aspects such as health, behaviour and mental state. Decisions regarding housing and grazing are central to farm management. In this study, two beef cattle systems and their herds were compared from weaning to slaughter across numerous indicators. One herd (‘HH’) were continuously housed, the other (‘HG’) were housed only during winter. Inspections of animals were conducted to assess body condition, cleanliness, diarrhoea, hairlessness, nasal discharge and ocular discharge. Hair and nasal mucus samples were taken for quantification of cortisol and serotonin. Qualitative behaviour assessments (QBA) were also conducted and performance monitored. Physical health indicators were similar between herds with the exception of nasal discharge which was more prevalent in HH (P < 0.001). During winter, QBA yielded differences between herds over PC1 (arousal) (P = 0.032), but not PC2 (mood) (P = 0.139). Through summer, there was a strong difference across both PC1 (P < 0.001) and PC2 (P = 0.002), with HG exhibiting more positive behaviour. A difference was found in hair cortisol levels, with the greatest concentrations observed in HG (P = 0.011), however such a pattern was not seen for nasal mucus cortisol or for serotonin. Overall, providing summer grazing (HG) appeared to afford welfare benefits to the cattle as shown with more positive QBA assessments, but also slightly better health indicators, notwithstanding the higher levels of cortisol in that group.
8. Impact of climate change on sustainable pastoral livelihoods in Loima Sub-County, Turkana County, Kenya
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Imana, C.A. (author) and Zenda, M. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2023-05-06
- Published:
- South Africa: African Journals Online
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 206 Document Number: D12927
- Journal Title:
- South African Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 51, N.1
- Notes:
- 21 pages, Climate change and variability have adversely affected communities’ pastoral livelihoods in Kenya. The study aimed to investigate sustaining pastoral livelihoods in a changing climate in Loima Sub-County, Turkana County, Kenya. A total of 59 pastoralists were interviewed using a questionnaire. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 22. SPSS employed descriptive statistical techniques like frequencies, percentages, cross-tabulations and proportions, means, and standard deviation. Pie charts, graphs, figures, and tables were used to present the data analysis output. Climate has been observed to vary continuously by pastoralists. Climate hazards mostly reported were livestock diseases and the frequency of droughts. The findings also indicated that livestock keepers preferred to graze their livestock on mountains/hills. Pasture and water availability and security determine the pattern of livestock movement. Pastoralists adopted various strategies to cope with climatic changes. Some of these strategies included diverse utilisation of livestock products, controlled grazing, herd diversification, and labour distribution among household members. In conclusion, climatic change and variability effects on the livelihoods of the pastoralists are evident. However, they have diversified ways of adapting and coping with these catastrophes to sustain themselves. To avert the effects of climate change, Turkana agriculture extension officers should focus on value addition to livestock products, provision of livestock insurance schemes, veterinary services, and livestock disease surveillance. Furthermore, agriculture extension needs to develop and enforce livestock policies and develop appropriate contingency plans. Among the policies recommended are- the management of grazing areas, regulations on migratory routes, and rules governing the use of water sources.
9. The meat of the matter: the effect of science-based information on consumer perception of grass-fed beef
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- O'Brien, Klae D. (author), Baker, Carrie N. (author), Bush, Sarah A. (author), and Wolf, Kattlyn J. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2023
- Published:
- USA: New Prairie Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 208 Document Number: D13289
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Applied Communications
- Journal Title Details:
- 107(4) : Article 10
- Notes:
- 26 pages, In the United States, there is a growing disconnect between consumers and their food source, leading to a lack of knowledge and trust in the agricultural food system. Urbanization has moved people away from farms, ranches, and food production; and the information consumers seek about their food is filtered through mass and social media. Portrayals of information about food production, specifically beef, from outside the agriculture industry often present polarizing and conflicting information about beef production and its implications for the health and well-being of humans, livestock, and the environment. This adds to consumer confusion and influences purchasing behaviors. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest 2x2 factorial design, we sought to explore consumer (n = 60) perceptions, consumption, and purchasing behaviors of grass-fed beef and determine the effects of four information treatments on overall perception. Descriptive results showed consumers do not have a shared definition pertaining to grass- and grain-fed beef, citing the internet as their most referenced source for information about food and grass-fed beef. Results from a t-test indicated that exposing consumers to an information treatment had a significant effect on environmental impacts, cost, quality/nutrition, and overall perception of grass-fed beef. A between-subjects factorial ANOVA revealed there was no significant difference in perception based on treatment type. Efforts to raise awareness about beef production, on-farm practices, and links between food and grower could be warranted to help enhance the trust and credibility of the industry and bridge the gap between producers and consumers.
10. Dynamic relationships among changes in prices of beef, pork, and chicken in Japan: A Bayesian approach
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Noda, Hideo (author) and Kyo, Koki (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-12-09
- Published:
- Netherlands: Elsevier B.V.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 206 Document Number: D12815
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 11
- Notes:
- 11 pages, In this paper, we investigate the interdependence among changes in the prices of beef, pork, and chicken in Japan using a time-varying coefficient vector autoregressive model. Our empirical analysis using monthly data from January 1990 to March 2014 shows that changes in beef prices have long-term influences on changes in pork and chicken prices. Moreover, current changes in the prices of beef, pork, and chicken are closely related to changes in their prices in the preceding two months. Additionally, we do not find that the bovine spongiform encephalopathy outbreak announced by the Japanese government in September 2001 had a long-term influence on the dynamic relationships among changes in the prices of beef, pork, and chicken in Japan.
11. Unlocking the potential of smallholder dairy farm: Evidence from the central highland of Ethiopia
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Feyissa, Abraham Abera (author), Senbeta, Feyera (author), Tolera, Adugna (author), and Guta, Dawit Diriba (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-12-01
- Published:
- Netherlands: Elsevier B.V.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 206 Document Number: D12799
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 11
- Notes:
- 10 pages, Sustainable livestock farming practices have the potential to improve productivity and high income, reduce greenhouse gases, and improve household food security. Despite previous efforts to disseminate these technologies, the rate of adoption has remained very low in Ethiopia. In this study, we investigate the determinants of adoption and the impact of improved dairy farming practices (IDFP), which include improved breed, improved feed, and improved feeding conditions, on household food security in the central highland of Ethiopia.
12. Access to extension and advisory services by emerging livestock farmers in uThungulu district municipality of KwaZulu-Natal
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Nkosi, N.Z. (author), Antwi, M.A. (author), Masafu, M.M. (author), and Rubhara, T.T. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-11-02
- Published:
- South Africa: South African Society for Agricultural Extension
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12719
- Journal Title:
- South African Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 50, N.2
- Notes:
- 16 pages, Lack of access to agricultural extension and advisory services has been identified as one of the major challenges facing emerging farmers in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of access to these services by emerging livestock farmers in uThungulu District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal. A survey design was used with face-to-face interviews to collect data using a semi-structured questionnaire. A sample of 1 437 was randomly selected from 4 792 emerging livestock farmers in the district. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 software. The results show that more than 90% of emerging livestock farmers in the district had high access to public extension and 14% had access to private extension, in addition. About 32% of the respondents also had access to extension and advisory services from agricultural cooperatives. There was an improvement in access to these services by emerging farmers compared to the past. The involvement of the private sector and cooperatives in rendering extension and advisory services to emerging livestock farmers shows that various stakeholders are involved in improving emerging livestock farmers in the province.
13. Assessment of extension services on capacity building of smallholder livestock farmers in Midvaal local municipality, Gauteng province
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Manyakanyaka, B. (author), Modirwa, S. (author), Tshwene, C. (author), and Maoba, S. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-11-02
- Published:
- South Africa: South African Society for Agricultural Extension
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12722
- Journal Title:
- South African Journal of Agricultural Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol 50, N. 2
- Notes:
- 15 pages, The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of extension services on capacity building of smallholder livestock farmers in Midvaal Local Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa. A simple random sample technique was used to select the participants, so that individual farmers in the study population could have an equal chance of being selected in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 148 smallholder livestock farmers. The data gathered from participants was coded and captured in Microsoft Excel. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, mean, percentages, standard deviation, ranking order, and inferential statistics such as binary logistic regression were used to analyse the data. Results showed that technical farm visits (M = 3.3, SD = ±1.36) and informal training (M = 3.2, SD = ±1.31) were effective extension methods. Furthermore, they showed that extension services were less effective at enabling farmers to penetrate formal markets (M = 2,0 SD = ±1.06) and access finance (M = 1.9, SD = ±1.01). The binary logistic regression model revealed that gender and farming status were the main variables that significantly (P<0.05) influenced smallholder livestock farmers’ access to extension services. It was concluded that extension services in the study area were playing a major role in the capacity building of smallholder livestock farmers.
14. NCBA denounces Google's feature that misrepresents beef's environmental impact
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association (author)
- Format:
- News release
- Publication Date:
- 2022-10-12
- Published:
- AgriMarketing
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13505
- Notes:
- 1 page
15. Building brand trust with the story of on-farm innovation
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Global Ag Tech Initiative (author)
- Format:
- Online article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-08-18
- Published:
- Center for Food Integrity
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13399
- Notes:
- 3 pages
16. American Farm Bureau survey reveals increasing toll of western drought
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Karst, Tom (author)
- Format:
- Online article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-08-16
- Published:
- The Packer
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13409
- Notes:
- 3 pages
17. Assessing farmer perceptions on livestock intensification and associated trade-offs using fuzzy cognitive maps; a study in mixed farming systems in the mid-hills of Nepal
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Alomia-Hinojosa,Victoria (author), Groot, CJ (author), Andersson, Jens (author), Speelman, Erika (author), McDonald, Andrew (author), and Tittonnell, Pablo (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-06-02
- Published:
- United States: Wiley Online
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12562
- Journal Title:
- Systems Research and Behavioral Science
- Journal Title Details:
- Online only
- Notes:
- 13 pages, Intensified livestock production is considered as a promising pathway for smallholder farmers. Nevertheless, this pathway may entail prohibitive investment requirements of labour, capital or trade-offs at farm level that preclude sustainable intensification. We used fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) to assess farmers' perceptions of changes in the farm household system resulting from adding livestock to their mixed farms. Farmers identified trade-offs between the increased income and farmyard manure production versus increases in labour requirements for fodder imports. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis performed on the FCMs showed that an increase in milk market demand could have strong positive effects on livestock production and income. We conclude that FCM is a good tool to rapidly identify trade-offs and analyse perceptions of farmers which revealed that although they consider intensification a promising strategy, the perceived deepening of labour constraints and increasing dependency on fodder import makes a concurrent (sustainable) intensification of these farm systems unlikely.
18. Education for sustainability in the agriculture and livestock sector: educational experience in Gibraltar area (Spain)
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Casanova-Correa, Juan (author), Vargas-Vergara, Montserrat (author), Aragon, Lourdes (author), and Gomez-Chacon, Beatriz (author)
- Format:
- Journal
- Publication Date:
- 2022-06
- Published:
- Sciendo
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13383
- Journal Title:
- Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education
- Journal Title Details:
- 13(1) : 5-16
- Notes:
- 12 pages, If we are to attain a sustainable future, humanity will need to make drastic changes towards a life based on sustainability in all areas, especially in the economic sector, including food production. The task of educating for sustainability needs to include food producers (farmers and livestock breeders). This article describes an educational experience carried out within the framework of a proposal presented in the “Second Call for Grants to Promote University-Company Projects” at the Technological Campus of Algeciras (Spain). It consisted of conducting in-depth interviews with farmers and livestock breeders, identifying the practices in the daily management of their farms, and having them participate in an education and training event in which they shared their knowledge. It was not an easy task because food producers have systematically been attacked by currents of opinion that blame them for causing greenhouse gas emissions. We adopted an approach based on empathy and on encouraging sustainable food production practices.
19. Assessing biosecurity compliance in poultry farms: a survey in a densely populated poultry area in North East Italy
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Tilli, Guiditta (author), Laconi, Andrea (author), Galuppo, Francesco (author), Mughini-Gras, Lapo (author), and Piccirillo, Alessandra (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-05-30
- Published:
- Switzerland: MDPI
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13449
- Journal Title:
- Animals
- Journal Title Details:
- 12(11) : 1409
- Notes:
- 10 pages, Biosecurity in poultry farms represents the first line of defense against the entry and spread of pathogens that may have animal health, food safety, and economic consequences. The aim of this study was to assess biosecurity compliance in poultry farms located in a densely populated poultry area in North East Italy. A total of 259 poultry farms (i.e., broilers, turkeys, and layers) were surveyed between 2018 and 2019 using standardized checklists, and differences in biosecurity compliance between the poultry sectors and years (only for turkey farms) were tested for significance. Among the three sectors, turkey farms showed the highest compliance. Farm hygiene, infrastructure condition, cleaning and disinfection tools, and procedures were the biosecurity measures most complied with. Some deficiencies were observed in the cleanliness of the farm hygiene lock in broiler farms, as well as the presence of the house hygiene lock in broiler and layer farms and an adequate coverage of built-up litter in turkey and broiler farms. In conclusion, this study highlighted a generally high level of biosecurity in the visited poultry farms (probably due to the stringent national regulation and the integration of the poultry industry) and identified some measures that still need to be improved.
20. It's time to collaborate: Farm Journal and the National Institute for Animal Agriculture team up to guide animal agriculture to its story
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Jones, J.J. (author)
- Format:
- Online Article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-05-24
- Published:
- Drovers
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 209 Document Number: D13425
- Notes:
- 3 pages