Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Housing Systems (housing + system)
Selected AbstractsPrivatising social housing in TaiwanINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 1 2007William D.H. Li This article first reviews how the concept of privatisation has been referred to in the current restructuring of the social housing system, especially in the case of the UK. The term ,privatisation' is then examined in greater detail and its wider meaning is discussed. By using the network approach, privatisation in relation to housing can be understood in terms of the changing combinations of agents involved in providing social housing, which gives rise to the commodified impact on the distribution of social housing. By using the privatisation process of social housing in Taiwan as an example, three distinct combinations in terms of providing social housing are identified. With an increasing number of social housing units being provided by the marketised social housing model where private agents control the process of providing social housing, along with more market rules being involved in the provision and the partial removal of means tests in relation to the distribution of social housing, the privatisation of social housing development in Taiwan is having a major impact on equity. [source] Coat condition, housing condition and measurement of faecal cortisol metabolites , a non-invasive study about alopecia in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Hanspeter W. Steinmetz Abstract Background, Previous studies have characterized alopecia in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) by a mixed partial to complete alopecia in a bilateral symmetric pattern. Methods, In this study, coat condition assessments were related to exogenous and endogenous factors in captive rhesus macaques under different housing conditions in order to identify disturbances in environmental factors controlling or influencing hair growth. Additionally, the degree of alopecia was investigated in relation to adrenal endocrine function as an indicator of social stress using faecal glucocorticoid measurements. Results, Hair loss was found to vary with season and sex, was most pronounced in adult females during the winter and spring months. Generally, infants were not affected, but alopecia developed during adolescence. However, the housing system, available enclosure space and variations in group size and composition also appeared to influence coat condition. Levels of immunoreactive cortisol metabolites (11-oxoetiocholanolone) in faeces were significantly negatively correlated with alopecia, suggesting a relationship between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and hair loss in captive rhesus macaques. Conclusions, Although the present study demonstrates the influence of the HPA axis on coat condition, it is not known if hair loss is caused by abnormal behaviour or hormonal imbalances of the HPA axis itself. Our data suggest that alopecia in rhesus macaques is a highly complex multicausal disorder. [source] Substrate oxidation and retention in pigs and poultryANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2002André CHWALIBOG ABSTRACT A model combining data from gas exchange measurements with nutrient balances, demonstrating energy transfer between the pools of protein, carbohydrate and fat and their partition in the body, is described. Data from energy metabolism experiments with growing pigs and laying hens is incorporated into the model in order to illustrate methods of calculations and interpretations of the model. The experiments with pigs were carried out with growing pigs (20,100 kg) measured alternately on high (ad libitum) and low (near maintenance) feed levels on diets with low or high fat concentration. When energy intake from digested carbohydrate covered the requirements for growth, heat from oxidation of carbohydrate contributed 85,90% to the total heat production, while there was no net oxidation of fat. When the intake of digested carbohydrate was not sufficient to cover requirements, fat was mobilized from the body and oxidized. Energy from oxidation of carbohydrate was in all measurements below the energy in the carbohydrate pool, indicating transfer of energy from carbohydrate to fat metabolism in the process of de novo lipogeneis. The experiments with hens were carried out with 62 hens during the laying period from 26 to 47 weeks of age. The hens originated from two strains (A and B); they were kept in battery cages either individually or 3 hens/cage and fed ad libitum with an identical commercial diet. The partition of the protein pool between oxidation and retention was not influenced by the housing system. However, the genetic origin of hens effected protein utilization with relatively lower oxidation and higher retention in Strain B. The main part of the carbohydrate pool was oxidized (45,60%), but the hens kept individually oxidized more carbohydrate than those kept 3 hens/cage. Further, there were significant differences between the strains. Generally, about half of the fat pool originated from de novo lipogenesis from carbohydrate, indicating the importance of this process for fat retention in eggs. Fat oxidation depended on the energy supply from carbohydrate, hence with higher use of carbohydrate for oxidation in Strain B less fat was oxidized and more was used for fat synthesis. The presented results indicate that by combining results from gas exchange measurements with nitrogen and energy balances it is possible to evaluate the contribution of nutrients to the oxidative processes and the energy transfer between substrate pools. [source] Science and its application in assessing the welfare of laying hens in the egg industryAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 10 2003JL BARNETT Objective To provide a rational framework for the scientific assessment of welfare and to use this framework to assess the welfare implications of issues relevant to the Australian egg industry. Procedure A well-accepted approach to the assessment of animal welfare, based on assessing how well the animal is adapting, is described. This approach is used to consider the welfare implications of issues such as space, perches, nest boxes, dust baths, abrasive strips and non-cage housing systems. Conclusions The role of science in the welfare debate is to provide biological facts and thus it is important to separate welfare and ethics. The welfare of an animal in response to a housing system or husbandry procedure can be assessed by evaluating how much has to be done by the animal in order to cope and the extent to which the coping attempts are succeeding. Using this approach there is evidence for improved welfare from increasing space in cages, based on reduced aggression, corticosterone concentrations and mortalities and increased production, and for incorporating perches, based on the reduction in injuries at depopulation. Similar evidence for the inclusion of dust baths and nest boxes is lacking. The data on abrasive strips are equivocal with recommendations from overseas for their inclusion, whereas some local data have shown an increase in mortality can occur. Similarly, the data on non-cage systems are equivocal. The data on bone strength suggest improved fitness in non-cage systems, the data on stress suggest fitness may be better, similar or worse in non-cage systems, and the limited data on immunology suggest fitness may be worse in non-cage systems than in conventional cages. [source] Effect of breed type, housing and feeding system on performance of growing pigs managed under organic conditionsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 15 2007Hilary RC Kelly Abstract BACKGROUND: There is a need for information on the performance and carcass quality of pigs under different organic management systems. This study compared Duroc-sired progeny from three maternal breed types when kept either at pasture or in housing with an outdoor run and offered ad libitum concentrate either alone or with fodder beet or grass/clover silage as additional forage. RESULTS: Liveweight gain, feed intake and the proportion of forages consumed did not differ between genotypes. Carcass fatness of progeny was lowest for a ,modern' genotype (Camborough 12) and highest for a ,traditional' purebred genotype (Saddleback), with a ,crossbred traditional' genotype (Saddleback × Duroc) being intermediate (11.4, 14.3 and 13.4 mm P2 respectively, standard error of mean (SEM) 0.27, P < 0.001). With a cereal-based concentrate available ad libitum, intake of forages was low (<2% of dry matter intake). Although growth rate did not differ between housing systems, daily feed intake was greater at pasture (2.47 vs 2.22 kg meal equivalent, SEM 0.05, P < 0.001), giving poorer feed efficiency (P < 0.01). Pastured animals consumed less additional forage and had a higher killing-out % but similar carcass fatness. CONCLUSION: For organic pig production to be financially sustainable, disadvantages arising from the genotype and/or rearing system chosen need to be offset by a market premium for the pigs produced. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Welfare, performance and meat quality of fattening pigs in alternative housing and management systems: a reviewJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 5 2005Sam Millet Abstract Conventional husbandry systems for pork production are scrutinized by members of the general public as well as the scientific community. As a response, alternative forms of pig production, such as outdoor housing, organic farming and environmental enrichment are gaining interest. The question arises whether these production systems are indeed able to improve the welfare and health status of the animals, and whether these production systems alter production characteristics and meat or carcass traits. Measures of poor welfare have been described, but evaluating overall welfare is difficult. Certain parameters of alternative housing will improve welfare in some ways but, simultaneously, other welfare problems are inflated, and the weighting of each of these problems is very subjective. Alternative housing systems allow pigs to display species-specific behaviour and decrease the occurrence of abnormal behaviours by acting on several parameters: indoor versus outdoor housing, floor space/density, floor type, and provision of bedding or other types of environmental enrichment. Evaluating alternative housing systems should be done by looking at all the welfare-improving factors and the cost of alleviating welfare-decreasing problems in a given production system. Data in the literature on growth, meat and carcass traits in alternative production systems, are inconsistent, indicating that other factors can play an important role. However, as equal, or in some cases even better, performance can be attained in certain production systems that meet concerns of animal welfare scientists and members of the general public, alternative production forms may be considered preferable. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] High levels of grass pollen inside European dairy farms: a role for the allergy-protective effects of environment?ALLERGY, Issue 7 2009B. Sudre Background:, There is evidence of an allergy protective effect in children raised on farm. It has been assumed that microbial exposure may confer this protection. However in farm, little attention has been given to the pollen level and to concomitant microbiological exposure, and indoor pollen concentrations have never been precisely quantified. Methods:, The kinetics of pollen in dairy farms have been studied in a pilot study (n = 9), and exposure in a sub-sample of the ongoing European birth cohort PASTURE (n = 106). Measurements of viable microorganisms and pollen were performed in air samples. To identify factors that modulate the pollen concentration multivariate regression analyses were run. Results:, Indoor pollen (95% of Poaceae fragments and grains) were significantly higher in winter than in summer (P = 0.001) and ranged between 858 to 11 265 counts/m3 during feeding in winter, thus exceeding typical outdoor levels during the pollen season. Geometric mean in French farms was significantly higher than in German and Swiss farms (7 534, 992 and 1 079 count/m3, respectively). The presence of a ventilation system and loose housing systems significantly reduced indoor pollen levels. This pollen concentration rise after feeding was accompanied by an increase in fungal and actinomycetal levels, whereas the concentration of bacteria was not associated with feeding. Conclusions:, Farmers and their children who attend cowsheds during the feeding sessions are exposed perennially to high pollen concentrations. It might be speculated that the combined permanent exposure to microbes from livestock and grass pollen may initiate tolerance in children living on a farm. [source] A portfolio approach to maintenance: a case study of a residential estateQUALITY AND RELIABILITY ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2008L. K. Chu Abstract The choice between repairing and replacing a defective piece of equipment is an economic decision that is faced by all maintenance managers, including housing estate managers. Such decisions need to be made within the limits and constraints set by maintenance expenditure budgets and by manpower availability. Our particular problem is concerned with the development of a maintenance policy for a residential estate of the Hong Kong Housing Authority. Our approach is to treat the numerous housing systems as a portfolio and to exploit flexibilities in performing or delaying the repair/replacement of these systems. The cost of a repair/replacement plan for the portfolio is formulated as an integer programme and genetic algorithms (GAs) are employed to generate optimal and sub-optimal solution plans. The novel features of the approach are the model developed and use of GAs in this particular optimization context. The results and discussion of the case study will help practitioners to better understand the difficulties involved in collecting relevant cost data and in formulating repair/replacement plans for a group of buildings. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Science and its application in assessing the welfare of laying hens in the egg industryAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 10 2003JL BARNETT Objective To provide a rational framework for the scientific assessment of welfare and to use this framework to assess the welfare implications of issues relevant to the Australian egg industry. Procedure A well-accepted approach to the assessment of animal welfare, based on assessing how well the animal is adapting, is described. This approach is used to consider the welfare implications of issues such as space, perches, nest boxes, dust baths, abrasive strips and non-cage housing systems. Conclusions The role of science in the welfare debate is to provide biological facts and thus it is important to separate welfare and ethics. The welfare of an animal in response to a housing system or husbandry procedure can be assessed by evaluating how much has to be done by the animal in order to cope and the extent to which the coping attempts are succeeding. Using this approach there is evidence for improved welfare from increasing space in cages, based on reduced aggression, corticosterone concentrations and mortalities and increased production, and for incorporating perches, based on the reduction in injuries at depopulation. Similar evidence for the inclusion of dust baths and nest boxes is lacking. The data on abrasive strips are equivocal with recommendations from overseas for their inclusion, whereas some local data have shown an increase in mortality can occur. Similarly, the data on non-cage systems are equivocal. The data on bone strength suggest improved fitness in non-cage systems, the data on stress suggest fitness may be better, similar or worse in non-cage systems, and the limited data on immunology suggest fitness may be worse in non-cage systems than in conventional cages. [source] | ||||||||||