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Livestock Productivity (livestock + productivity)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Earth and Environmental Science	50%

Selected Abstracts

Ecological implications of Fulbe pastoralism in southwestern Nigeria

LAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2003
Akin M. Omotayo
Abstract The study used a combination of ethno-social surveys and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to assess 651 pastoral households and their land use under agropastoral production systems in Ogun State, Nigeria. Yields of arable crops on agropastoralists' fields were generally low. Livestock productivity was similar on all parameters to levels in comparable contexts elsewhere across the West African subregion, but generally below possible potentials and on-farm research findings. Pastoral households' activities presently influence between 221,km2 and 523,km2 of land in Ogun State. Pastoral grazing orbits extended beyond administrative boundaries, causing potential conflicts between local crop farmers and agropatoralists. Much of the land-cover has been altered considerably around the areas of pastoral household settlements compared with the situation 20 years ago. It was concluded that a form of intervention was needed that would guarantee sustainability of the land-use system. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Manipulation of herbage production by altering the pattern of applying nitrogen fertilizer

GRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 1 2008
D. Hennessy
Abstract The redistribution of herbage production during the growing season to synchronize herbage supply with feed demand by livestock by altering the application pattern of a range of nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates was studied. Application rates of N were 50, 150 and 250 kg N ha,1 per annum and patterns were with 0·60 of N fertilizer applied before June (treatment RN) and with only 0·20 of N fertilizer before June (treatment IN). Treatments were imposed in a cutting (simulated grazing) experiment (Experiment 1), which was conducted for 2 years and a grazing experiment (Experiment 2) which was conducted for 3 years. In both experiments, herbage production was reduced in April and May and increased in the June,October period on treatment IN relative to RN, but annual herbage production was not significantly affected except in the third year of Experiment 2, when treatment RN had significantly (P < 0·05) higher herbage production than treatment IN. Crude protein (CP) concentration of herbage was lower in April and May on treatment IN than treatment RN. However, CP concentration of herbage was rarely below 150 g kg,1 DM and so it is unlikely that livestock productivity would be compromised. On treatment IN, concentrations of CP in herbage were higher in the late summer than on treatment RN, which may increase livestock productivity during July and August when livestock productivity is often lower. Altering the strategy of application of N fertilizer did not affect in vitro dry matter digestibility of herbage. [source]

Epidemiology of Bovine Venereal Campylobacteriosis: Geographic Distribution and Recent Advances in Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 5 2010
GD Mshelia
Contents Bovine venereal campylobacteriosis (BVC) is a major cause of economic loss to the cattle industries in different parts of the world. Camplylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv), the main causative agent of BVC, is highly adapted to the genital tract of cattle and is transmitted by carrier bulls. However, infertility and abortions can also be caused by the intestinal pathogens C. fetus subsp. fetus (Cff), and C. jenuni, which are not venereally transmitted. Bovine venereal campylobacteriosis, caused by Cfv associated with lowered fertility, embryo mortality and abortion, repeated returns to service, reduced pregnancy rates and extended calving intervals, has the highest prevalence in developing countries where natural breeding in cattle is widely practised. The epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease have been the subject of previous reviews. The main focus of this review is to highlight the epidemiology of this disease with particular reference to geographical distribution and recent advances in molecular diagnostic techniques. It is hoped that further research interest of scientists will be stimulated with a view to finding lasting solutions to the reproductive problems associated with the disease for better livestock productivity, particularly in developing endemic countries. [source]

Future developments in global livestock and grains markets: the impacts of livestock productivity convergence in Asia-Pacific

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL & RESOURCE ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2000
Allan N. Rae
Increasing livestock product consumption in many Asian countries has been accompanied by growth in some countries' imports of feedgrains for their domestic livestock sectors. This contributes to debate over future levels of grain imports. Yet projections often pay little attention to developments in livestock production. The impacts of technological catch-up in livestock production on trade in livestock and grains products among countries in the Asia-Pacific region are assessed. Tests are conducted of the hypothesis that productivity levels in the Asia-Pacific region are converging. Projections of livestock productivity are made and incorporated in a modified GTAP model. The consequences for regional and global trade in livestock and grains products are explored. [source]