M.S.

M.S.

The present study was a longitudinal analysis of the information needs of Red Angus cattle breeders and their use of networked information services. It was based on two surveys. The first, conducted in 1995--96, polled all 1067 ranches of the Red Angus Association of America. Responses from 192 Red Angus breeders were used to determine the value of different information types and to evaluate perceptions of the greatest barriers to the adoption of network information services. The second survey, mailed to 41 Red Angus breeders in 1998, focused on early adopters and likely users of network services. Responses from 15 breeders were used to evaluate perceptions of the greatest barriers to the effective use of Web-based information services.

There is currently no strategic marketing plan for stud or commercial breeders of the Drakensberger breed of cattle in South Africa. This study aims to determine what strategic marketing plans can be employed that could be successful for the different levels of Drakensberger cattle farmers. The analysis set off by a literature review of the beef industry in South Africa. Currently domestic production serves 85% of the local beef market. The literature review showed that, irrespective of breed or geographical area, specific characteristics, such as fertility, adaptability and temperament, could be identified as critical success factors for the beef industry. The Drakensberger as competitive breed of cattle, is also analysed within a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), while the beef industry is analysed by means of Porter's 5-forces model. From the results conclusions were made on the farming profile of the Drakensberger farmers, their marketing orientation, as the important elements relevant to a marketing plan of the Drakensberger breed of cattle. This includes attractive promotional and advertising possibilities, pricing and product promotion activities. A number of marketing recommendations are also made to improve the market share of the Drakensberger breed of cattle in South Africa. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

There is currently no strategic marketing plan for stud or commercial breeders of the Drakensberger breed of cattle in South Africa. This study aims to determine what strategic marketing plans can be employed that could be successful for the different levels of Drakensberger cattle farmers. The analysis set off by a literature review of the beef industry in South Africa. Currently domestic production serves 85% of the local beef market. The literature review showed that, irrespective of breed or geographical area, specific characteristics, such as fertility, adaptability and temperament, could be identified as critical success factors for the beef industry. The Drakensberger as competitive breed of cattle, is also analysed within a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), while the beef industry is analysed by means of Porter's 5-forces model. From the results conclusions were made on the farming profile of the Drakensberger farmers, their marketing orientation, as the important elements relevant to a marketing plan of the Drakensberger breed of cattle. This includes attractive promotional and advertising possibilities, pricing and product promotion activities. A number of marketing recommendations are also made to improve the market share of the Drakensberger breed of cattle in South Africa. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

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Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR) are a form of intellectual property rights enabling breeders of new plant varieties to have the exclusive right to produce and sell propagating material of their new plant varieties. The existence of effective property rights has been pointed to as a stimulus of increased R&D and productivity. Canada has had legislation to provide PBR protection for about two decades, and is considering further strengthening of the regulatory framework. However, there are few studies that have examined the effectiveness of the legislation on crop productivity. This thesis investigates the hypothesis that the adoption of wheat varieties qualifying for Plant Breeders' Rights has increased overall wheat yields and rate of yield increase. The yield response function models are applied to industry data for western Canada and Alberta, respectively. The empirical results show that the PBR Act had a relatively small impact on wheat yields. Among wheat classes, it had a positive impact for Durum wheat in Alberta.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of age and lineage of layers breeders light and semi heavy on the quality of the egg, the pinto newly eclodido and performance of incubation. 3,456 eggs were used for breeding light (Dekalb White) and semi heavy (Bovans Goldline) in three different ages (young, old and middle age). The experiment was divided into two stages, at first we evaluate the characteristics of the eggs of a sample of 360 eggs (60 per treatment). In the second stage evaluated the performance of chicks hatching and quality of a sample of 3,096 eggs (516 per treatment). It was observed that the quality of the shell fell and the weight of the egg increased with the increase of age of the birds. The layers breeders Dekalb White eggs produced heavier in the middle ages and with better quality of bark at all ages. With the increasing age of the bird has increased the percentage of yolk and albumen decreases. This decrease was more pronounced in a manner eggs line Dekalb White. Eggs of the same lineage, layers breeders young and old had a higher percentage of egg yolk. The pH of the yolk and albumen increased with the ageing of layers breeding, which in old age, the egg line Dekalb White shows higher values for these variables that line Bovans Goldline. As for the assessment of incubation found that birds' eggs old line Bovans Goldline had greater percentage of weight loss during the incubation than those from Dekalb White layers breeders of the same age. The weight of pinto increased with increasing age of the leyer breeding and Dekalb White chicks born heavier that the Bovans Goldline. However, the relationship of chicks weight / weight of the egg was higher for chicks Bovans Goldline poultry young and middle age. The progeny Dekalb White was not influenced by the age of reproductive on this parameter. The percentage of females born in respect of fertile eggs was greater in the lineage Dekalb White. Since young matrices obtained lower values for this variable, regardless of their lineage. The female chicks Dekalb White, and had weights more uniform, had a higher percentage of bag viteline than the Bovans Goldline. The age of the matrix no effect on these variables. The percentage of the heart and lungs in the weight of the female chicks were not influenced by age or the lineage of breeding. / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da idade e da linhagem de galinhas matrizes leves e semi pesadas sobre a qualidade do ovo, do pinto recém-eclodido e do rendimento da incubação. Foram utilizados 3.456 ovos de reprodutoras leves (Dekalb White) e semi pesadas (Bovans Goldline) em três diferentes idades (jovens, velhas e de média idade). O experimento foi dividido em duas etapas; na primeira se avaliou as características dos ovos de uma amostra de 360 ovos (60 por tratamento). Na segunda etapa avaliou-se o desempenho da incubação e a qualidade dos pintinhos numa amostra de 3.096 ovos (516 por tratamento). Observou-se que a qualidade da casca diminuiu e o peso do ovo aumentou com a elevação da idade das aves. As matrizes Dekalb White produziram ovos mais pesados na idade média e com melhor qualidade de casca em todas as idades. Com o aumento da idade da ave o percentual da gema aumentou e do albúmen diminui. Essa diminuição ocorreu de maneira mais acentuada em ovos da linhagem Dekalb White. Ovos dessa mesma linhagem, de matrizes jovens e velhas apresentaram maior percentual de gema. O ph da gema e do albúmen aumentou com o envelhecimento das matrizes, sendo que na idade ve lha, o ovo da linhagem Dekalb White apresenta valores maiores para essas variáveis que os da linhagem Bovans Goldline. Quanto à avaliação da incubação verificou-se que ovos de aves velhas da linhagem Bovans Goldline apresentaram maior percentual de perda de peso durante a incubação do que aqueles provenientes de matrizes Dekalb White de mesma idade. O peso do pinto aumentou com o aumento da idade da matriz e pintinhos Dekalb White nasceram mais pesados que os Bovans Goldline. Porém, a relação peso do pinto / peso do ovo foi maior para pintos Bovans Goldline de aves jovens e de média idade. A progênie Dekalb White não foi influenciada pela idade da reprodutora quanto a esse parâmetro. O percentual de fêmeas nascidas em relação aos ovos férteis foi maior na linhagem Dekalb White. Sendo que matrizes jovens obtiveram valores menores para essa variável, independente de sua linhagem. As pintinhas Dekalb White, além de apresentaram pesos mais uniformes, obtiveram maior percentual de saco vitelino do que as Bovans Goldline. A idade da matriz não exerceu influência sobre essas variáveis. O percentual do coração e dos pulmões em relação ao peso da pintinha não foi influenciado pela idade nem pela linhagem das reprodutoras. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias

Orientador: Sergio Ricardo Batlouni / Resumo: Nosso objetivo foi avaliar o efeito das diferentes densidades de estocagem e proporções sexuais sobre o desempenho reprodutivo da espécie Astyanax altiparanae em sistema semi-natural. Foram realizados dois experimentos distintos, para o primeiro objetivo testamos quatro densidades de estocagem (3; 6; 12; 24 indivíduos) com quatro réplicas, mantendo sempre a proporção sexual de dois machos para uma fêmea. Quando o efeito da proporção sexual foi avaliado, utilizamos cinco proporções diferentes (1:1; 2:1; 3:1; 1;2; 1:3; macho: fêmea) e dois controles com três repetições, respeitando a densidade de 12 indivíduos em cada unidade experimental. Em ambos os experimentos os tratamentos foram comparados pelo desempenho reprodutivo por meio de variáveis como: a sobrevivência dos reprodutores, a proporção de réplicas com desovas, o volume de desova, percentual médio de fêmeas desovadas por réplica, taxas de fertilidade e eclosão, número de embriões obtidos por tratamento, histologia dos ovários e concentrações plasmáticas dos esteroides sexuais. A densidade não influenciou de forma negativa no desempenho reprodutivo da espécie, sendo observados os melhores desempenhos para as variáveis: volume médio de desova considerando apenas as réplicas onde houve desova 131,50±33,17ml e no número médio de embriões viáveis 73819,2±20462,1, nas unidades com maior densidade (24) animais. Notamos desempenhos muito semelhantes quando as diferentes proporções foram testadas, sendo a variável volume relati... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of different storage densities and sexual proportions on the reproductive performance of the species Astyanax altiparanae in a semi-natural system. Two different experiments were carried out. For the first objective, we tested four stocking densities (3; 6; 12; 24 individuals) with four replicates, always maintaining the sex ratio of two males to one female. When the sex ratio effect was evaluated, we used five different ratios (1: 1, 2: 1, 3: 1, 1, 2, 1: 3, male: female) and two controls with three replicates, respecting the density of 12 individuals in each experimental unit. In both experiments the treatments were compared by reproductive performance using variables such as: reproductive survival, proportion of replicates with spawning, spawning volume, mean percentage of spawned females per replicate, fertility and hatching rates, number treatment embryos, ovarian histology, and plasma steroid plasma concentrations. The density did not negatively influence the reproductive performance of the species, with the best performances for the variables: average spawning volume considering only spawning replicates of 131.50 ± 33.17 ml and the average number of viable embryos 73819.2 ± 20462.1, in the units with higher density (24) animals. We observed very similar performances when the different proportions were tested, being the relative variable spawning volume in which the proportion of (3 males: 1 female) was more efficient than the oth... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo avaliar: o efeito da suplementação de Fe, a partir de duas fontes, em dietas para matrizes Cobb 500, no período de 40 a 67 semanas; os efeitos desta suplementação na coloração da casca e na progênie. No período experimental com as reprodutoras, o arranjo foi completamente casualizado com 3 suplementações: (1) 50 ppm de Sulfato ferroso (Fe-S), (2) 50 ppm de Fe-S + 40 ppm de complexo ferro-aminoácido (Fe-AA) e (3) 40 ppm de Fe-AA, onde foram mensuradas a produção de ovos, coloração da casca e qualidade dos ovos. Para avaliação da eclodibilidade, parâmetros sanguíneos e desempenho da progênie ovos da 65ª semana foram classificados em (I) claros e (II) escuros antes de serem incubados, em um arranjo fatorial 3 x 2. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas após eclosão e o desempenho foi medido de 1 a 34 dias de idade e em três fases: pré-inicial (1-7 d) inicial (8-21 d) e crescimento (22-35 d). O rendimento de carcaça foi medido aos 35 dias. A suplementação com Fe não teve efeito na produção, qualidade e coloração das cascas dos ovos (P>0,05). Não houve interação (P>0,05) entre os fatores,mas efeitos da suplementação e coloração das cascas foram observados. A suplementação 3 foi superior a 1 (P<0,05) porém ambas foram iguais à 2, para fertilidade dos ovos e eclodibilidade destes. Não foi observado efeito de coloração de casca para tais respostas. A hemoglobina e hematócrito não foram afetados por nenhum dos fatores. Para o ganho de peso houve influência da suplementação e da casca, onde no acumulado de 1 a 35 dias a resposta da 3 foi superior a da 2 e este superior a da 1, da mesma forma, II foi superior à I (P<0,05). A conversão alimentar foi afetada pela cor da casca nas fases inicial e crescimento, onde, em ambas, cascas escuras resultaram em melhores índices (P>0,05). O filé de peito foi o único corte comercial afetado pela suplementação, onde a 3 foi melhor que a 2 e a 1 (P>0,05) em relação à carcaça. O rendimento de carcaça e demais cortes comerciais não foram afetados pelos tratamentos. Em conclusão, a suplementação de dietas para matrizes pesadas com Fe-AA resulta em maior fertilidade e eclodibilidade dos ovos; na progênie, melhora o desempenho e rendimento de filé de peito. Além disso, ovos de casca escura proporcionam pintos com desempenho zootécnico superior. / This dissertation has the objective evaluate the effect of iron supplementation, from two sources, in diets for Cobb 500 broiler breeders, from 40 to 67 weeks; the effects of supplementation on eggshell color and progeny. In the broiler breeder experimental period, the trial was completely randomized with 3 supplementations: (1) 50 ppm of ferrous sulfate (Fe-S), (2) 50 ppm of Fe-S + 40 ppm of iron amino acid complex (Fe-AA) and (3) 40 ppm Fe-AA, where measured the egg production, quality and eggshell color. To evaluate the hatchability, blood variables and performance of progeny, eggs from the 65th week were classified in (I) pale and (II) dark before they were incubated, resulting a factorial 3 x 2. Blood samples were collected at hatching and performance was measured from 1 to 35 days of age and in four phases: pre-starter (1-7 d) starter (8-21 d) and grower (22-35 d). Carcass yield was measured at 35 days. Supplementation with Fe had no effect on production, quality of eggs and eggshells colors (P>0.05). No interactions were found (P>0.05) but effects of supplementation and eggshell colors were observed. Supplementation 3 was superior to 1 (P<0.05), but both were similar to 2 in fertility and hatchability of eggs. No effects of eggshell colors was observed to such responses. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were not affected by any of the factors. The body weight gain was influenced by supplementation and eggshell, where the accumulated from 1 to 35 days the response of the supplementation 3 was higher than 2 and this higher than 1, similarly, the II was superior than I (P<0.05). The feed conversion was affected by eggshell color in the initial stages and growth, which, in both dark eggshells resulted in better indexes (P>0.05). The breast fillet was the only commercial cut affected by supplementation, where 3 was better than 2 and 1 (P>0.05) in relative values. The carcass yield and other commercial cuts were not affected by treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of diets for broiler breeders with Fe-AA, results in higher fertility and hatchability of eggs; Progeny, improves performance and breast meat yield. In addition, dark shell eggs provide chicks with superior growth performance.