No description available.

No description available.

Milk quality has continued to improve over the last several decades in the US, but still remains to be a problem for dairy producers in the southeast (SE) US. The purpose of these analyses was to evaluate associations between parlor equipment function, milking procedures, and bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) and bulk tank standard plate count (BTSPC) on SE US dairy farms. Data from dairies in Virginia (n = 96), Kentucky (n = 96), Tennessee (n = 84), and Mississippi (n = 7) were collected at a single visit for each farm. Monthly BTSCC and BTSPC data were retrieved from state regulatory offices for (n = 263) farms, and averaged over the 12 months prior to each farm visit and used as the dependent variables in each analysis in a backwards elimination regression model. Increased herd size was associated with lower BTSCS, but higher BTSPC. Utilization of an internal teat sealant was associated with lower BTSCS. Farms that housed cows exclusively on pasture had greater BTSCS than farms that keep lactating cows in confinement with no pasture access. Utilization of a freestall for lactating cow housing was associated with lower BTSCS. The likelihood of future dairy operation in 10 years as reported by the farm owner or manager influenced BTSPC. Beginning water temperature of the detergent wash cycle was found to influence BTSCS. These findings suggest that the most influential variables explaining milk quality are herd demographic information and farmer perceptions as well as a few management variables such as the use of an internal teat sealant and beginning water temperature of the detergent wash cycle. These findings suggest that farmer perceptions and attitudes may be influencing milk quality more than previously thought. Further research is needed to evaluate social factors that could be influencing milk quality. Milking equipment function has improved substantially over the last several decades and was not found to significantly influence milk quality among the evaluated SE US dairies in these analyses. Milking procedures such as pre- and post-milking teat disinfection are widely accepted by most dairies in the US. Minimal differences were found between milking procedures such as teat disinfectant active ingredient or using paper towels versus cloth towels suggesting that these factors may not be the most influential factors influencing milk quality. / MS

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The choice between purchasing land or entering into a long-term lease is analyzed using a deterministic cash analysis both from the tenant's and landlord's perspective. It is less financially stressful to start farming through a lease agreement than by purchasing the assets. The lease period of landlord indifference between these choices is determined for each combination of input variables. / Land value and income forecasting models are developed and presented. These models are based on two similar but conceptually different statistical tests. Each test results in different forecasting models which has implications for the use of such models in the future. / Consumption-based asset pricing models are tested using agricultural rental income. These models, although appealing both intuitively and theoretically are found wanting in terms of their formulation as the model results are highly sensitive to the data employed. This concern increases with the level of data aggregation.

Thesis--Columbia University. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. 440-465).

No description available.

In relation to hill sheep, the perception is that they live to a high welfare standard with minimal labour input per ewe, and that there is little reason for concern.  This perception has however not been confirmed by science to date, chiefly due to a lack of research interest into the hill sheep sector.  Meanwhile, extensive sheep farming faces increasing economic pressures, with low returns and falling government subsidy that may compromise animal welfare.  Labour has been shown to be a key input factor for both productivity and welfare in extensive production systems. Despite this, little research has been done to try and optimise the labour input for productivity and welfare. This study is a first attempt to link labour input, productivity and welfare in extensive sheep systems through empirical observation and computer modelling.  The fieldwork was undertaken from 2007 to 2009 on three research farms and three commercial farms.  Labour use was analysed within a number of defined tasks.  Linear programming (LP) modelling was then used to explore eight different scenarios with regard to sheep welfare, labour and productivity, and the potential impacts of specific management changes. Data analysis and model results showed hill sheep live to a high welfare standard according to the low incidence of welfare problems with low risks to productivity, confirming public expectations.  Farmers, are however, aware their attention to an individual sheep’s welfare brings poor returns in terms of flock productivity.  With this in mind, there is some scope for welfare-beneficial or –neutral reductions in labour, particularly if within-farm movement, e.g. between grazing areas, can be reduced.  However, larger reductions of labour, even within legal guidelines, could seriously endanger the welfare of individual sheep, though without great risks to productivity at flock or farm level.  Thus considerable savings in labour might, in some circumstances, reduce costs and hence improve profitability.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.