O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a relação entre produção de leite, problemas ao parto e respostas reprodutivas a partir de banco de dados de dois rebanhos de vacas raça Holandês utilizando análise multivariada. Os dados utilizados constaram de número de lactações (NLAC), dias em lactação (DL), produção de leite total (PLT), produção de leite ao pico (PLP), produção de leite ajustada para 305 dias (PL305), período de serviço (PS), número de doses, retenção de placenta (RP), intervalo entre parto e primeira tentativa (IPPT). A PLT foi relacionada positivamente com o número de dias em lactação e negativamente com TP. Não houve associação entre os indicadores reprodutivos, tais como o período de serviço e número de doses com as variáveis PLP e PL305. Houve uma leve associação negativa entre PLP e IPPT. O período de serviço e o número de doses foram positivamente associados com a duração da lactação e, em menor grau, com a produção de leite total. As características retenção de placenta, número de lactações e intervalo entre partos foram positivamente relacionadas. O tipo de parto e retenção de placenta mostraram relação positiva entre si, mas pequena associação positiva com os aspectos produtivos como intervalo último parto e primeira tentativa de cobertura, duração do período serviço e número de doses. Elevadas produções de leite ao pico e ajustadas para 305 dias não mostraram relação negativa consistente com a ocorrência de problemas ao parto e com baixa eficiência reprodutiva. Sendo assim, a hipótese de relação entre alta produção e interferência nas repostas reprodutivas não foi confirmada no presente trabalho. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship between milk production, calving problems and reproductive performance using multivariate analysis from the database of Holstein cows in two herds. The following variables were used: number of lactations (NLAC), days in lactation (DL), total milk production (PLT), milk yield at peak (PLP), milk production adjusted for 305 days (PL305), length of service period (PS), number of semen doses, retention of placenta (RP), interval between delivery and first attempt (IPPT). PLT data were positively correlated with the number of days in lactation and negatively with TP. There was no association between reproductive indicators, such as the period of service and number of doses with PLP and PL305 variables. There was a slight negative association between PLP and IPPT. The service period and number of doses were positively associated with the duration of lactation and, at a lower degree, with the total milk production. The characteristics retained placenta, number of lactations and calving interval were positively associated. The type of delivery and retention of the placenta showed a positive relation between them, but a small positive association with the productive aspects, such as the interval between the last farrowing and the first attempt of breeding, length of service period, and number of doses. High milk yields at peak and adjusted for 305 days showed no consistent negative relation with calving problems and with low reproductive efficiency. Thus, the hypothesis of the relationship between high milk production and interference on reproductive responses was not confirmed in the present study.

Dairying ranked second in producing farm income in the state of Utah in 1929 (II) . Twenty-two and two tenths percent of cash receipts from the sale of agricultural products came from dairying. Beef enterprises were the only larger source of farm income in the state, with 24.7 per cent of the total cash receipts. Because of the importance of dairying in the state, much work has been done to provide dairymen with information that will enable them to obtain a higher net return from dairying.

Early studies on the bacterial content of milk were made mainly to satisfy the interst of people who wished to determine the various materials that contained bacteris. Soon the value of bacterial counts, as an indication of the general conditions of production, of handling, and of the keeping qualities of milk, became evident and bacterial counts were used to obtain information concerning these problems. Numbers of bacteria in milk have been used also in the studies of the desirable and undesirable changes in milk. In the last few years our citizenry has been made more importance of bacteria in milk. As the number of milk dealers have increased and our population in the cities has become more conjested, more stringent regulation of our milk supplies has been practiced. Of major importance in this regulatory program is the bacterial count of milk. Large dairy manufacturing plants, which have also recognized the importance of high bacterial counts in influencing the quality of their products, have encouraged production of low count milk even to the extent of giving bonuses to such producers and rejecting milk that did not come within their standards.

American elk, by virtue of their distribution, were the most cosmopolitan members of the cervid family at the time of white settlement of North America. At this early date elk were present in every major region of what is now continental United States, as well as in northern Mexico. They likewise were abundant in upper and lower Canada, though records do not corroborate their presence too far north on the Atlantic coast. Although generally existent throughout the western states, elk were sparsely distributed in Nevada, southern Utah, and most of Arizona and New Mexico. Paucity of elk was also noted in eastern portions of Washington and Oregon.

Für einen sicheren Herdenschutz in Gebieten mit frei lebenden Wölfen ist der Einsatz geeigneter Elektrozäune unabdingbar. Der Einsatz von Herdenschutzhunden ist als zusätzliche Maßnahme zu erwägen. Der Umgang mit Herdenschutzhunden erfordert Sachkenntnis und Verantwortungsbewusstsein. Die Broschüre erläutert Unterschiede zum Hütehund, beschreibt Grundlagen der Sozialisierung und stellt die wichtigsten Rassen vor. Im zweiten Teil werden Empfehlungen für eine übersprungsichere Elektro-Umzäunung gegeben, die mit vertretbarem Zeitaufwand aufgebaut werden kann.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a relação entre produção de leite, problemas ao parto e respostas reprodutivas a partir de banco de dados de dois rebanhos de vacas raça Holandês utilizando análise multivariada. Os dados utilizados constaram de número de lactações (NLAC), dias em lactação (DL), produção de leite total (PLT), produção de leite ao pico (PLP), produção de leite ajustada para 305 dias (PL305), período de serviço (PS), número de doses, retenção de placenta (RP), intervalo entre parto e primeira tentativa (IPPT). A PLT foi relacionada positivamente com o número de dias em lactação e negativamente com TP. Não houve associação entre os indicadores reprodutivos, tais como o período de serviço e número de doses com as variáveis PLP e PL305. Houve uma leve associação negativa entre PLP e IPPT. O período de serviço e o número de doses foram positivamente associados com a duração da lactação e, em menor grau, com a produção de leite total. As características retenção de placenta, número de lactações e intervalo entre partos foram positivamente relacionadas. O tipo de parto e retenção de placenta mostraram relação positiva entre si, mas pequena associação positiva com os aspectos produtivos como intervalo último parto e primeira tentativa de cobertura, duração do período serviço e número de doses. Elevadas produções de leite ao pico e ajustadas para 305 dias não mostraram relação negativa consistente com a ocorrência de problemas ao parto e com baixa eficiência reprodutiva. Sendo assim, a hipótese de relação entre alta produção e interferência nas repostas reprodutivas não foi confirmada no presente trabalho. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship between milk production, calving problems and reproductive performance using multivariate analysis from the database of Holstein cows in two herds. The following variables were used: number of lactations (NLAC), days in lactation (DL), total milk production (PLT), milk yield at peak (PLP), milk production adjusted for 305 days (PL305), length of service period (PS), number of semen doses, retention of placenta (RP), interval between delivery and first attempt (IPPT). PLT data were positively correlated with the number of days in lactation and negatively with TP. There was no association between reproductive indicators, such as the period of service and number of doses with PLP and PL305 variables. There was a slight negative association between PLP and IPPT. The service period and number of doses were positively associated with the duration of lactation and, at a lower degree, with the total milk production. The characteristics retained placenta, number of lactations and calving interval were positively associated. The type of delivery and retention of the placenta showed a positive relation between them, but a small positive association with the productive aspects, such as the interval between the last farrowing and the first attempt of breeding, length of service period, and number of doses. High milk yields at peak and adjusted for 305 days showed no consistent negative relation with calving problems and with low reproductive efficiency. Thus, the hypothesis of the relationship between high milk production and interference on reproductive responses was not confirmed in the present study.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a relação entre produção de leite, problemas ao parto e respostas reprodutivas a partir de banco de dados de dois rebanhos de vacas raça Holandês utilizando análise multivariada. Os dados utilizados constaram de número de lactações (NLAC), dias em lactação (DL), produção de leite total (PLT), produção de leite ao pico (PLP), produção de leite ajustada para 305 dias (PL305), período de serviço (PS), número de doses, retenção de placenta (RP), intervalo entre parto e primeira tentativa (IPPT). A PLT foi relacionada positivamente com o número de dias em lactação e negativamente com TP. Não houve associação entre os indicadores reprodutivos, tais como o período de serviço e número de doses com as variáveis PLP e PL305. Houve uma leve associação negativa entre PLP e IPPT. O período de serviço e o número de doses foram positivamente associados com a duração da lactação e, em menor grau, com a produção de leite total. As características retenção de placenta, número de lactações e intervalo entre partos foram positivamente relacionadas. O tipo de parto e retenção de placenta mostraram relação positiva entre si, mas pequena associação positiva com os aspectos produtivos como intervalo último parto e primeira tentativa de cobertura, duração do período serviço e número de doses. Elevadas produções de leite ao pico e ajustadas para 305 dias não mostraram relação negativa consistente com a ocorrência de problemas ao parto e com baixa eficiência reprodutiva. Sendo assim, a hipótese de relação entre alta produção e interferência nas repostas reprodutivas não foi confirmada no presente trabalho. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship between milk production, calving problems and reproductive performance using multivariate analysis from the database of Holstein cows in two herds. The following variables were used: number of lactations (NLAC), days in lactation (DL), total milk production (PLT), milk yield at peak (PLP), milk production adjusted for 305 days (PL305), length of service period (PS), number of semen doses, retention of placenta (RP), interval between delivery and first attempt (IPPT). PLT data were positively correlated with the number of days in lactation and negatively with TP. There was no association between reproductive indicators, such as the period of service and number of doses with PLP and PL305 variables. There was a slight negative association between PLP and IPPT. The service period and number of doses were positively associated with the duration of lactation and, at a lower degree, with the total milk production. The characteristics retained placenta, number of lactations and calving interval were positively associated. The type of delivery and retention of the placenta showed a positive relation between them, but a small positive association with the productive aspects, such as the interval between the last farrowing and the first attempt of breeding, length of service period, and number of doses. High milk yields at peak and adjusted for 305 days showed no consistent negative relation with calving problems and with low reproductive efficiency. Thus, the hypothesis of the relationship between high milk production and interference on reproductive responses was not confirmed in the present study.

Extensive studies have been done in the various fields of dairy production such as, reproduction, herd and animal health, feeding and nutrition and the economics of milk production. This study aims to incorporate the standards or benchmarks set out in these studies, in order to identify different technical and financial benchmarks that can be used as management tool by intensive milk producers. Benchmarking can be described as a process whereby a firm (farm) compare its processes, results or actions against that of competitors with the best practice in the industry. To become competitive a farm business must have the ability to compare (benchmark) itself against others, and preferably against others that perform better, but also make adjustments according to the comparison. Benchmarking is therefore a continuous process of comparing and adjusting where necessary. The dairy industry in South Africa changed dramatically since deregulation in the early 1990’s. The industry went from a highly regulated one-channel market to a completely free-market system. This meant that farmers had to become more competitive, both locally and internationally. Three different types of production systems are used in the six production regions in South Africa. These production regions can be divided into two main regions: the coastal regions and the Highveld region. Production in the coastal regions is normally pasture-based, with additional concentrate feeding in some cases. On the Highveld and in the Western Cape, production is based on a total mixed ration (TMR), where cows are fed the complete ration in an intensive production system. Benchmarks were identified for herd health and reproduction, feeding and nutrition and economic and financial performance. Lastly, some additional general benchmarks were defined for bio-security and capacity utilisation. Herd health and reproduction can be divided into the three main areas of fertility performance, udder health and general herd health. Nutrition and feeding can be divided into benchmarks for: intake, nutrient requirements, body condition scoring, calf and heifer feeding, and additional general feeding benchmarks. The economic and financial performance of the dairy farm business can be evaluated against benchmarks for costs, solvability, liquidity, profitability, debt repayment and capital efficiency. It is very important to note and remember that when a dairy farm is evaluated, all the norms or benchmarks must be seen in a holistic way. All the parameters, and therefore every benchmark, are interrelated and cannot be judged or applied individually. Feeding will have an impact on production and reproduction and therefore on financial performance. This study focuses only on benchmarks for intensive milk producers, but it is recommended that it can be extended to include benchmarks for milk production in the pasture-based production systems as well. Since the dairy industry operates in a free-market system and South Africa is an open economy, it is important to be globally competitive. This can only be achieved if local producers benchmark themselves against international standards. Benchmarks can only be used if they are quantified. It is therefore recommended that benchmarks are published for the dairy farmer to use in his evaluations. The Nominal Group Technique worked well to establish the parameters and their benchmarks and farmers can also benefit from this technique. All related parties to the dairy farm, such as the financial consultant or agricultural economist, animal nutritionist, veterinarian and other input suppliers can form a specialist group to evaluate the performance of the dairy together with the producer or herd manager. This specialist group can then recommend adjustments to be made, after discussing the effects on every aspect of production. / Dissertation (MSc (Agric): Agricultural Economics)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / MSc(Agric) / unrestricted

IT users often make security-related decisions in complex and multidimensional environments. Over-reliance on current behavioral security theories (e.g. Protection Motivation Theory) that do not account for such circumstances can seriously limit researchers’ ability to comprehend such decision making. In this regard, herd behavior theory explains that when individuals make decisions in uncertain circumstances, they may observe what other people are doing, discount their own limited information and imitate others (also known as social learning). Explaining protection motivation behavior from a different theoretical perspective (i.e. herd behavior) is one of the primary contributions of this study. Investigating whether protection motivation behaviors influenced by herd mentality can impact continuous secure behavior, as a very important and understudied information security phenomenon, is the other contribution of this study. In other words, examining whether security behaviors can be influenced by herd-related factors in uncertain circumstances, as well as whether such behaviors persist over time, is central to this study. The findings of this research show that in uncertain circumstances and when there is awareness about the widespread use of a certain security technology, users develop a significantly higher protection motivation. Furthermore, the results show that at the postoption stage, users tend to heavily rely on their own information and disregard the herd-related factors.

Beef cattle production in the southeastern United States differs in size, practice, and production type from other U.S. regions. Smaller, cow-calf type operations dominate in this region because the climate, forage availability, and other land use practices of farmers make this type of cattle operation more ideal for the Southeast. This research summarizes the current practices and characteristics that define the Southeastern cow-calf operation of today’s market and operating environment; it also examines the factors that influence the variability of beef production in these operations. Results indicate the following major points: 1.) 53.0% of respondents with commercial cows have fewer than 50 head. 2.) Weaning weight and its variability tend to increase as calves get older. 3.) Calves on seedstock operations wean heavier than those typical of cow-calf operations. 4.) Operators that are more financially invested in their operation seem to be more attentive to outcomes of their production process.