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Alpine environments are poorly studied ecosystems, largely due to their inaccessibility and severe climatic conditions. Nonetheless, a better understanding is needed of the ecological processes shaping these habitats, particularly the interactions between plants and animals. Recent studies indicate that the levels of soil erosion have increased in parts of Lesotho, possibly because of overgrazing by domestic livestock and the activities of the African ice rat Otomys sloggetti robertsi, whose population numbers have increased in recent times. O. s. robertsi is a diurnal, herbivorous, burrowdwelling, murid rodent, endemic to the southern African Drakensberg. The aim of my study was to establish whether and how the ice rat influences the vegetation and the soil characteristics in its habitat, and to determine whether ice rat population numbers have increased. I conducted three experiments. 1) Enclosures/plots were erected in the Sani Valley to measure the impact of; i) ice rats alone; ii) both ice rats and livestock on vegetation and soil loss and gain (which was used as a proxy for soil erosion). 2) I also ascertained ice rat numbers (colony sizes) at three different locations in Lesotho (Katse Dam, Oxbow and Sani Valley) by conducting monthly censuses of discrete colonies at each locality. 3) Finally, questionnaire surveys were used to ascertain the perception of, and influence on, ice rats by the local human inhabitants in Lesotho. The enclosure/plot experiments showed that the plots accessed by ice rats only had higher levels of vegetation change (loss of cover, decrease in height) and soil movement than other plots from which they were excluded or could access together with livestock, which was contrary to my prediction that the combined influence of ice rats and livestock would have a greater impact. The size of ice rat colonies showed a three-fold increase in my study compared to those a decade ago. The interviews of the local human inhabitants supported this finding, with people also claiming that ambient temperatures had increased and snowfall had decreased. The interviewees did not express any meaningful opinion about how they influenced the biology of ice rats, but claimed that ice rats were responsible for land degradation in the high Drakensberg. In conclusion, the results suggest that ice rats are responsible for large scale damage at my study sites as a result of their foraging and burrowing activities, and erosion is likely to be exacerbated by the increasing numbers of ice rats. Nonetheless, soil erosion is a complex problem involving several biotic and biotic contributing factors, and long term studies are required to fully understand the underlying determinants of erosion in the Lesotho Highlands.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science (Environmental Sciences) at the School of Geography, Archaeology & Environmental Studies March 2017 / Accurate estimates and mapping of grass quality is important for effective rangeland management. The purpose of this research was to map different grass species as well as nutrient Phosphorus (P) and Sodium (Na) concentration across grass communities using Sentinel-2 imagery in Telperion game reserve. The main objectives of the study were to: map the most common grass communities at the Telperion game reserve using Sentinel-2 imagery using artificial neural network (ANN) classifier and to evaluate the use of Sentinel-2 (MSI) in quantifying grass phosphorus and sodium concentration across different grass communities. Grass phosphorus and sodium concentrations were estimated using Random Forest (RF) regression algorithm, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the simple ratios (SR) which were calculated from all two possible band combination of Sentinel-2 data. Results obtained demonstrated woody vegetation as the dominant vegetation and Aristida congesta as the most common grass species. The overall classification accuracy = 81%; kappa =0.78 and error rate=0.18 was achieved using the ANN classifier. Regression model for leaf phosphorus concentration prediction both NDVI and SR data sets yielded similar results (R2 =0.363; RMSE=0.017%) and (R2 =0.36 2; RMSE=0.0174%). Regression model for leaf sodium using NDVI and SR data sets yielded dissimilar results (R2 =0.23; RMSE=16.74 mg/kg) and (R2 =0.15; RMSE =34.08 mg/kg). The overall outcomes of this study demonstrate the capability of Sentinel 2 imagery in mapping vegetation quality (phosphorus and sodium) and quantity. The study recommends the mapping of grass communities and both phosphorus and sodium concentrations across different seasons to fully understand the distribution of different species across the game reserve as well as variations in foliar concentration of the elements. Such information will guide the reserve managers on resource use and conservation strategies to implement within the reserve. Furthermore, the information will enable conservation managers to understand wildlife distribution and feeding patterns. This will allow integration of effective conservation strategies into decisions on stocking capacity. / MT 2017

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The purpose of this thesis is to make an evaluation of the competitive position of the Utah livestock industry by use of a linear programming model (MPS- 360). This is on the basis of the least cost means of production to meet the quantity demanded of the livestock products. This is accomplished by dividing the United States into six regions where Utah is one of these regions to enable careful consideration of Utah's agricultural enterprises. The agricultural products used in the analysis are beef, pork, broilers, turkeys, eggs and milk. The feeds used for production are barley, wheat, corn, oats, milo, hay, and 44 percent soybean meal.

The objectives of this thesis ~ Present feed production was obtained from published data . Livestock feed requirements were calculated using factors published in Lives tock- Feed Relationships, a publication of the United States Department of Agriculture. The projections of feed requirements to 1980 were made by projecting livestock numbers based on a least squares analysis of past trends. Utilizing the projected numbers permits calculation of t he feed requirements. Feed production in 1980 was obtained by projecting past feed production and by applying least squares analysis to obtain a predicting equation that allows projection to 1980. Separate predictions were made for roughage and feed grains. Utah will have a feed grain deficit totaling about 407,000 tons in 1980. The state will have an estimated roughage surplus ranging from about 250 , 000 tons to 825,000 t ons depending on the base period selected.

This research was conducted within the context of smallholder livestock production and government attempts to improve this through a transfer of technology approach. Participatory action research (PAR) was used to enable action for change to emerge, while the research provided understanding and a basis for this action. Tombolo village in South Sulawesi, Indonesia was the location for this research, which first identified the problems and needs of the farmers, and then participatively developed strategies to meet these needs. Fodder security throughout the year was found to be the major constraint to cattle production. Forage technology was introduced, including fodder tree legumes and grasses, resulting in improved livestock production and many associated livelihood benefits. The introduction of these new technologies was adapted by stakeholders to local issues and needs. The extension services had previously aimed to improve livestock production through breeding and veterinary health measures, and had assumed that sufficient fodder was available for livestock. The formation of a learning group of farmers, who used group discussion to set their own agenda, was employed to identify this shortcoming, and how to sustainably overcome it. Participants were able to apply their experience and enhance their cognitive skills to find new meanings and knowledge to plan and take actions to improve their practice and situation. This thesis documents the process of change required to move from a “Transfer of Technology” approach to a “learning approach”. The research has shown that there is considerable potential for the application of PAR to rural community development in Indonesia. More specifically in Tombolo village PAR enabled farmers and extension staff to be empowered by becoming active participants in the research process and take action to improve their own practice. It helped them to analyse the situation to make the technology more appropriate, while also learning how to change the extension methods used towards one in which all stakeholders became partners in developing their situation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The ethanol industry in Western Canada has seen significant growth in recent times spurred on mainly be environmental considerations. For a region with substantial grain production, increased prices from additional demand by the biofuel industry may inure to the benefit of grain farmers and land owners in the long term. The livestock industry however remains in a complex position facing the possibility of higher feed costs on the one hand and potential savings in feed cost on the other, with the availability of distillers grains- a by-product from ethanol production. The sectorial implications for the livestock sector could also be diverse and dependent upon the capacity to incorporate the distillers grains into the different feed rations. There is also the possibility of a spill-over effect from the US distillers grains market. This study therefore sought to complement current nutritional research by providing an economic perspective of the impact of distillers grains on the livestock industry in Western Canada. Focussing primarily on the beef cattle and hog industries, the study applied both linear programming and time-series techniques to assess potential benefits and costs. Potential positive economic benefits were observed for the inclusion of wheat and corn distillers grains with the former having a higher economic value in the high-protein feed segments.<p> Dependent on market factors such as the price of substitute feeds, exchange rates and transportation considerations, the magnitude of these savings could range between $7.29 and $0.34/tonne. The study recommends an understanding of these dynamics in order for livestock and ethanol producers to derive mutual benefits from the fledging biofuel industry in the Western plains.