Im Rahmen eines Projektes wurden Haltungs- und Fütterungsfaktoren für die Mast unkastrierter männlicher Schweine abgeleitet. Die Ebermast ist verfahrenstechnisch umsetzbar. Sie kann den Betrieben Kostenvorteile insbesondere durch Futterersparnis bringen, solange der Absatz gesichert ist. Je nach Schlachtgewicht und Abstammung realisieren die Eber etwas geringere Masttagszunahmen, aber eine deutlich bessere Futterverwertung und bilden Schlachtkörper mit weniger Fett und mehr Fleisch als die männlichen kastrierten Schweine. Die Verlustrate liegt bei den Ebern etwas höher. Das Problem des Ebergeruchs kann nur durch die Optimierung einer darauf ausgerichteten Zucht, Haltung und Fütterung gelöst werden. Dazu wurden einzelne Faktoren, wie z. B. die Aufstallungsform, die Buchtenhygiene und die Zunahmegeschwindigkeit identifiziert.

O setor agrícola é constantemente influenciado pelas conjunturas de mercado, as sazonalidades dos preços tanto de insumos quanto da produção afetam cada vez mais o produtor rural. O orizicultor domina as técnicas produtivas e as tecnologias, estando cada vez mais suscetível aos riscos da comercialização. Essa maior percepção dos riscos de mercado influencia diretamente sua tomada de decisão quanto à diversificação de cultivos. Nesse contexto os sistemas integrados de produção agropecuária ganham representatividade, reduzindo os riscos associados ao monocultivo de arroz, através da maior estabilidade da renda agrícola. Os objetivos deste trabalho são analisar as relações entre retorno e risco de diferentes sistemas produtivos de lavoura e pecuária, assim como sua integração; avaliar a importância relativa de cada atividade produtiva na formação da renda agrícola; criar cenários de aumentos de custos de produção e de valor da produção, avaliando seu impacto sobre os diferentes sistemas; analisar brevemente eficiência econômica, de uso da mão de obra própria e do uso da terra. Os sistemas produtivos analisados são: tradicional binômio arroz-pecuária (1), sistema pecuário (2), sistema similar ao tradicional com a inserção de soja (3), sistema mais diversificado e rotacionado no tempo (4), sistemas diversificados com menor uso da cultura do arroz (5 e 6). A análise do comportamento diferenciado dos sistemas permite a construção de relações Retorno x Risco, indicando que os sistemas 1, 3 e 4 possuem melhor relação retorno risco no cenário atual da propriedade, ou seja, possuem maior retorno, mas também maior risco, sendo recomendados para produtores menos avessos ao risco. Para produtores descapitalizados ou avessos ao risco o sistema 2 é o mais recomendado. Nas análises de sensibilidade para cenários futuros, a diversificação dos sistemas reduziu o impacto do aumento nos custos. A eficiência econômica, de uso de mão de obra e da terra, a cada ano-safra mostra as diferenças entre as atividades, sendo a pecuária a mais eficiente economicamente e ao mesmo tempo a que possui menor valor de cultivo por hectare. O arroz é a cultura dominante nos custos totais de produção por safra, já na formação do lucro total vêm perdendo espaço para a soja. Não existe, portanto, a recomendação de um sistema único, e sim a necessidade da formação de estratégias frente às condições do mercado. A interação de diferentes sistemas produtivos, dentro de uma propriedade, pode ser a resposta às mudanças do mercado no futuro. / The agricultural sector is constantly influenced by market, the seasonality of prices, of both inputs and the final product, are increasingly affecting the farmers. The rice producer mastered the production techniques and technologies, but are more and more susceptible to marketing risks. This increased perception of market risk directly influences their decision making regarding to crop diversification. In this context the integrated crop-livestock production systems gain representativity as a viable and attractive alternative, bringing benefits in the productive, environmental and economic spheres, reducing the risks associated with rice monoculture, through the greater stability of agricultural income. The aims of this study is to analyze the relations between return and risk of different production systems of agriculture and livestock, as well as their integration; evaluate the relative importance of each productive activity in the formation of agricultural income; create scenarios of increases in production costs and in the value of production, evaluating their impact on different systems; briefly analyze economic efficiency, use of labor and land. The production systems analyzed are: traditional rice-livestock binomium (1), livestock system (2), similar to traditional system with soy insert (3), more diversified system and rotated in time (4), diversified systems with lower use of rice (5 and 6). The analysis of the behavior of the systems allows the construction of Return x Risk relationships, indicating that the systems 1, 3 and 4 have better risk return relationship for the current situation of the property, ie have higher returns but also greater associated risk, being recommended for less aversive to risk producers. To decapitalized producers or more aversive to risk, System 2 is the most recommended. In sensitivity analysis to production costs the diversification reduced the impact of increased costs. Economic efficiency, use of work and soil use, for each harvest year, shows the differences between the activities, being livestock the most economically efficient and at the same time the one with lower crop value per hectare. Rice is the dominant culture in the total production costs, in the formation of the total profit, however, has been losing ground for soybeans. There is no recommendation of a single system, but the necessity of setting strategies to market conditions. The interaction of various production systems may be the answer to market changes in the future.

O setor agrícola é constantemente influenciado pelas conjunturas de mercado, as sazonalidades dos preços tanto de insumos quanto da produção afetam cada vez mais o produtor rural. O orizicultor domina as técnicas produtivas e as tecnologias, estando cada vez mais suscetível aos riscos da comercialização. Essa maior percepção dos riscos de mercado influencia diretamente sua tomada de decisão quanto à diversificação de cultivos. Nesse contexto os sistemas integrados de produção agropecuária ganham representatividade, reduzindo os riscos associados ao monocultivo de arroz, através da maior estabilidade da renda agrícola. Os objetivos deste trabalho são analisar as relações entre retorno e risco de diferentes sistemas produtivos de lavoura e pecuária, assim como sua integração; avaliar a importância relativa de cada atividade produtiva na formação da renda agrícola; criar cenários de aumentos de custos de produção e de valor da produção, avaliando seu impacto sobre os diferentes sistemas; analisar brevemente eficiência econômica, de uso da mão de obra própria e do uso da terra. Os sistemas produtivos analisados são: tradicional binômio arroz-pecuária (1), sistema pecuário (2), sistema similar ao tradicional com a inserção de soja (3), sistema mais diversificado e rotacionado no tempo (4), sistemas diversificados com menor uso da cultura do arroz (5 e 6). A análise do comportamento diferenciado dos sistemas permite a construção de relações Retorno x Risco, indicando que os sistemas 1, 3 e 4 possuem melhor relação retorno risco no cenário atual da propriedade, ou seja, possuem maior retorno, mas também maior risco, sendo recomendados para produtores menos avessos ao risco. Para produtores descapitalizados ou avessos ao risco o sistema 2 é o mais recomendado. Nas análises de sensibilidade para cenários futuros, a diversificação dos sistemas reduziu o impacto do aumento nos custos. A eficiência econômica, de uso de mão de obra e da terra, a cada ano-safra mostra as diferenças entre as atividades, sendo a pecuária a mais eficiente economicamente e ao mesmo tempo a que possui menor valor de cultivo por hectare. O arroz é a cultura dominante nos custos totais de produção por safra, já na formação do lucro total vêm perdendo espaço para a soja. Não existe, portanto, a recomendação de um sistema único, e sim a necessidade da formação de estratégias frente às condições do mercado. A interação de diferentes sistemas produtivos, dentro de uma propriedade, pode ser a resposta às mudanças do mercado no futuro. / The agricultural sector is constantly influenced by market, the seasonality of prices, of both inputs and the final product, are increasingly affecting the farmers. The rice producer mastered the production techniques and technologies, but are more and more susceptible to marketing risks. This increased perception of market risk directly influences their decision making regarding to crop diversification. In this context the integrated crop-livestock production systems gain representativity as a viable and attractive alternative, bringing benefits in the productive, environmental and economic spheres, reducing the risks associated with rice monoculture, through the greater stability of agricultural income. The aims of this study is to analyze the relations between return and risk of different production systems of agriculture and livestock, as well as their integration; evaluate the relative importance of each productive activity in the formation of agricultural income; create scenarios of increases in production costs and in the value of production, evaluating their impact on different systems; briefly analyze economic efficiency, use of labor and land. The production systems analyzed are: traditional rice-livestock binomium (1), livestock system (2), similar to traditional system with soy insert (3), more diversified system and rotated in time (4), diversified systems with lower use of rice (5 and 6). The analysis of the behavior of the systems allows the construction of Return x Risk relationships, indicating that the systems 1, 3 and 4 have better risk return relationship for the current situation of the property, ie have higher returns but also greater associated risk, being recommended for less aversive to risk producers. To decapitalized producers or more aversive to risk, System 2 is the most recommended. In sensitivity analysis to production costs the diversification reduced the impact of increased costs. Economic efficiency, use of work and soil use, for each harvest year, shows the differences between the activities, being livestock the most economically efficient and at the same time the one with lower crop value per hectare. Rice is the dominant culture in the total production costs, in the formation of the total profit, however, has been losing ground for soybeans. There is no recommendation of a single system, but the necessity of setting strategies to market conditions. The interaction of various production systems may be the answer to market changes in the future.

O setor agrícola é constantemente influenciado pelas conjunturas de mercado, as sazonalidades dos preços tanto de insumos quanto da produção afetam cada vez mais o produtor rural. O orizicultor domina as técnicas produtivas e as tecnologias, estando cada vez mais suscetível aos riscos da comercialização. Essa maior percepção dos riscos de mercado influencia diretamente sua tomada de decisão quanto à diversificação de cultivos. Nesse contexto os sistemas integrados de produção agropecuária ganham representatividade, reduzindo os riscos associados ao monocultivo de arroz, através da maior estabilidade da renda agrícola. Os objetivos deste trabalho são analisar as relações entre retorno e risco de diferentes sistemas produtivos de lavoura e pecuária, assim como sua integração; avaliar a importância relativa de cada atividade produtiva na formação da renda agrícola; criar cenários de aumentos de custos de produção e de valor da produção, avaliando seu impacto sobre os diferentes sistemas; analisar brevemente eficiência econômica, de uso da mão de obra própria e do uso da terra. Os sistemas produtivos analisados são: tradicional binômio arroz-pecuária (1), sistema pecuário (2), sistema similar ao tradicional com a inserção de soja (3), sistema mais diversificado e rotacionado no tempo (4), sistemas diversificados com menor uso da cultura do arroz (5 e 6). A análise do comportamento diferenciado dos sistemas permite a construção de relações Retorno x Risco, indicando que os sistemas 1, 3 e 4 possuem melhor relação retorno risco no cenário atual da propriedade, ou seja, possuem maior retorno, mas também maior risco, sendo recomendados para produtores menos avessos ao risco. Para produtores descapitalizados ou avessos ao risco o sistema 2 é o mais recomendado. Nas análises de sensibilidade para cenários futuros, a diversificação dos sistemas reduziu o impacto do aumento nos custos. A eficiência econômica, de uso de mão de obra e da terra, a cada ano-safra mostra as diferenças entre as atividades, sendo a pecuária a mais eficiente economicamente e ao mesmo tempo a que possui menor valor de cultivo por hectare. O arroz é a cultura dominante nos custos totais de produção por safra, já na formação do lucro total vêm perdendo espaço para a soja. Não existe, portanto, a recomendação de um sistema único, e sim a necessidade da formação de estratégias frente às condições do mercado. A interação de diferentes sistemas produtivos, dentro de uma propriedade, pode ser a resposta às mudanças do mercado no futuro. / The agricultural sector is constantly influenced by market, the seasonality of prices, of both inputs and the final product, are increasingly affecting the farmers. The rice producer mastered the production techniques and technologies, but are more and more susceptible to marketing risks. This increased perception of market risk directly influences their decision making regarding to crop diversification. In this context the integrated crop-livestock production systems gain representativity as a viable and attractive alternative, bringing benefits in the productive, environmental and economic spheres, reducing the risks associated with rice monoculture, through the greater stability of agricultural income. The aims of this study is to analyze the relations between return and risk of different production systems of agriculture and livestock, as well as their integration; evaluate the relative importance of each productive activity in the formation of agricultural income; create scenarios of increases in production costs and in the value of production, evaluating their impact on different systems; briefly analyze economic efficiency, use of labor and land. The production systems analyzed are: traditional rice-livestock binomium (1), livestock system (2), similar to traditional system with soy insert (3), more diversified system and rotated in time (4), diversified systems with lower use of rice (5 and 6). The analysis of the behavior of the systems allows the construction of Return x Risk relationships, indicating that the systems 1, 3 and 4 have better risk return relationship for the current situation of the property, ie have higher returns but also greater associated risk, being recommended for less aversive to risk producers. To decapitalized producers or more aversive to risk, System 2 is the most recommended. In sensitivity analysis to production costs the diversification reduced the impact of increased costs. Economic efficiency, use of work and soil use, for each harvest year, shows the differences between the activities, being livestock the most economically efficient and at the same time the one with lower crop value per hectare. Rice is the dominant culture in the total production costs, in the formation of the total profit, however, has been losing ground for soybeans. There is no recommendation of a single system, but the necessity of setting strategies to market conditions. The interaction of various production systems may be the answer to market changes in the future.

For any food systems to be sustainable, it needs to contribute to society and economic growth, in addition to being environmentally conscious. Sustainable eating is defined as choosing and consuming “food to meet current dietary needs while maintaining ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment”. Livestock production and the consumption of the red meat produced are often criticised as being unsustainable due to the large carbon footprint attributed to this food commodity. However, what is often excluded from these arguments and debates is the potential beneficial role which animal source foods can play in meeting the dietary requirements of human populations, both in developed and developing countries and communities. The recent Global Nutrition Report (2014) emphasizes nutrition as being central to sustainable development. Within the post-2015 development agenda, improvements in nutritional status could make large contributions to the draft Sustainable Development Goals on poverty, hunger, health, education, gender and employment. This thesis presents the sustainability of red meat consumption from a nutrition perspective. Forming the scientific foundation for this argument was the analytical determination of the updated nutritional profile of South African beef as currently consumed, as well as a review of the composition of South African lamb and mutton as published in 2007 and 2010 (Chapter 3). The data obtained reflects the impact of South Africa’s unique classification and production systems on the composition of locally produced red meat. These animal source foods can be considered good sources of high quantity and quality nutrients, including protein, minerals and essential fatty acids. Trimming of the visible subcutaneous and intermuscular fat deposits from the meat has an even greater impact on nutritional profile (Chapter 4). Fat generally dilutes other essential nutrients, while the beneficial fatty acids (omega 3s and conjugated linoleic acids) are found in the intramuscular fat deposits between muscle cells which are not removed through trimming (Chapter 5). Consequently, red meat products can play a positive role in human nutrition and health. Sustainable food-based interventions to combat under nutrition require the accessibility and availability of nutrient dense foods, and adding even small amounts of red meat could play a significant role in improving the nutritional quality of the starch based staple diets of these individuals. Over nutrition, or the excessive consumption of nutrients and energy, has resulted in a significant rise in the incidence of overweight and obesity globally. In South Africa, more than 65% of women are considered to be overweight or obese, with the incidence in children increasing. Many of these overweight individuals are also suffering from a deficiency of other essential nutrients such as iron. This co-existence of under and over nutrition in the same individual justifies the necessity to promote the consumption of foods higher in nutrients, and lower in energy. Trimmed red meat thus has the potential to play a beneficial role as part of a food-based intervention (Chapter 6). To increase the impact of the findings of the research beyond scientific publications, the results of the analytical study were incorporated into influential outputs, including forming part of the scientific background paper to the Department of Health’s revision of the national Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (Chapter 7). The arguments of this thesis also feed into the consumer education campaign of Lamb and Mutton South Africa which endeavours to influence social perceptions surrounding the sustainability of red meat consumption (Chapter 8). A short communication of the findings was also selected as one of only 28 science writing pieces which was published in the Mail & Guardian newspaper, entitled “Meatless Mondays might be harmful in South Africa” (Addendum 1). The South African policy landscape promotes and supports the sustainable production of livestock (Chapter 2). Numerous research projects are exploring ways to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by livestock to improve the environmental impact of the industry. However, as the concerns of sustainable development include economic and social aspects in addition to environmental concerns, the data and arguments generated through this thesis could be used as tools when social concerns within sustainability in particular are voiced. Red meat can play a beneficial role in the nutrition and health of humans by providing high quality nutrients per portion, without necessarily contributing to excessive amounts of fat (and thus energy intake). The updated nutritional profile of South African beef provides evidence for the industry to present the sustainability of red meat consumption from a nutrition perspective. Recommendations for future research include the extrapolation of the findings into quantitative models to depict the nutrient density of specific food products compared to their carbon footprints. Research on the degree of food waste in the context of sustainable diets could also contribute notably to related arguments in the future, keeping in mind that as meat is the most expensive item in the food basket, waste in this food category is less than in the other food groups. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / gm2015 / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / PhD / Unrestricted

Sustainable animal production on pasture planted on rehabilitated mine land will only be possible if the optimal stocking rate for animal and pasture production is determined. A grazing trial was conducted on tall fescue, established on rehabilitated mine land and irrigated with mine waste water. The aims of this study were to quantify: a) animal performance and nutritive value at different levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization during pasture establishment, and b) intake, animal performance (defined as average daily gain; ADG) and nutritive value when different stocking rates were applied. This study was done during two seasons: season one in winter (6 June -16 July 2008) and season two in spring (28 Aug – 6 Nov 2008). In terms of post mining land use this study supplied valuable information on potential livestock production. The higher level of N fertilization applied during the winter of 2007 at pasture establishment resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) higher crude protein (CP) concentration a year later compared to the lower levels of N fertilization. During the winter grazing season the pasture contained an average of 83.4 g CP kg-1 dry matter (DM), 601.9 g NDF kg-1 DM, 6.2 g Ca kg-1 DM and 1.7 g P kg-1 DM, the average in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was 642.2 g kg-1 OM and the average leaf: stem ratio was 88:12. The ADG of crossbred weaner calves grazing the low N fertilization (LN), low stocking rate (LS) paddock (229.1 g day-1) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the ADG of weaner calves grazing the LN, high stocking rate (HS) and the high N (HN), LS respectively. The ADG of the animals in the HN, LS paddock was 482.7 g day-1 and in the LN, HS paddock was 310.6 g day-1. The low ADG for the LS treatment was due to the low CP concentration of this paddock, with values as low as 55.1 g CP kg-1 DM recorded during the winter grazing period. Low pasture nutritive value during winter can potentially limit animal production.spring grazing season the pasture contained an average of 101.0 g CP kg-1 DM, 639.1 g NDF kg-1 DM, 8.9 g Ca kg-1 DM and 2.1 g P kg-1 DM. The average leaf: stem ratio was 85:15, IVOMD was 717.5 g kg-1 OM and effective DM degradability (in situ) was 56.1 %. The average OM digestibility estimated with the alkane method varied between 720.8 to 768.3 g kg-1 depending on the alkane used and weather a correction was made for the faecal recovery of the alkane used. On average the forage available in the paddock with the LS had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher CP concentration, leaf: stem ratio and IVOMD, with a significantly (P < 0.05) lower NDF concentration than the HS paddock. This is probably due to the fact that in the HS paddock forage with a high nutritive value was removed at a higher rate. Irrespective of the calculation used, digestibility calculated by the alkane method did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between paddocks at any time period. The average intake in the paddock with medium grazing stocking rate (MS) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the average for the other paddocks. The paddock with the MS was managed to supply a pasture DM allowance of 2.5 % body weight (BW). The DM intake over the spring season was 2.2 % BW. The MS treatment supplied sufficient plant material without resulting in large accumulation of plant material. The ADG for the spring season was 110.5 g day-1 and averages for each paddock did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) from each other. During the / Dissertation (MSc Agric)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The lack of bioclimatically suitable forage species for livestock production in the water-limited agro-ecological areas of South Africa has resulted in significant feed shortages within these areas during the ongoing drought experienced within the country. This, in turn, has resulted in significant livestock mortalities leading to financial difficulties for the farmers and farming communities within these areas. Thus, many of the water-limited agro-ecological areas in South Africa have been declared disaster areas. These cyclic long-term droughts, as well as more common short-term droughts are expected to increase in frequency, duration and intensity under the predicted future bioclimatic conditions. Although there has been significant investment into the development of improved, better-adapted forage crops for these bioclimatically marginal agro-ecosystems, these efforts, to date, have largely been unsuccessful. Therefore, in this study, we propose to identify and evaluate species that are native to the water-limited South African agro-ecosystems and that can potentially be implemented in alternative fodder flow programs within these water-limited agro-ecological areas. / 2022

In sächsischen Schweinehaltungsbetrieben wurde ein objektives Bewertungssystem zur Tierhygiene und Tiergesundheit entwickelt und erprobt. Aus zahlreichen Untersuchungen in den Produktionseinheiten Ferkelerzeugung, Ferkelaufzucht, Jungsauenaufzucht und Mast resultieren Kennziffern zur Hygiene, Klinik und Gesundheit, die einen Vergleich verschiedener Bestände erlauben. Sie lassen stufenübergreifend auch eine Bewertung einzelner Produktionseinheiten zu. Mit regelmäßigen Untersuchungen ist zudem der zeitliche Verlauf der Kennziffern und damit des Hygiene- und Gesundheitsstatus möglich.

Die Haltung von Spezialgeflügel wie Fleischtaube, Mast- und Legewachtel, Perlhuhn, Fasan und Wildente stellt in Deutschland eine Nischenproduktion dar. Daher liegen vor allem zur Erzeugung von Spezialgeflügel in größeren Stückzahlen relativ wenige Forschungsergebnisse und Erfahrungen aus der Praxis vor. Die Broschüre stellt Untersuchungen des LfULG und aus der Literatur vor und gibt Hinweise zu Zucht, Haltung, Fütterung und Produktqualität.

Im Rahmen eines Projektes wurden Haltungs- und Fütterungsfaktoren für die Mast unkastrierter männlicher Schweine abgeleitet. Die Ebermast ist verfahrenstechnisch umsetzbar. Sie kann den Betrieben Kostenvorteile insbesondere durch Futterersparnis bringen, solange der Absatz gesichert ist. Je nach Schlachtgewicht und Abstammung realisieren die Eber etwas geringere Masttagszunahmen, aber eine deutlich bessere Futterverwertung und bilden Schlachtkörper mit weniger Fett und mehr Fleisch als die männlichen kastrierten Schweine. Die Verlustrate liegt bei den Ebern etwas höher. Das Problem des Ebergeruchs kann nur durch die Optimierung einer darauf ausgerichteten Zucht, Haltung und Fütterung gelöst werden. Dazu wurden einzelne Faktoren, wie z. B. die Aufstallungsform, die Buchtenhygiene und die Zunahmegeschwindigkeit identifiziert.