published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

This thesis is submitted to the School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand in fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters of Architecture (Professional), 2016. / There is a strong argument for a space within the heart of Johannesburg that offers a contemporary yet uniquely African response to the traditional practice of slaughtering of cattle that would frame and advance social, cultural and spiritual imperatives, while honouring animal ethics and ecological concerns through the creation of a forum that facilitates transparency, fosters understanding deepens connections between people and their broader environment. / XL2018

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Chemical Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1998. / Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-214).

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2007. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Gary W. Brester. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-120).

Os abatedouros e frigoríficos caracterizam-se por agroindústrias potencialmente poluidoras devido a carga orgânica componente dos efluentes líquidos e resíduos sólidos gerados em seu processo. Para a minimização do impacto ambiental gerado por estes empreendimentos faz-se necessária a implementação de processos de tratamento que possibilitem a redução da carga orgânica, a transformação de resíduos em produtos de valor agregado e o aproveitamento energético. A implementação de biodigestores para o tratamento dos resíduos sólidos e efluentes líquidos gerados nos frigoríficos de suínos é uma opção interessante, haja visto o processo de digestão anaeróbia que compõe o sistema e os benefícios possíveis com sua aplicação. Neste intuito, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo a avaliação de um digestor anaeróbio de fluxo contínuo, em escala real, utilizado para o tratamento dos resíduos sólidos e efluentes líquidos oriundos do processo. Para isto procedeu-se a caracterização físico-química dos substratos de alimentação do biodigestor bem como do afluente e efluente do sistema, além da realização de análises com o intuito de avaliar as características do biofertilizante e do biogás originados no processo. Os resultados demonstraram que o substrato de alimentação do biodigestor é composto por diversas origens e, cada qual, possui características físico- químicas específicas e diferenciadas porém, quando unificadas, propiciam o desenvolvimento de um ambiente suscetível ao desempenho da digestão anaeróbia. Avaliando a eficiência do sistema em geral, considerando os valores obtidos nas análises do afluente e efluente do mesmo, observou-se que alguns parâmetros apresentam eficiência enquanto, outros, resultaram em aumento de concentração. Este fato pode ter sido desencadeado por fatores externos ao sistema. Quanto ao biofertilizante oriundo do biodigestor, foi caracterizado como resíduo sólido não inerte sendo possível, com algumas restrições, a sua aplicação em solo. O biogás, por sua vez, apresentou concentrações interessantes de metano, sendo, portanto, passível de utilização em diversos processos industriais. / Slaughterhouses are potentially polluting agricultural industries due to the organic load present in the wastewater and solid waste generated in the process. To minimize the environmental impact generated by this type of activity, it is necessary to provide a treatment processes that enables the reduction of the organic matter present in slaughterhouse waste, transforms waste into value-added products and exploits energy use efficiently. The implementation of biodigesters to treat solid waste and wastewater generated in slaughterhouses is an interesting option, given the anaerobic digestion process that makes up the system and the possible benefits it provides. Therefore, the present study evaluated the efficiency of an anaerobic continuous flow digester, in real scale, used for the treatment of solid waste and liquid effluents from the process. In order to do so, physicochemical characterization of the digester feed substrates, as well as, characterization of the influent and effluent of the system were performed. In addition, analyzes were executed to evaluate the characteristics of the bio-fertilizer and biogas originating in the process. The results showed that the digester feed substrate is composed of various origins and, each has a specific and distinct physicochemical characteristic, but when these different characteristics are combined they favor the development of an environment prone to the performance of the anaerobic digestion. By assessing the overall system efficiency, while considering the values obtained for the influent and effluent analysis, some parameters were considered efficient, whereas others result in the increase of concentration. This may have been triggered by factors which are external to the system. The bio-fertilizer originating from the digester was characterized as non-inert solid waste, which might require certain restrictions in its application in soil. Biogas, in turn, presented interesting methane concentration and is therefore likely to be used in various industrial processes.

The effects of month on body weight, body condition scores, internal parasite prevalence and on nutritionally related blood metabolites were studied in Angus, Bonsmara and Nguni steers raised on sweet veld. Pre-slaughter stress was also determined using catecholamines, cortisol, dopamine, packed cell volume and serum creatinine levels. The blood chemical constituents evaluated included glucose, cholesterol, total protein, creatinine, urea, globulin, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatinine kinase (CK). The Nguni steers maintained their body condition throughout the study period whereas Angus steers had the least body condition scores. Parasite levels were high during the rainy season and low during the dry season. The predominant internal parasites were Haemonchus (39.3 percent), Trichostrongylus (37.8 percent), Cooperia pectinita (25.5 percent), Fasciola gigantica (16.3 percent) and Ostertagia ostertagi (11.2 percent). The Nguni had the least parasite infestation levels and had high PCV levels. Nguni had higher levels of cholesterol and glucose (2.86 and 4mmol/l, respectively) than the other two breeds. Nguni and Bonsmara steers had higher (P<0.05) mineral levels. There were significant breed and month differences for glucose, cholesterol, creatinine, calcium, albumin, phosphorus, albumin-globulin ratio and ALP levels. Bonsmara was more susceptible to transport and pre-slaughter stress as it had the highest (P<0.05) levels of adrenalin (10.8nmol/mol), noradrenalin (9.7nmol/mol) and dopamine (14.8nmol/mol) levels, whereas the Nguni had the least levels of adrenalin (6.5nmol/mol), noradrenalin (4.6nmol/mol) and dopamine (4nmol/mol) levels. In conclusion, Nguni steers were better adapted to the local environmental conditions

The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of farm to abattoir environmental conditions and their subsequent effects on behavioural and physiological responses, as well as the quality of meat from Nguni (NG) and non-descript (ND) beef steers reared extensively on natural pastures. The forty 16 – 19 months old steers (20 ND and 20 NG) used in the current study were grouped together, medically treated, allowed three weeks acclimatizing period and were used in this trial over a four-month period. The weather and periodical variations influence on time budgets and body weights of these steers were determined. Furthermore, the effects of on-farm successive handling on behavioural scores and physiological responses of the same steers were determined. Later in the trial, some pre-slaughter effects on response-behaviour, bleed-out times and selected blood physiological responses were determined. Finally, the effect of genotype, muscle type, lairage duration, slaughter order and stress responsiveness on pH24, temperature, colour (L*, a*, b*, C, HA), thawing (TL) and cooking (CL) losses and Warner Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) of the meat harvested from the same steers were determined. The daily time budgets of steers in natural pastures changed with temperature, humidity, observation week and time of the day. The grazing behaviour was observed throughout the observation days (> 37 percent); though it was reduced (26.9±2.64 percent) on days with higher temperatures and low humidity. Higher proportions of drinking (1.5±1.04 percent) and standing (20.8±4.63 percent) behaviours prolonged in such weather conditions, which were mostly during midday. The avoidance-related behaviour of the steers during handling varies, with the steers showing more avoidance and aggression in other weeks than some. These variations could however be traced back to the events of that particular day/time of handling. Only Weighing Box (WBS) and stepping (SS) scores differed (P<0.05) with genotype; with more calm NG steers (> 40 percent) and not kicking than the ND steers that were more vocal (20–60 percent) and kicking (> 5 percent). In addition, the weekly behavioural responses were reflected (P<0.05) in the measured cortisol, glucose and lactate. However, regardless of the prominent negative behaviour seen over time, the levels of the measured blood constituents continued to drop. Furthermore, steers of different genotypes displayed similar (P>0.05) response to the identical pre-slaughter conditions they were exposed to. However, steers that were Transport Group 1 (TG1) showed more avoidance (63.2 percent) pre-slaughter than those in TG2 (23.9 percent). Furthermore, all the steers that were in slaughter Group 2 (SG2) showed less avoidance behaviour than those in other groups. Vocalization was observed only for ND steers (5 percent), in TG1 and SG2. Some connections between the observed pre-slaughter activities and some behavioural and physiological changes of these steers were established; with TG1 and SG1 steers showing higher cortisol (140±14.50 and 175.9±17.24 nmol/L, respectively) and lactate (12.4±0.83 and 13.5±1.12 mmolL) levels than the other groups. Lastly, the muscle type, genotype, lairage duration, slaughter order and stress responsiveness have an effect on some meat quality characteristics of the two genotypes; with the L. dorsi muscle having highest WBSF (38.0±1.35N) than the Superficial pectoral muscle (Brisket muscle) (30.7±1.35N). Additionally, steers lairaged for a shorter time produced a L. dorsi with higher WBSF (41.6±2.34N) and a Brisket with lower TL (2.7±0.24 percent). It can therefore be concluded that the conditions and activities at the farm, during transportation, lairaging and slaughter at the abattoir have an influence on some behavioural and physiological changes and the quality of beef harvested from the Nguni and non-descript steers that were extensively-reared in natural pastures. However, the relationship patterns between these different conditions are not clear.