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Content removed due to copyright restrictions: Okeoma, C. M., Stowell, K. M., Williamson, N. B., & Pomroy, W. E. (2005). Neospora caninum: Quantification of DNA in the blood of naturally infected aborted and pregnant cows using real-time PCR. Experimental Parasitology, 110(1), 48-55. Okeoma, C. M., Williamson, N. B., Pomroy, W. E., Stowell, K. M., & Gillespie, L. M. (2004). Isolation and molecular characterisation of neospora caninum in cattle in new zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 52(6), 364-370. Okeoma, C. M., Williamson, N. B., Pomroy, W. E., Stowell, K. M., & Gillespie, L. (2004). The use of PCR to detect neospora caninum DNA in the blood of naturally infected cows. Veterinary Parasitology, 122(4), 307-315. Okeoma, C. M., Williamson, N. B., Pomroy, W. E., & Stowell, K. M. (2004). Recognition patterns of neospora caninum tachyzoite antigens by bovine IgG at different IFAT titres. Parasite Immunology, 26(4), 177-185. / The objective of this research was to investigate neosporosis in New Zealand cattle using experimental and molecular tools. The research also aimed to isolate and characterise an indigenous New Zealand isolate of Neospora caninum. A series of discrete projects were conducted to achieve the set objectives. A pilot study was first conducted and a wild-type strain of non-cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) type 1 virus was isolated in vitro from a persistently infected heifer. The isolate was used to challenge heifers and the effect of experimental BVDV infection on heifers naturally infected with N. caninum was investigated. Results showed that heifers that were both BVDV and N. caninum seropositive produced 44.4% (8/ 18) damcalf pairs that were both BVDV and N caninum seropositive. Serologically, 66.7% (12/18) dam-calf pairs were seropositive to N. caninum antibodies, while 80% (8/10) dam-calf pairs were BVDV seropositive. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) study was also conducted and N. caninum DNA was detected in the blood of naturally infected aborting and pregnant heifers. Real-time quantification of N. caninum DNA in the blood of infected heifers showed a decrease of N. caninum DNA after abortion in the aborting group and an increase through gestation in the pregnant group. A study of antigenicity recognised 7 immunodominant (~18, ~25, ~33, ~35~36, ~45~46, ~47 and 60-62 kDa) and 5 minor antigens of N. caninum by cow sera. Three isolates of N. caninum (NcNZ 1 ,NcNZ 2 and NcNZ 3) were isolated from the brains of an infected cow, her calf and a stillborn calf. These isolates were confirmed as N. caninum by PCR, immunofluorescence antibody test and immunohistochemistry and were pathogenic to BALB/c mice.

O planejamento e o manejo do pastejo em sistemas de produção animal em pastagens utiliza como informação essencial valores de massa, produção e taxas de acúmulo de forragem. Esses valores podem ser determinados de maneira rápida e ágil através de uma simples régua graduada em centímetros ou equipamentos mais sofisticados como o prato ascendente, embora resultados experimentais utilizando esses procedimentos sejam bastante escassos para plantas de ambiente tropical. O presente trabalho avaliou esses dois métodos de estimativa de massa de forragem em área de pastagem formada pelos cultivares Florakirk, Tifton 85 e Coastcross de Cynodon spp.. Pastos formados por cada um dos cultivares foram mantidos a 5, 10, 15 e 20 cm de altura através de lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável, seguindo um delineamento experimental de blocos completos ao acaso com 4 repetições. Durante 12 meses foram geradas curvas de calibração entre altura do pasto, medida por cada um dos dois métodos, e a massa de forragem correspondente. Como resultado foram geradas quatro curvas de calibração do tipo y = a + bx para cada cultivar (y = massa de forragem em Kg MS/ha e x = altura do pasto), uma para cada época do ano (primavera, verão, outono e inverno). De forma geral os valores de intercepto (a) foram os mais influenciados por cultivar e época do ano, com uma variação apenas modesta nos valores de coeficiente angular (b). Essa variação esteve relacionada com modificações da estrutura do dossel dos pastos, particularmente a proporção de material morto. Os métodos não diferiram em precisão, porém o prato ascendente mostrou-se um método mais rápido e ágil. Concluiu-se que apesar das similaridades entre os cultivares estudados, a calibração dos métodos deve ser específica para cada cultivar e realizada frequentemente para que as equações geradas sejam precisas e robustas, de forma a permitir a obtenção de valores confiáveis de estimativas de massa de forragem. / Grazing management and planning of animal production systems from pastures are essentially based on estimates of herbage mass, production and accumulation rates. These values can be rapidly determined with a sward stick and rising plate meter, although experimental results generated this way are scarce for tropical forage plants. The present experiment evaluated both methods for estimating herbage mass in pasture areas formed by Florakirk, Tifton 85 and Coastcross Cynodon spp. cultivars. Paddocks of each of the cultivars were maintained at 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm sward surface height through continuous stocking and variable stocking rate, according to a complete randomised block design with four replications. Over twelve months, calibration equations of stick and plate sward height versus the correspondent herbage mass were generated. As a result, four y = a + bx type calibration equations (y = herbage mass - kg DM/ha and x = sward height) were obtained, one for each season of the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Generally, most of the variation among cultivars and seasons occurred in intercept values (a) and less with slope values (b). This variation was related to modifications in sward structure, particularly in dead material content. The methods did not differ in precision, although the rising plate meter proved to be faster and more agile. Despite the similarities among cultivars, calibration of both methods must be specific for each cultivar and carried out regularly in order to result in precise and robust equations capable of generating reliable estimates of herbage mass.

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<p>Syftet med denna undersökning är att undersöka hur svenska folkets köttkonsumtion utvecklats sedan 1990- talet, och diskutera om denna konsumtion är hållbar ur ett miljömässigt, socialt och ekonomiskt perspektiv. Ett andra syfte är att undersöka vad som gjorts och vilka ambitioner som finns inom svensk politik för att främja en mer hållbar konsumtion. För att nå detta syfte har tre forskningsfrågor formulerats. Vilka miljö- och hälsoeffekter har köttkonsumtion? Är svenska folkets köttkonsumtion hållbar ur ett miljömässigt, socialt och ekonomiskt perspektiv? Vilka är regeringens strategier och ambitioner för att främja en hållbar konsumtion?</p><p>Undersökningen visar att svenskar äter mer kött än någonsin tidigare. Det kött vi köper i affären genomgår en lång process innan det hamnar där. Under hela denna process ges belastningar på miljön inte bara i Sverige utan även i andra länder. Det är dock inte bara miljön som påverkas av köttkonsumtionen utan även konsumenternas hälsa.</p><p>Hållbar konsumtion är ett begrepp som regeringen definierat som en konsumtion av varor och tjänster som uppfyller människans behov och ger ökad livskvalitet samtidigt som konsumtionens negativa påverkan på hälsa och miljö minimeras till förmån för en rättvis utveckling i Sverige och globalt.</p><p>Resultatet från undersökningen pekar mot att svenska folkets köttkonsumtion inte kan ses som hållbar trots starka ambitioner och många åtgärder inom svensk politik.</p> / <p>This survey aims to investigate how the meat consumption of the Swedish people has developed since the 1990’s, and to discuss if this consumption is sustainable in an environmental, social and economic perspective. A second purpose is to investigate what has been done and what the ambitions are in Swedish politics for the promoting of a more sustainable consumption. To fulfill the purpose of this survey three research questions has been formulized. What are the environmental and health effects of meat consumption? Is the meat consumption of the Swedish people sustainable in an environmental, social and economic perspective? What are the strategies and ambitions of the Swedish government to promote a sustainable consumption?</p><p>The survey shows that Swedish people eat more meat than ever before. The meat we buy in the store goes through a long process before ending up there. Environmental stress is created all through this process, not only in Sweden but also in other countries. Not only can the environment be harmed by meat consumption but also the health of the consumers.</p><p>Sustainable consumption is defined by the Swedish government as consumption of goods and services that fulfils human needs and gives a higher quality of life, and at the same time minimizes the consumptions negative effects on health and environment to benefit a just development both in Sweden and globally.</p><p>The result of this study aims towards the notion that the meat consumption of the Swedish people can not be seen as sustainable despite strong ambitions and multiple measures in Swedish politics.</p>

Syftet med denna undersökning är att undersöka hur svenska folkets köttkonsumtion utvecklats sedan 1990- talet, och diskutera om denna konsumtion är hållbar ur ett miljömässigt, socialt och ekonomiskt perspektiv. Ett andra syfte är att undersöka vad som gjorts och vilka ambitioner som finns inom svensk politik för att främja en mer hållbar konsumtion. För att nå detta syfte har tre forskningsfrågor formulerats. Vilka miljö- och hälsoeffekter har köttkonsumtion? Är svenska folkets köttkonsumtion hållbar ur ett miljömässigt, socialt och ekonomiskt perspektiv? Vilka är regeringens strategier och ambitioner för att främja en hållbar konsumtion? Undersökningen visar att svenskar äter mer kött än någonsin tidigare. Det kött vi köper i affären genomgår en lång process innan det hamnar där. Under hela denna process ges belastningar på miljön inte bara i Sverige utan även i andra länder. Det är dock inte bara miljön som påverkas av köttkonsumtionen utan även konsumenternas hälsa. Hållbar konsumtion är ett begrepp som regeringen definierat som en konsumtion av varor och tjänster som uppfyller människans behov och ger ökad livskvalitet samtidigt som konsumtionens negativa påverkan på hälsa och miljö minimeras till förmån för en rättvis utveckling i Sverige och globalt. Resultatet från undersökningen pekar mot att svenska folkets köttkonsumtion inte kan ses som hållbar trots starka ambitioner och många åtgärder inom svensk politik. / This survey aims to investigate how the meat consumption of the Swedish people has developed since the 1990’s, and to discuss if this consumption is sustainable in an environmental, social and economic perspective. A second purpose is to investigate what has been done and what the ambitions are in Swedish politics for the promoting of a more sustainable consumption. To fulfill the purpose of this survey three research questions has been formulized. What are the environmental and health effects of meat consumption? Is the meat consumption of the Swedish people sustainable in an environmental, social and economic perspective? What are the strategies and ambitions of the Swedish government to promote a sustainable consumption? The survey shows that Swedish people eat more meat than ever before. The meat we buy in the store goes through a long process before ending up there. Environmental stress is created all through this process, not only in Sweden but also in other countries. Not only can the environment be harmed by meat consumption but also the health of the consumers. Sustainable consumption is defined by the Swedish government as consumption of goods and services that fulfils human needs and gives a higher quality of life, and at the same time minimizes the consumptions negative effects on health and environment to benefit a just development both in Sweden and globally. The result of this study aims towards the notion that the meat consumption of the Swedish people can not be seen as sustainable despite strong ambitions and multiple measures in Swedish politics.

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Emerging from the agricultural crisis of the 1988s, producers and processing companies in New Zealand's sheep meat and dairy industries, found themselves in an evolving neo-liberalised environment. By the late 1990s major structural (re) alignment had taken place in production and processing to accommodate shifts in markets and regulation, centring on 'food safety', 'quality' and "availability" For both farmers and processing company staff, this meant venturing into unfamiliar jointly occupied spaces and unchartered relational territory, Through a participatory research approach using multiple methodologies, this thesis examines supply chain (re)alignment at a macro and micro-scale, focussing on the farmer-processor relationship and knowledge, network and learning processes of farmers in (global) lamb and dairy supply chains in New Zealand. In seeking to account for evolving agri-food chain relations at multiple scales, this research turns to the global commodity chains (GCC) literature and draws on pragmatic solution-oriented ideas emerging from the developing field of Supply Chain Management (SCM). It also includes theoretical input from the cognitive and behavioural sciences to interpret the empirical data on farmer's knowledge, networks and learning in different supply chains, which it argues are key features of globalising agri-food economies. In this research these literatures and theories are enveloped by a broader yet, incomplete, theoretical foundation - that of evolutionary political economy (EPE), which is extended in this thesis, The thesis argues that an EPE framework provides a useful window on the governance of New Zealand's relations at a distance because it allows the specificity of micro-scale coordination activities and relations (in jointly occupied spaces) in New Zealand to be embedded in local and macro scale governance regimes and historical development processes. The findings show global market and regulatory pressures continue to drive supply chain (re)alignment in New Zealand, and chain building is occurring in different ways at the farmer-processor interface, between and within the different industries. Farmers' place specific on-farm knowledge co-evolves with off-farm knowledge through a combination of concrete experience, trial and error, socialisation and reflection, with both on and off farm knowledge becoming more overt in practice and strategy as supply chain specifications becomes more precise. Farmers utilise a range of networks (informal, formal, specialist and general), which serve as both information channels and learning forums. New Zealand's agricultural industries are like many in competitive globalising economies -'new' know ledge is being generated and used to broker global and local social, economic and environmental contexts and values, and in the process, supply chain partners' capacities and relations evolve.