<p>The overall purpose of this study is to examine what consequences might be connected to Swedish meat consumption. To illustrate this, the production chain of beef meat, produced in Brazil and consumed in Sweden, has been mapped and investigated. The analytical focus of this study has been on power distribution within the chain, aiming to outline its socio-economic consequences in the Brazilian context. The empirical data was collected partly from secondary sources, but also from primary sources through interviews with key informants in the buyer-end of the production chain. The Global Value Chain approach served as a methodology for mapping the production chain and as a theoretical device for analysing the embedded power structures.</p><p>The main result, besides an overview of the beef production chain, was an identification of the chain as buyer-driven. Power is particularly concentrated around supermarket chains, which have very specific requirements on production and processing, implemented by the importing firms, thus also having a huge influence. Power concentration was also discovered in the levels of farming and processing, where the number of acting units declines frequently. The Swedish beef consumption thus seems to contribute, however small-scaled, to the process of power concentration along the chain of production, making market entrance a scarce asset. Potential socio-economic consequences of this process, besides unequal access to influence, might be longer travels or changed city of residence for workers, or even employment losses due to inadequate education. Low-income consumers might become vulnerable since cheap low-quality meat becomes inaccessible. Moreover, this thesis has also raised additional questions, suitable for further research, regarding the impacts of Swedish meat consumption.</p>

The overall purpose of this study is to examine what consequences might be connected to Swedish meat consumption. To illustrate this, the production chain of beef meat, produced in Brazil and consumed in Sweden, has been mapped and investigated. The analytical focus of this study has been on power distribution within the chain, aiming to outline its socio-economic consequences in the Brazilian context. The empirical data was collected partly from secondary sources, but also from primary sources through interviews with key informants in the buyer-end of the production chain. The Global Value Chain approach served as a methodology for mapping the production chain and as a theoretical device for analysing the embedded power structures. The main result, besides an overview of the beef production chain, was an identification of the chain as buyer-driven. Power is particularly concentrated around supermarket chains, which have very specific requirements on production and processing, implemented by the importing firms, thus also having a huge influence. Power concentration was also discovered in the levels of farming and processing, where the number of acting units declines frequently. The Swedish beef consumption thus seems to contribute, however small-scaled, to the process of power concentration along the chain of production, making market entrance a scarce asset. Potential socio-economic consequences of this process, besides unequal access to influence, might be longer travels or changed city of residence for workers, or even employment losses due to inadequate education. Low-income consumers might become vulnerable since cheap low-quality meat becomes inaccessible. Moreover, this thesis has also raised additional questions, suitable for further research, regarding the impacts of Swedish meat consumption.

Livestock keeping has been the essential source of livelihood in Babati District for many hundreds of years. The traditional ecological knowledge about this semi-arid environment has influenced the general view on livestock management. This essay discusses the measures that are, or could be taken in Babati District to prevent overstocking and overgrazing in the woodlands. With the continuing population density increase also the livestock population grows. More houses and roads are built and the grazing lands diminish. To avoid overgrazing forest management programmes restrict grazing in forests. This additionally decreases availability of grazing land. My conclusion is that minimizing number of livestock is necessary to not exceed carrying capacity of pasture during drought. Hence this is not free from problems since it is traditionally rooted to have a large number of livestock as a buffer of energy and wealth. One solution for both how to prevent overstocking and how to survive with small number of livestock is to practise zero-grazing. Zero-grazing is to keep a small number of healthy big cattle e.g. exotic cows or crossbreeds in stables or tied up. However, when tying cattle on the spot the fact that cattle have four legs is disregarded.

Mit Hilfe der Pansen-Beutel-Methode wurde an drei trockenstehenden Kühen der intraruminale Rohproteinabbau von Futtermitteln ermittelt. Daraus wurden folgende UDP-Gehalte (k = 5 %/h) abgeleitet: Sojaextraktionsschrot: 30 %, Rapsextraktionsschrot: 33 %, Rapskuchen: 15 %, Roggenpressschlempe: 43 %, Weizen/Gerste-Trockenschlempe: 25 %, Ackerbohnen: 22-26 %, Körnerfuttererbsen: 20-24 %, Blaue Lupinen: 27-35 %, Leguminosen-Gras-Gemenge: 18-35 %. Bei Körnermaisschrot (trocken bzw. feucht konserviert) wurde der intraruminale Stärkeabbau bestimmt: trocken 42 % Abbau, feucht 18 % Abbau. Außerdem wurde an vier hochleistenden Kühen die Wirkung von Einzelfuttermitteln im Rahmen von Mischrationen auf die Pansenfermentation untersucht (pH-Wert, NH 3 -Gehalt, Gehalt an FFS im Pansensaft). Trotz des höheren intraruminalen Stärkeabbaus führte Feuchtkornmais zu keinem erhöhten Acidoserisiko (etwa gleicher Pansen-pH-Wert-Verlauf wie bei Trockenmais). Anhand der NH 3 -Gehalte im Pansensaft wurde ein verringerter Rohproteinabbau bei Einsatz des pansengeschützten Sojaextraxtionsschrots Soypass 50 nachgewiesen. Durch mikronisierte Rapssaat in der TMR konnte der Rohfettgehalt in der Rationstrockenmasse auf > 6 % erhöht werden, ohne dass die Pansenfermentation nachteilig beeinflusst wurde. Die Broschüre fasst alle Untersuchungsergebnisse zusammen.

Elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) density and foraging behavior were monitored in conjunction with disturbance by livestock (cattle and sheep) from 1991 to 1993 at Deseret Land and Livestock property near Woodruff, Utah. Elk and deer densities declined by as much as 92% in response to introduction of livestock, while associated areas where livestock were absent did not show this response. Biting rates and bite sizes were estimated and used to determine instantaneous intake rate. These measures were similar between pastures with cattle present or absent in 1992 but differed in 1993 for bite rate and marginally so for instantaneous intake rate. Bite rate and bite size but not instantaneous intake rate showed significant differences among years when the data for both treatments were combined. My results indicated that livestock locally displaced wild ungulates but displacement occurred only while the livestock were present. Differences in elk foraging behavior were greater between years than between treatments, and instantaneous intake rate alone was viewed as an inaccurate indicator of potential reductions in fitness.

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.

The purpose of this study was to determine awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) among college students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. Since the issue of a governmentsponsored electronic national identification system for livestock is relatively new, many pros and cons exist regarding increased biosecurity and increased surveillance by the government. While many adult producer groups have expressed their concerns over the implications of the proposed identification system, little attention has been focused on future producers—youth and college students. This study investigated how college students gathered information about livestock industry issues from mass media or other resources, and how the students’ awareness and knowledge of the identification system influenced their perceptions of the NAIS. The sample population consisted of students enrolled in courses related to animal agriculture and production during the spring 2007 semester at Texas A&M University. Stratified random sampling was used to determine participants, and a total of 92 students responded to the survey. The strata were animal science majors and non-animal science majors, and upperclassmen and lowerclassmen. An online, self-administered survey was used to collect data from the participants. The survey consisted of close-ended and open-ended questions; a pilot study of students with similar majors and classification as the sample established face validity of the instrument. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and one-way ANOVA were used to examine the data. Major findings were that as a group, students were somewhat aware of the NAIS, and were knowledgeable of general NAIS concepts. Students disagreed with the statement that they are well-informed about the NAIS. Students’ perceptions of the NAIS were positively associated with their awareness of the NAIS. Livestock leadership experiences (4-H or FFA membership, livestock show team member, exhibitor experience, and youth livestock organization member) had positive moderate correlations with NAIS awareness. Livestock exhibitor experience had a moderate correlation with perception of the NAIS. University professors, Internet, and family members were preferred information sources. Opinion leaders’ influence as information sources affected students’ awareness and perceptions of the NAIS. Cooperative Extension, private organizations, and university professors were all moderately correlated with students’ awareness of the NAIS. University professors had a positive, yet low correlation with students’ perceptions of the NAIS.

Foreign animal disease can cause serious damage to the United States (US) agricultural sector and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), in particular, poses a serious threat. FMD causes death and reduced fecundity in infected animals, as well as significant economic consequences. FMD damages can likely be reduced through implementing pre-planned response strategies. Empirical studies have evaluated the economic consequences of alternative strategies, but typically employ simplified models. This dissertation seeks to improve US preparedness for avoiding and/or responding to an animal disease outbreak by addressing three issues related to strategy assessment in the context of FMD: integrated multi region economic and epidemic evaluation, inclusion of risk, and information uncertainty. An integrated economic/epidemic evaluation is done to examine the impact of various control strategies. This is done by combining a stochastic, spatial FMD simulation model with a national level, regionally disaggregated agricultural sector mathematical programming economic model. In the analysis, strategies are examined in the context of California's dairy industry. Alternative vaccination, disease detection and movement restriction strategies are considered as are trade restrictions. The results reported include epidemic impacts, national economic impacts, prices, regional producer impacts, and disease control costs under the alternative strategies. Results suggest that, including trade restrictions, the median national loss from the disease outbreak is as much as $17 billion when feed can enter the movement restriction zone. Early detection reduces the median loss and the standard deviation of losses. Vaccination does not reduce the median disease loss, but does have a smaller standard deviation of loss which would indicate it is a risk reducing strategy. Risk in foreign animal disease outbreaks is present from several sources; however, studies comparing alternative control strategies assume risk neutrality. In reality, there will be a desire to minimize the national loss as well as minimize the chance of an extreme outcome from the disease (i.e. risk aversion). We perform analysis on FMD control strategies using breakeven risk aversion coefficients in the context of an outbreak in the Texas High Plains. Results suggest that vaccination while not reducing average losses is a risk reducing strategy. Another issue related to risk and uncertainty is the response of consumers and domestic markets to the presence of FMD. Using a highly publicized possible FMD outbreak in Kansas that did not turn out to be true, we examine the role of information uncertainty in futures market response. Results suggest that livestock futures markets respond to adverse information even when that information is untrue. Furthermore, the existence of herding behavior and potential for momentum trading exaggerate the impact of information uncertainty related to animal disease.

In Taiwan, swine wastewater has become one of the major causes of the deterioration of surface water quality. To minimize the operational and maintenance cost of the conventional wastewater treatment utilities, less expensive natural treatment systems (e.g., aquatic plant treatment system) have been proposed to enhance the efficacy of existing three-stage treatment system (solid separation followed by anaerobic and aerobic treatment). Using the natural treatment system is an appropriate technology for treating livestock wastewater in tropical or subtropical regions or developing countries because it is inexpensive, easily maintained, and has environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics. The main objectives of this study were to (1) examine the efficacy and capacity of using aquatic plant treatment system to polish the treated wastewater to meet the discharge standards in Taiwan (COD = 600 mg/L, BOD = 80 mg/L, and SS = 150 mg/L), (2) evaluate the potential of reusing the treated wastewater, (3) evaluate the feasibility of replacing the aerobic treatment process contained in the three-stage system with the aquatic plant system, and (4) improve the efficiency of sludge (obtained from the three-stage treatment system) composting process. In this study, a hog farm was selected as the case study site. An aquatic plant unit [13.5 (L) ¡Ñ 4 (W) ¡Ñ 3 (D)] planted with Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) was placed after the aerobic system for wastewater polishment. Influent and effluent sa mples from each unit were collected and analyzed for water quality parameters including chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and suspended solids (SS). Water samples were collected monthly during the 15-month investigation period. Results show that the averaged COD, BOD, and SS concentrations were approximately 708, 83, and 123 mg/L, respectively after the three-stage treatment scheme. The observed COD, BOD, and SS concentrations dropped to 518, 56, and 48 mg/L, respectively which could meet the discharge standards. Thus, the aquatic plant treatment system played an important role in meeting the discharge standards for swine wastewater. More than 99% of all pollutants were removed by the three-stage system followed by the aquatic plant system. The effluent from the treatment system has been used for hog farm cleaning. Thus, the aquatic plant system has the potential to be applied as the final polishment process to enhance the treatment efficacy of swine wastewater. Results also show that it is feasible to replace the aerobic treatment process with the aquatic plant system from the cost and regulation compliance point of view. Results from the composting study show that rice straws could enhance the activity of microorganisms and also cause the increase the quantity of potassium in the compost pile. Moreover, mixing the water hyacinth in the compost pile could increase the quantity of nitrogen and phosphorous. Results also reveal that using ceramic bioballs as the filling materials could minimize the composting time due to the increase of permeability in the piles.

An zwei sächsischen Rinderanlagen in Waldnähe wurde zwei Jahre lang der Einfluss der Ammoniakemission auf die räumliche und zeitliche Dynamik der Stickstoffbelastung im Umfeld der Betriebe durch Messung von Immission, Deposition und Transmissionsbedingungen untersucht. Zur Anwendung kam eine neue Methode, die auf Basis kontinuierlicher Messungen von Ammoniakimmissionen und meteorologischen Parametern die Rückrechnung auf anlagenbezogene Emissionen ermöglicht. Dabei wurden zwei Messverfahren bewertet: DOAS-Trasse und Passivsammler. Alle Messpunkte im Umfeld der Betriebe zeigten einen deutlich erhöhten Ammoniumanteil am anorganischen Stickstoffeintrag. An den Referenzpunkten im Freiland wurden ca. 15 kg/(ha a) höhere Stickstoffdepositionen als an den Dauerbeobachtungsflächen des ländlichen Hintergrunds ermittelt. Die Stickstoffgesamtdeposition lag an allen Messpunkten deutlich über den für Nadelwald definierten empirischen Critical Loads. Dennoch sind die Wälder bisher nicht geschädigt.