Thesis (Ph.D.(Environmental Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Education)) - Rhodes University, 2009.

Thesis (M.Comm. (Economic and management sciences))-University of Pretoria, 2004. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-134).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of London, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 555-577).

Following the argument of cultural change between the Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon periods in Britain, the purpose of this thesis is to find evidence of change in human diet and animal husbandry in the Upper Thames Valley across this boundary. Research questions are set to find differences in human diet, animal diet, and birth seasonality of herbivores at Horcott, a site showing human activity in both periods. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements on collagen from humans and livestock animals and enamel carbonate extracted from herbivores were analysed. Results showed changes in the diets of cattle, sheep/goats, pigs, and human, and birth seasonality of cattle and sheep/goats. These changes were argued to have been caused by differences in the intensity of fertilising crop fields, the amount of animal protein fed to adult pigs, the amount of non-local food in human diet, and the significance and purpose of livestock rearing and the preference of dairy products. The outcome of this thesis enhances the understanding of: a) the strategy and the amount of human effort put into crop cultivation and livestock management; b) the availability and preference of food for humans depending on the period; and c) the site-dependent differences in the extent of change in the course of transition between the Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon periods. This thesis demonstrates the importance of animal data in order to discuss human diet, and the advantage of modelling enamel carbonate sequential data when analysing worn and shortened teeth.

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.

Este estudo apresenta como objetivo geral conhecer e compreender a situação das mulheres nas atividades de trabalho na pecuária familiar, em áreas rurais no município de Encruzilhada do Sul. A proposta justifica-se por buscar compreender as dinâmicas de vida e trabalho dessas mulheres. Através do conhecimento empírico das dinâmicas vivenciadas na pecuária familiar e fazendo uso de referenciais que tratam da divisão sexual do trabalho, buscou-se o aporte analítico a partir de uma perspectiva de gênero, adotando-se também concepções ampliadas de desenvolvimento rural. A proposta metodológica surge de uma construção qualitativa em que, primeiramente, define-se o objeto de pesquisa, e, na sequência, o método a ser seguido, buscando a compreensão do contexto estudado. As participantes foram identificadas através das indicações realizadas pela Emater do município. Foram disponibilizados dados pertencentes às estatísticas da ação de Inclusão Produtiva do Plano Brasil Sem Miséria no município, o que permitiu a identificação de mulheres inseridas na ação e na pecuária familiar. As entrevistas foram: duas entrevistas-piloto e mais 13 entrevistas no decorrer da pesquisa de campo, ou seja, o total de entrevistas foi de 15. A saturação de dados foi o método utilizado para a definição do número de entrevistadas. As entrevistas foram gravadas e transcritas para as análises, desenvolvidas por meio da análise de conteúdo com auxílio do NVivo8 para a categorização analítica. As unidades de análise dividiram-se em “estrutura de trabalho e dinâmicas familiares” e “vulnerabilidades e violências de gênero”. O primeiro capítulo analítico apresenta um estudo descritivo do perfil das mulheres participantes do Plano Brasil Sem Miséria, enfatizando a inserção destas na pecuária familiar, e do perfil sociodemográfico das participantes da pesquisa. No segundo capítulo analítico, analisa-se a estrutura de trabalho e as dinâmicas familiares, para compreender a situação de trabalho dessas mulheres, através de aspectos que lhes permitem atender tanto a lida doméstica quanto a lida na agricultura e na pecuária. A divisão das atividades de trabalho é realizada de acordo com os recortes de gênero e também de geração. O terceiro capítulo analítico analisa as condições de trabalho que consubstanciam situações de vulnerabilidade e privação de direitos, como por exemplo, a distribuição e destino da renda na propriedade concentrada entre homens e, quando se referencia aos ganhos de mulheres, esses se destinam ao suprimento das necessidades domésticas. A inserção do nome das mulheres nos blocos de notas, a divisão estabelecida entre casa e criação para mulheres (trabalhos leves/feminino) e lavoura para os homens (trabalhos pesados/masculino), o ajudar na agricultura e na pecuária afirmam os destinos de gênero da mulher, conduzem à modernização agrícola aos homens evidenciando os princípios da divisão sexual do trabalho: separação e hierarquização. A pecuária, aprendida a partir do homem (marido, pai, avô), representa orgulho em praticá-la por questões culturais, por ocupar uma posição masculina, refletindo o bem-estar e o desprender-se do doméstico. Assim, a inserção das mulheres na atividade é percebida como um exemplo de empoderamento, sendo este componente para ampliar o entendimento sobre o desenvolvimento rural. / This study has the main goal to know and understand the situation of women in work activities in family livestock in rural areas in the city of Encruzilhada do Sul. The research has the proposal of understand the dinamic of life and work of these women. Through the empirical knowledge of the dynamics experienced in family farming and making use of references that deal with the sexual division of labor, sought the analytical contribution from a gender perspective, also embraced extended conceptions of rural development. The methodological proposal emerges from a qualitative construction, which, initially, is defined the object of research, and, in sequence, the method to be followed, seeking to understand the context studied. The participants were identified through the indications made by Emater the municipality. Data were made available from the statistics of the “Inclusão Produtiva of Plano Brasil Sem Miséria” of the city, which allowed the identification of women inserted in the action and family livestock. The interviews were: two experimental interviews and 13 more interviews during the field research, totaling 15 interviews. The saturation data was the method used to define the number of interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis, developed through content analysis with the assistance of NVivo8 for analytical categorization. The units of analysis were divided into "work structure and parental dynamics" and "vulnerabilities and gender violence". The first analytical chapter presents a descriptive profile study of women participating in the “Plano Brasil Sem Miséria”, emphasizing the inclusion of these in family livestock, and socio-demographic profile of women participating in the survey. In the second analytical chapter analyzes the structure of work and family dynamics, to understand the work situation of women through aspects that allow meet both the housework as in agriculture and livestock. The division of work activities are performed according to gender and also generation. The analytic third chapter looks at working conditions that embody situations of vulnerability and deprivation of rights, such as the distribution and destination of income on the concentrated ownership between, and when reference is to women's profit, they are meant to supply domestic needs. The inclusion of the name of women in notepads, the established division between home and creation for women (light labor/ feminine) and agriculture for men (hard labor/male), help in agriculture and livestock, affirmed the woman's gender destinations, leading to agricultural modernization to men, and highlights the principles of sexual division of labor: separation and hierarchy. Livestock, learned from the man (husband, father, grandfather), represents proud to practice it for cultural reasons, for occupying a man's position, reflecting the well-being and loosen up of the domestic. So the insertion of women in the activity is perceived as an example of the empowerment being this component to enlarge the understanding of rural development.

Introduction In sub-Saharan Africa, rapid urbanisation and per capita consumption of animal source foods are expected to accelerate in the short-medium term and to increase the movements of live animals and animal products in the region. In Cameroon, where the livelihood of most of the rural population depends on the agricultural and livestock sector, a wide range of endemic transboundary infectious diseases (TADs) affect livestock production and trade, and have direct detrimental effects on animal, human and environmental health. Livestock mobility represents a central economic activity in the livestock value chain of the country as well as a central strategy of seasonal adaptation to the ecosystem. Livestock movements, however, are also a central driver of infectious diseases dynamics and contacts between livestock populations are major risk factors for disease introduction and circulation. In countries where financial and technical resources are constrained, such as Cameroon, strategic interventions aiming at the surveillance and control of multiple infectious diseases simultaneously are essential for optimising their cost-effectiveness. The overall aim of this study was to apply a methodological framework to contribute to the understanding of cattle movements in Cameroon and of their implications for disease circulation. Methods This project used a variety of epidemiological and statistical methods to characterise cattle movements in the country across different scales. The collection of primary data and information targeted both the formal cattle trade system, across the country, and the informal seasonal transhumance, across the main livestock production areas. Between September 2014 and May 2015 diverse strategies were applied for collecting empirical data and various data sources from multiple Regions of the country were combined. Cattle trade in Cameroon mainly occurs via multiple trading points owned and managed either by the veterinary authorities or the municipalities. A total of 62 livestock markets, and the relevant offices of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Products (MINEPIA), were targeted for collecting official data on cattle trade referring to a 12-month period ranging between September 2013 and August 2014. Additionally, a questionnaire-based survey with the various livestock markets stakeholders (herders, traders, butchers and veterinary officials) was carried out to collect a variety of information on the cattle market system. During this 9-month period of field work, data on cattle seasonal transhumance were simultaneously collected using a combination of GPS-tracking technology and questionnaire-based survey. Results Volumes of cattle trade, the type of traded animals and their commercial values varied over the year and across the Regions of the country included in this study. Nevertheless, the market supply of live cattle showed similar temporal trends over the year and across the Regions. Although for almost the entire study area the peak of traded animals in the market system was in December 2013, the trade volume was consistently higher during the rainy season (May to September). On the contrary, the reduction in the trade volume during the dry season was accompanied by an opposite trend in the cattle price, with their commercial value being higher during the dry season. Furthermore, a cattle price differential was highlighted between production Regions and high consumption Regions of the country. The highest volume of cattle trade was recorded in the Adamawa Region, which was the main source of cattle for the country while also receiving animals from neighbouring countries, such as Chad and Central African Republic. In contrast, major urban markets in the Littoral and Central Regions were the main receivers of cattle originating from almost all the other areas of the country. Interestingly, the North-West Region appeared to be more independent and isolated within the cattle trade network of Cameroon, particularly receiving few animals from other Regions. Importantly, there was little variation in the structural characteristics of the cattle trade network as well as in its properties across seasons, showing that, despite the seasonality in traded numbers, the network of cattle moving between markets in Cameroon is very stable. This consistent structure of the network over the year increases the robustness of strategic targeted interventions. We found that targeting the top 20% of the most connected markets would significantly reduce the network cohesiveness providing opportunities for strategic disease surveillance, communication and risk mitigation interventions. The centrality of the market within the trading network was also found to be positively associated with the price of live cattle, which tended to be heavily affected by phenotypic characteristics of the traded cattle. The seasonal cattle transhumance has been found as a common and widespread practice for herders attending the market system across whole the study area, highlighting the close relation between formal trading movements and informal pastoral movements across the country. Transhumant herds were observed to undertake migrations across multiple Regions for period exceeding 6 months and showing the potential for multiple types of interactions with domestic and wild animals. Discussion Multiple livestock infectious diseases were identified as being related to the cattle trade system. As neighbouring and non-neighbouring countries were found to be epidemiologically connected it is clear that national strategies for surveillance and control are likely to have limited effectiveness. Regional coordination for designing and implementing prevention and mitigation strategies against infectious diseases is essential to improve animal health also at national level. This study highlights the opportunity for strategic surveillance, control and communication interventions targeting key livestock markets and Regions of Cameroon. Live cattle price and centrality of markets, represented by their connectedness within the trading network, highlights the need to further investigate the links between economic factors and drivers of disease dynamics, such as livestock movements. The complexity of cattle movements in this context was further evidenced by the seasonal transhumance representing an established common mechanism for managing livestock, and closely interacting with the formal trading system as well as with other domestic and wild animal populations. Better data collection and analysis of livestock movements is required for improving the effectiveness of surveillance and control of infectious diseases. Although animal identification and registration systems would represent an ideal step for increasing traceability of cattle movements, enhancing animal health management and the overall competitiveness of the livestock industry, in the short-term a cost-effective intervention should aim at further developing the current data recording and management systems. Pastoralism, for long seen as an economic and environmental activity with little future, also needs to be acknowledged as a key component of the livestock production system in the country and to be considered accordingly in the management of infectious diseases.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-15T20:31:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SeverinoAGN_DISSERT.pdf: 21374459 bytes, checksum: 1dbcab6fa06f45bf0afaa36e7ba38672 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-31 / Its economic importance is due to the death of animals, decreased production and high cost control measures and prophylaxis. and lack of data on the frequency of animals mortality by regions, has hindered define the economic impact that these have been causing in the country. Therefore, this work aimed to determine the poisonous plants species and the poisonings promoted by them in 35 cities from Central and West regions of Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. The study was conducted at micro-regions of Macau, Angicos and Serra de Santana from Central region, constituted by 20 cities; and at micro-regions of Mossoró and Vale do Assú from West region, constituted by 15 cities. It were visited all the cities, and veterinarians, agronomists, agriculture experts and farmers were interviewed using three forms. Data obtained in the interviews were compiled and analyzed using the software Epi Info version 6.04. From the 217 interviews done in this study, it was reported 1,483 outbreaks of poisoning by plants with proven toxicity. The plant species responsible by greater number of poisoning outbreaks were Ipomoea asarifolia (308 outbreaks), Aspidosperma pyrifolium (285 outbreaks), Indigofera suffruticosa (189 outbreaks), Manihot carthaginensis subsp. glaziovii (153 outbreaks), and Amorimia rigida (87 outbreaks). The other plant species with proven toxicity pointed as responsible by poisonings were Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil, Cnidoscolus quercifolius, Crotalaria retusa, Froelichia humboldtiana, Ipomoea carnea, Leucaena leucocephala, Marsdenia megalantha, Manihot esculenta, Mimosa tenuiflora, Nerium oleander, Plumbago scandens, Prosopis juliflora, Ricinus communis, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum halepense, Tephrosia cinerea , and Urochloa (Brachiaria) decumbens. / A sua importância econômica se deve a morte de animais, diminuição da produção e alto custo com medidas de controle e profilaxia. A falta de dados sobre a frequência da mortalidade de animais por regiões tem dificultado definir o impacto econômico que estas vêm causando no país. Portanto, este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar as plantas tóxicas e as intoxicações por elas causadas em 35 municípios das mesorregiões Central e Oeste do estado do Rio Grande do Norte. O trabalho foi realizado nas microrregiões de Macau, Angicos e Serra de Santana pertencentes à mesorregião Central Potiguar do RN, sendo estas formadas por 20 municípios; e nas microrregiões de Mossoró e Vale do Assú pertencentes à Mesorregião Oeste Potiguar do RN, sendo estas formadas por 15 municípios. Foram realizadas entrevistas com médicos veterinários, agrônomos, técnicos agrícolas e produtores em todos os municípios com a aplicação de três questionários. Os dados obtidos nas entrevistas foram compilados e analisados com auxílio do programa Epi Info versão 6.04. Nas 217 entrevistas feitas neste estudo, foram relatados 1.483 surtos de intoxicação por plantas comprovadamente tóxicas. As plantas responsáveis pela maior quantidade de surtos de intoxicação foram Ipomoea asarifolia com 308 surtos (20,77%), Aspidosperma pyrifolium com 285 surtos (19,22%), Indigofera suffruticosa com 189 surtos (12,74%), Manihot carthaginensis subsp. glaziovii com 153 surtos (10,32%) e Amorimia rigida com 87 surtos (5,87%). Outras plantas comprovadamente tóxicas responsáveis por intoxicações foram Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil, Cnidoscolus quercifolius, Crotalaria retusa, Froelichia humboldtiana, Ipomoea carnea, Leucaena leucocephala, Marsdenia megalantha, Manihot esculenta, Mimosa tenuiflora, Nerium oleander, Plumbago scandens, Prosopis juliflora, Ricinus communis, Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum halepense, Tephrosia cinerea e Urochloa (Brachiaria) decumbens.