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Berufszufriedenheit ist ein allgegenwärtiger Begriff, besonders in Zeiten latenten Fachkräftemangels. Im Bereich der Nutztierpraxis gibt es bislang nur wenige Studien. Bisherige Studien legten den Fokus meist auf Kleintierpraktiker. Diese Arbeit ermittelt und bewertet Belastungsfaktoren in der Nutztierpraxis durch Interviews mit fünf ausgewählten Tiermedizinern und einer schriftlichen Befragung von 93 Tiermedizinern. Sie zeigt, dass Tiermediziner oft einer hohen psychischen Belastung ausgesetzt sind. Als besonders psychisch belastend wurden Konflikte am Arbeitsplatz und unzufriedene Patientenhalter empfunden. Zufriedenheit resultiert besonders aus einem guten Verhältnis zu Kollegen und Vorgesetzten sowie der Arbeitsaufgabe. Zufrieden mit ihrem Beruf sind 46 % der Befragten. Vergütung und Zufriedenheit korrelieren: Je unzufriedener die Befragten mit der Vergütung waren, desto unzufriedener waren sie auch im Beruf. Mehrheitlich wünschen sich die Tiermediziner Verbesserungen im Bereich Arbeits zeiten, Praxisorganisation und Vergütung. Die vorliegende Studie bestätigt die Ergebnisse anderer Autoren und überträgt sie auf die Nutztierpraxis. Sie gibt Handlungsempfehlungen für Behörden, Berufs genossenschaften, das Management von Praxen u. a., um die Berufszufriedenheit bei Nutztierpraktikern zu verbessern. / Occupational satisfaction is an omnipresent term, especially in times of latent shortage of skilled workers. Particularly in the economically important field of livestock veterinary practice, only a few studies have been conducted on this topic so far. Up until now, the focus has been mainly placed on small animal practitioners. This paper identifies and evaluates stress factors in livestock veterinary practice through interviews with five selected veterinarians and a written survey of 93 veterinarians. It shows that veterinary practitioners are often exposed to high levels of psychological stress. Conflicts at work and dissatisfied patient owners were perceived as particularly psychologically stressful. Satisfaction mainly results from a good relationship with colleagues and superiors as well as the work task. 46% of all respondents are satisfied with their job. Remuneration and satisfaction correlate: The more dissatisfied respondents were with their remuneration, the more dissatisfied they were with their job. Most veterinarians would like to see improvements in the areas of working hours, practice organization and remuneration. The present study confirms the results of other authors and transfers them to livestock veterinary practice. It provides recommendations for authorities, professional associations, practice management etcetera to improve job satisfaction among livestock practitioners.

The outline of lessons in animal production, as made in the following pages, was planned with two aims in view: first, to suggest a skeleton for a lesson in each phase of livestock which should be taught in Virginia; and second, to suggest to the agricultural instructors some of the best textbooks and bulletins which can be used to advantage in working out the daily lessons. / Master of Science

Organic matter (OM) is a multi-purpose tool in West African smallholder mixed-farming systems, but its supply has been decreasing for several decades. To assess the viability of a mixed-farming system of south Senegal, carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P; available in soil and noted POD) budgets (stocks and flows) were thus quantified.The village territory of the study showed a ring-like organisation with growing intensification of fertilization and cropping practices from the periphery (bush ring) to the compounds (compound fields).Stocks in plant and soil averaged 54.7 tC, 2.63 tN and 43.5 kgP ha 1 in old fallows. They were 97, 29 and 251 % higher than in the bush cropped fields, plant biomass accounting for nearly all of the rise. C, N and P amounts recorded in the soil of compound fields were higher than those of the bush field, but the increase was restricted mainly to the 0 10 cm layer. However, the rather weak response of local sandy soils to management can be interpreted only by reassessing the bio-thermodynamical signification of soil organic carbon cycling in the maintenance of the integrity of local agroecosystems.Manageable stocks of the whole village territory were estimated to 29.7 tC, 1.52 tN and 28.6 kgP ha 1 in 1997. Carbon was stored mainly in soil. Livestock, crop harvest and wood collecting were responsible for respectively 59, 27 and 14 % of the C uptake on the village territory. As a result, large C flows were set towards the compound ring (3.8 tC ha 1 y 1). N and P depletion of the system amounted to 4 kgN and 1 kgP ha 1 y 1, suggesting that the system was close to nutrient balance.Under current demographic growth rate, C depletion may reach 0.38 tC ha 1 y 1 and C demand may double during the next three decades. Without any intensification of farming practices, the viability of the system might soon be called into question.

Global Positioning System (GPS) machine guidance aids in the precise navigation and piloting of farm machinery and serves to boost productivity and optimize farm operations. Characterization of low-cost GPS guidance systems for livestock production operations is necessary for return on investment (ROI) decision making. The objective of this research is to characterize the accuracy of four commercially available low-cost ($985 - $4,200) wide area augmentation system (WAAS) corrected GPS guidance systems. Testing procedures were designed in accordance with the ASABE/ISO standard 12188-2 for testing of satellite-based guidance systems during straight line travel. The vehicles lateral deviation of a planned path, characterized as cross-track error (XTE), was evaluated for short-term and long-term guidance for each system at speeds of 4.8, 9.6, and 14.5 kph (3, 6, and 9 mph).

This thesis consists of three chapters, each dealing with a different aspect of the impact of climate change on agriculture: the analysis of past evidence, the possible new solutions and the anticipation of future problems. The topics chosen are different but complementary and reflect the complex and multifaceted impact of this phenomenon on agriculture. This work uses global spatial data and information from the literature, combines weather forecast with a crop model, and uses an economic model coupled with robust econometric estimation approaches. The findings indicate that major crop yields in tropical and subtropical regions will likely suffer adverse effects, while temperate and continental areas, historically less favourable for agriculture, may experience mainly positive impacts. Under a medium development scenario, global crop production is projected to remain largely unaffected, masking a compensatory mechanism between tropical and temperate regions. Adaptation covers a significant positive role, and short- and medium-range weather forecasting can be an important and affordable tool for farmers to adapt their agricultural practices, if they know how to use it. The adoption of such meteorological information can enable rural households in developing countries to increase yields of staple crops, although the potential contribution of it may be hampered by social and economic barriers. However, adaptation in agriculture can have negative externalities, potentially creating a vicious circle, and the livestock sector is particularly vulnerable. Indeed, changing climate conditions may induce farmers to adjust the distribution of grazing livestock per unit of land in order to maximise profits. Temperate and continental countries may increase the number of grazing livestock per unit of land as climatic conditions improve for agricultural purposes, thereby increasing carbon dioxide emissions. On the other hand, tropical areas, mainly populated by developing countries, will see a deterioration of agricultural conditions and less livestock can be raised on rangelands and pasturelands. Once again, countries with pressing agricultural productivity needs bear a disproportionate burden of climate change effects, exacerbating already precarious living conditions. Conversely, northern countries, primarily developed, are likely to experience more beneficial effects.

[pt] A Agenda Ambiental Global tem como uma das principais diretrizes a redução da pegada ecológica para a produção de alimentos. Parte desse desafio está associada a vastas áreas de pastagem degradadas. No Brasil, 70 porcento da área total de pastagem utilizada pela pecuária é diagnosticada como degradada, representando 118,3 milhões de hectares. Nesse contexto, algumas estratégias podem ser usadas para reverter esse cenário, sendo uma delas a transição para um sistema de produção agroecológico sustentável, como o Sistema Silvipastoril (SSP). Como Estudo de Caso para esta pesquisa, foi escolhida uma paisagem tropical e montanhosa na região Sudeste do Brasil, com baixo potencial de mecanização, fato que diminui sua competitividade no agronegócio, contribuindo para um longo período de declínio social, ambiental e econômico, principalmente a partir da década de 1950. O objetivo da pesquisa consistiu em avaliar o SSP como uma ferramenta estratégica para a recuperação de terras degradadas da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paraibuna (BHRP), considerando as três dimensões da sustentabilidade: social, ambiental e econômica. Para isso, foram levantados dados de 6 fazendas de gado alimentado, exclusivamente, a pasto: 2 (duas) de pecuária degradada em monocultura (PDM); 2 (duas) de pecuária produtiva em monocultura (PPM); e 2 (duas) de pecuária produtiva em Sistema Silvipastoril (PPSP). Um conjunto de indicadores foi desenvolvido e utilizado para avaliar princípios e metas que orientam a transição de sistemas de produção convencionais para sistemas sustentáveis. Os resultados apresentaram uma escala progressiva de evolução na sustentabilidade entre todos os sistemas de produção pesquisados como: PPSP (0,75) maior PPM (0,61) menor PDM (0,42), nos aspectos social, ambiental e econômico, sendo 0,7 o ponto de equilíbrio para a sustentabilidade e 1,0 o máximo. Dessa forma, esta pesquisa apresenta o alto potencial do SSP como ferramenta estratégica para recuperar as 3 dimensões da sustentabilidade em terras degradadas. Os principais benefícios são: a adoção de boas práticas de produção; a capacidade produtiva do solo; a diversificação da paisagem; a vegetação nativa; a saúde e segurança no trabalho; a rentabilidade e segurança do investimento; e a lucratividade. / [en] One of the main guidelines of the global environmental agenda is lowering the ecological footprint for food production. Part of this challenge is associated with vast areas of degraded pasture. In Brazil, 70 percent of the total pasture area used by livestock is diagnosed as degraded, representing 118.3 million hectares. Some strategies can be used to reverse this scenario. One of these is a transition process for a sustainable agro-ecological productions system, such as Silvopastoral Systems (SPS). As a case study it was chosen a tropical landscape in a mountainous region in the southeast of Brazil. It has low potential for mechanization, which decreases its competitiveness in agribusiness, contributing for a long period of social, environmental and economic decline, especially after the 1950 s. This paper aims to evaluate SPS as a strategic tool for the recovery of degraded lands in the Paraibuna River Basin (BHRP), considering the three dimensions of sustainability: social, environmental and economic. We surveyed data from six grass-fed cattle farms: two of degraded monoculture pasture (DMP); two of productive monoculture pasture (PMP); and two of productive Silvopastoral System (PSPS). A set of indicators was developed and used to evaluate principles and goals that guide the transition from conventional production systems to sustainable systems. The results presented a gradual scale of sustainability evolution among all production system surveyed such as PPSP (0.75) PMP (0.61) DMP (0.42), in social, environmental and economic aspects, with 0.7 being the breakeven score for sustainability and 1.0 the maximum. In this way, this research presents the high potential of SPS as a strategic tool to recover the three dimensions of sustainability in degraded lands, being the main benefits, a better: production practices adoption; soil productive capacity; landscape diversification; native vegetation; health and safety at work; profitability and security of investment; and diversification income.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Ted C. Schroeder / Value-added management at the cow-calf level is integrated across breeding, health and nutrition programs. Hedonic pricing models are necessary to navigate through the layered management standards imposed by certified health and marketing programs on the cow-calf sector. Previous research in feeder calf pricing models provides insight on the use and development of ordinary least squares in estimating price effects. Breed, vaccination program, age-and-source verification and natural-beef production have become more relevant as vertical coordination has influenced commercial cow-calf producers. This study provides the industry with new information pertaining to the revenue opportunities that exist for cow-calf producers through increased coordination in the beef industry. Video and satellite auction markets are recognized as a national pricing mechanism for feeder cattle in the United States. These markets represent the management and marketing practices of national cow-calf producers and the tastes and preferences of a national stocker and feedlot industry. Previous research in feeder cattle pricing models is applied to the current genetic, management, marketing and market structure information from video auction markets to discover relevant price effects pertaining to value-added calf production. More intensive value-added management practices were expected to enhance the revenue of cow-calf producers selling their calves through video auction markets. This research confirms that verified health and genetic claims produce higher calf prices compared to commodity calves. Weaned calves with at least two rounds of respiratory vaccinations generated an additional $5.50 to $7.50 per cwt., and weaning created $2.75 to $4.50 per cwt. in premiums over non-certified health programs. There were statistical differences among the premiums for each aggregated breed influence, and Angus and black and black-white faced cattle offered the highest breed premiums at $5.25 to $7.50 per cwt. compared to Brahman-influenced calves. Age-and-source verification presents the best opportunity for video auction market premiums among recently developed marketing programs. Statistically significant premiums ranged from $1.25 to $2.00 per cwt. for both steers and heifers over the last five years.