There is sparse research literature in agricultural economics regarding early weaning as a potential alternative production/marketing strategy. The objective of this research is to estimate and analyze the impacts on net returns of alternative weaning dates for Tennessee cow-calf operations including alternative post-weaning treatments for calves.The Decision Evaluator for the Cattle Industry (DECI) simulation program was used for this study to produce outputs such as calf numbers, gender, and weights, other output including cow weights and body condition score, both at calving and at weaning, and pregnancy percentages. Forty-two simulations were run for average and summer drought weather, weaning at an average age of 135, 165, 195, 225, 255, and 285 days and selling at weaning or after a 60 or 90-day drylot backgrounding period. Prices for steers, heifers, and culled cows from 1995-2008 were taken from market reports. Costs were derived from University of Tennessee Extension Beef and Forage Budgets and USDA-NASS. The outputs from DECI were combined with prices to result in total revenues. Subtracting the costs of feed, interest, veterinary and medical, and marketing resulted in return to land, labor, management, and risk to the enterprise. The results of this study revealed that under average weather conditions in East Tennessee, marketing at weaning in November yielded the highest net return. Weaning in August and backgrounding for 60 days yielded the lowest net return with the base 90-cow herd.Under summer drought conditions, marketing at weaning in August resulted in the highest net return. Weaning in November and marketing after a 90-day backgrounding period yielded the lowest net return.Under the conditions used in this study, the only time early weaning makes economic sense is when herd size is increased for June or July weaning or under drought conditions when August (195 days) weaning and sale is optimal. Several limitations of this study imply that additional research is required on this topic before definite conclusions can be drawn.

Bakgrund: För tidig eller för sen urträning från ventilator kan ge negativa konsekvenser för patienten, därför bör det identifieras när patientens tillstånd tillåter detta. Med anledning av det och att ansvaret för urträningen övergått mer från läkarna till sjuksköterskorna har det utvecklats hjälpmedel såsom evidensbaserade urträningsprotokoll. Dessa medför en mer samstämmig behandling och har också visat sig leda till kortare behandlingstid med ventilator. Olikheter i vårdpersonalens kunskap, utbildningsnivå, erfarenhet, ansvarsområden och hur organisationen ser ut påverkar hur urträningen genomförs.  Syfte: Att beskriva intensivvårdssjuksköterskors uppfattning om urträning från ventilator. Metod: En empirisk fokusgruppintervjustudie med kvalitativ och deskriptiv ansats genomfördes. Antal deltagare var sex intensivvårdssjuksköterskor. Datamaterialet analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Det framkom tre huvudkategorier, Organisationen, Intensivvårdssjuksköterskan och Patienten samt fyra subkategorier, Rutiner, Samarbete, Kompetens och Omvårdnad. Slutsats: Det behövs en tydlig struktur i organisationen för att urträningsprocessen ska fungera tillfredsställande. Denna struktur kan skapas med rutiner, fungerande samarbete, tydlig kommunikation och hjälpmedel så som urträningsprotokoll. Urträningen för patienterna skulle underlättas, bli mer effektiv och leda till kortare behandlingstid. Klinisk betydelse: Studien kan bidra till diskussion om vilka förutsättningar som behövs för att bedriva en effektiv urträning utifrån god och säker evidensbaserad vård. Dessa förutsättningar kan bidra till ökad patientsäkerhet, kortare vårdtid och lägre vårdkostnader. / Background: Weaning onset should be initiated when the patient´s condition permits it, too early or late onset can have negative consequences for the patient. To help the nurse perform weaning, tools such as evidence-based weaning protocols have been developed and results in more consistent treatment shown to shortening duration of ventilator treatment. Differences between health profession, i.e. educational level, experience, responsibilities and organization structure, affect how the weaning is performed. Objective: To describe ICU nurses´ perception of ventilator weaning. Method: An empirical focus group study with a qualitative and descriptive approach was conducted. Six intensive care nurses were included. Data was analyzed using content analysis. Results: Three main categories were revealed, the Organization, the Intensive care nurse and the Patient along with four subcategories, Procedures, Collaboration, Competence and Nursing. Conclusion: For the weaning process to work satisfactorily a clear structure is needed. This can be created with routines, effective collaboration, clear communication and tools such as weaning protocols. For the patients weaning would be facilitated, become more efficient and shorten the duration of treatment. Clinical significance: The study may contribute to the discussion about the conditions needed to conduct effective weaning based on good and reliable evidence-based care. These conditions may contribute to increase patient safety, shorter hospital stay and lower health care costs.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Skara : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Konsekvenserna av långvarig ventilatorbehandling i form av ökat antal komplikationer och ökade kostnader är väl dokumenterade. Patienten behöver tränas ur ventilatorn med en adekvat metod, utan fördröjning. Urträningsprotokoll kan minska risken för ineffektiv vård och medicinska misstag genom att tillhandahålla en enhetlig strategi och gemensam terminologi. Syftet med studien var att beskriva innehållet i de ventilatorurträningsprotokoll som förekommer inom Svenskintensivvård. Studien utgjordes av en totalundersökning där samtliga svenska intensivvårdsavdelningar tillfrågades om de hade urträningsprotokoll. Protokollen analyserades utifrån manifest innehållsanalys. Fyra kategorier av urträningsprocessen urskiljdes: kriterier för urträningstart, åtgärder, utmattningskriterier och extubationskriterier. En dryg femtedel (21 %) av intensivvårdsavdelningarna i Sverige visade sig ha ett urtränings-protokoll. I de 16 protokollen återfanns 31 kriterier för urträningsstart, 8 åtgärder, 24 utmattningskriterier och 9 extubationskriterier. De vanligaste kriterierna för urträningstart samt utmattningskriterier stämde väl överens med vad internationella studier rekommenderar, emellertid har vissa urträningsprotokoll inkluderat ett stort antal av dessa kriterier. Trots detta återfanns inget kriterium i samtliga urträningsprotokoll. Prognoskriterier saknades i det närmaste helt i de svenska urträningsprotokollen. Åtgärderna uppvisar en mer samlad strategi där samtliga hade som första åtgärd att sänka andningsunderstödet, men även här hade vissa urträningsprotokoll inkluderat ett stort antal åtgärder. Terminologin som används var inte enhetlig vilket kan försvåra kvalitetssäkringen av protokollen. / The consequences of extended mechanical ventilation in the form of increased number of complications and high costs are well documented. The patient needs to wean with an adequate method without delay. Weaning protocols can reduce the risk of ineffective care and medical errors by providing common weaning strategy and terminology. The purpose of this study was to describe the contents of weaning protocols in Swedish intensive care units. The study consisted of a total survey, and all Swedish intensive care units were asked if they had weaning protocols. The protocols were analyzed on the basis of manifest content analysis. Four categories of the weaning process distinguished: readiness to wean criteria, guidelines for reduction in ventilatory support, fatigue criteria and extubation criteria. One fifth (21 %) of intensive care units in Sweden had a weaning protocol. In the 16 protocols 31 readiness to wean criteria, 8 methods for reduction of ventilatory support, 24 fatigue criteria and 9 extubation criteria where found. The most common readiness to wean criteria and fatigue criteria are well in line with what international studies recommends, however some weaning protocols included a large number of these criteria. Despite this no criteria occurs in all weaning protocols. Criteria to predict weaning outcome is almost completely missing in Swedish weaning protocols. The methods for reduction of ventilatory support showed a more united approach in which all lower ventilatory support as a first step. Even in this category some weaning protocols had included a large variety in methods for reduction of ventilatory support. The terminology used in the weaning protocols varies which makes quality evaluation difficult.

The aim of this thesis was to investigate how fiber growth of goats is determined by genotype, (purebred Angora and crossbred between Angora and Boer goat), physiological stages of the females from mid pregnancy until fifty days after the kids had been weaned and the plane of nutrition. Twelve Angora (pure bred) and ten Angora x Boer goat doe's with an initial mass of 28.70±4.42, between three and five years of age were used. Half of them received 120% NRC energy requirements and the other half received 80% requirements. Mohair patches of 100cm2 were collected from the animals at parturition, mid-lactation, weaning and fifty days post weaning. The fiber greasy weight started declining with commencement of lactation in crossbred animals of both high and low nutrition. The greasy mass again increased from the period of weaning until fifty days post weaning suggesting that crossbred animals do not produce a lot of fiber at the expense of fetal and kid growth. Since fiber production from the crossbred animals is lower, I recommend that the Angora genotype be increased to gain more fiber and further research be done on the topic. / Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

no / This study investigated stable-isotope ratio evidence of weaning for the late Anglo-Saxon population of Raunds Furnells, Northamptonshire, UK. δ15N and δ13C values in rib collagen were obtained for individuals of different ages to assess the weaning age of infants within the population. A peak in δ15N values at about 2-year-old, followed by a decline in δ15N values until age three, indicates a change in diet at that age. This change in nitrogen isotope ratios corresponds with the mortality profile from the site, as well as with archaeological and documentary evidence on attitudes towards juveniles in the Anglo-Saxon period. The pattern of δ13C values was less clear. Comparison of the predicted age of weaning to published data from sites dating from the Iron Age to the 19th century in Britain reveals a pattern of changing weaning practices over time, with increasingly earlier commencement and shorter periods of complementary feeding in more recent periods. Such a change has implications for the interpretation of socioeconomic changes during this period of British history, since earlier weaning is associated with decreased birth spacing, and could thus have contributed to population growth.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / KC Olson / We evaluated effects of preconditioning on performance and health of beef calves raised and finished in the Great Plains. In experiment 1, calves were preconditioned for 0, 15, or 45 d and vaccinated against BRD-causing pathogens 14 d before maternal separation or after feedlot arrival. During receiving and finishing, preconditioned calves had greater DMI and ADG than non-preconditioned calves; however, timing of BRD vaccination did not affect animal health. In experiment 2, calves were vaccinated against BRD pathogens 0, 1, 2, or 3 times during a 30-d preconditioning program. Vaccination for BRD, regardless of degree, improved health during preconditioning; however, DMI, ADG, and G:F during preconditioning, receiving, and finishing were unaffected by degree of vaccination. In experiment 3, calves were preconditioned for 30 d, shipped 4 h to an auction facility, commingled for 12 h, and transported 4, 8, or 12 h to a feedlot. Feedlot performance and health of beef calves were not affected by transport of up to 12 h following auction-market commingling. In experiment 4, beef calves were subjected to 1 of 3 ranch-of-origin preconditioning programs: drylot weaning + abrupt dam separation, pasture weaning + fence-line contact with dams, and pasture weaning + fence-line contact with dams + supplemental feed delivered in a bunk. Drylot-weaned calves gained more weight during preconditioning. Unsupplemented, pasture-weaned calves had the least ADG during receiving but had greater ADG during finishing and had carcass characteristics similar to other treatments. In experiment 5, we evaluated performance of early-weaned beef calves fed grain-based diets with DMI adjusted to achieve ADG of 0.45, 0.91, or 1.36 kg/d during an 84-d growing period. Calves fed at restricted rates did not exhibit improved G:F relative to full-fed counterparts. In addition, there appeared to be limitations associated with predicting DMI and ADG of light-weight, early-weaned calves fed a grain-based diet.

As práticas alimentares das crianças não são determinadas apenas pelas suas necessidades biológicas, mas também pela interação com o alimento, por fatores emocionais, socioeconômicos, culturais e pela interação com a própria mãe. Os objetivos deste estudo foram conhecer as representações sociais de mães de lactentes sobre a introdução de alimentos complementares, oportunos ou não e identificar os elementos que constituem o processo vivenciado por elas, para a escolha desses alimentos. Foram utilizados os pressupostos teóricos da Representação Social, propostos por Moscovici, os quais se ocupam em explicar um saber gerado na comunicação da vida cotidiana, com finalidade prática de orientar comportamentos e fixar sua posição em relação a um dado objeto. O modelo \"Pesando Riscos e Benefícios\" foi utilizado para dar suporte teórico ampliando a compreensão do processo de alimentação da criança. Os dados foram analisados, segundo a estratégia metodológica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo e foram coletados em um ambulatório de pediatria privado, em Jundiaí - SP, junto a 17 mães, após o seu consentimento esclarecido, por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas gravadas e transcritas na íntegra. Do material verbal coletado emergiram 13 discursos, organizados em três temas. O primeiro deles, \"Vivenciando o desmame\", foi composto por quatro discursos, tomando-se por base a fala de mães que desmamaram precocemente os filhos, os quais versaram sobre a vivência do desmame, as dificuldades enfrentadas para substituir o leite materno e sobre as representações maternas acerca do alimento e da introdução de alimentos complementares. O segundo tema, \"Tomando posição ante a alimentação da criança\" foi constituído por quatro discursos, os quais discutiram as necessidades das mães e os papéis da família e do médico no contexto da introdução de alimentos complementares. O último tema, \"Fazendo as escolhas alimentares propriamente ditas\", formado por cinco discursos, versaram sobre os elementos de escolha e as representações maternas acerca do alimento e da introdução de alimentos complementares. Concluiu-se que, com base em suas representações, experiências e crenças, as mães realizaram um movimento de avaliação, julgamento, interpretação e construção de indicadores por meio da observação de comportamento da criança, buscando valorá-los em termos simbólicos de risco ou benefício para si ou para o filho, a depender do contexto social em que a mãe e a criança estão inseridas. Tais achados permitiram demonstrar a expansão do modelo teórico \"Pesando Riscos e Benefícios\" para auxiliar a compreensão do significado não só da amamentação, como da introdução da alimentação complementar. Além disso, foi possível conhecer as representações deste grupo de mulheres, acerca do alimento e da introdução de alimentos complementares / The food practices of children are not determined only by their biological necessities, but also by their interaction with the food, for emotional, social, economic and cultural factors and by their interaction with their own mother. The objectives of this study were to know social representations of infants\' mothers about the introduction of complementary foods, propitious or not, and to identify in their experiences what are the reasons to chose those kind of foods. They were used the concepts of Social Representation by Moscovici which explain a knowledge that is generated by everyday life\'s communication and with the purpose to guide behaviors and to sustain them in front of an object. The model \"Thinking Risks and Benefits\" was used to give theoretical support and to increase the understanding of food process of a child. The data were analyzed according methodological strategies of Subjective Speech Collective and were collected from 17 mothers at a private pediatric ambulatory in Jundiaí, a São Paulo\'s city, after their consentment of semi-structured recorded interviews and all of them were transcribed word by word. From the verbal material collected emerged 13 speeches, organized in three themes. \"Living the Weaning Period\", the first one, is made by 4 speeches of mothers who weaned their children and talked about their experiences and their difficulties facing the replacement of breast milk and about motherhood representations of food and introduction of complementary foods. \"Taking Position in front of Child\'s Food Choices\", the second, is made by 4 speeches and debates mothers\' necessities and families and doctors roles in the context of introduction of complementary foods. \"Making the Food Choices Properly\", the last one, is made by 5 speeches that examines elements of choices and motherhood representations about food and the introduction of complementary foods. The conclusion is that based on their representations, experiences and believes, mothers analyse, judge, interpret and construct indicators from observation of children behavior and they search increase their worth in symbolic terms of risks and benefits to themselves or their children. It depends on which social context mother and child are insert. Theses findings allow to show an expansion of theoretical model \"Thinking Risks and Benefits\" to help the understating of meaning not only of breastfeed, but complementary food either. Besides that, it was possible to know the representations of theses groups of women about food and introduction of complementary foods

Orientador: Guilherme de Paula Nogueira / Banca: Flávia Lombardi Lopes / Banca: Cláudia Maria Bertan Membrive / Banca: Ed Hoffmann Madureira / Banca: Marcelo Marcondes Seneda / Resumo: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a concentração plasmática de gonadotrofinas, do nascimento até a desmama, e as características foliculares (diâmetro e número total dos folículos e ondas foliculares) além da concentração plasmática de leptina do nascimento até a primeira ovulação de bezerras da raça Nelore suplementadas com milho moído (1,5 a 2% p.v./animal/dia) do nascimento a primeira ovulação. Doze bezerras Nelore, nascidas com média de 33±3,08 kg, foram alocadas em dois grupos: Tratado (GT; n=6; recebendo suplementação) e Controle (GC; n=6; sem suplementação). Após a desmama aos cinco meses, as novilhas dos dois grupos receberam a mesma dieta base e para as bezerras do GT foram adicionados 1,5 a 2% p.v./animal/dia de milho moído. A partir do 18ª dia de vida foi realizada a cada quatro dias até a primeira ovulação a avaliação dos ovários para características foliculares. E a cada dois meses, avaliações diárias durante 17 dias para acompanhar as ondas de crescimento folicular. Concomitantemente ao exame ovariano foram coletadas amostras de sangue venoso para quantificação das concentrações plasmáticas de LH, FSH, leptina e progesterona. A concentração plasmática de leptina foi maior no GT no 13º, 14º, 16º e 17º mês de vida. Cinco novilhas do GT ovularam aos 17,8±1,1 meses e uma novilha do GC ovulou aos 20,1 meses de vida. Pode-se concluir que a suplementação com milho moído antecipou a idade a primeira ovulação e contribuiu para o aumento da concentração plasmática de leptina a partir de cinco meses antes da primeira ovulação / Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the gonadotropins concentration from birth to weaning, follicular characteristics ( diameter and total number of follicles and follicular waves ) and plasma leptin from birth to first ovulation of Nelore heifers supplemented with ground corn (1.5- 2% body weight/animal/day). Twelve Nelore heifers, born with an average of 33 ± 3.08 kg, were divided into two groups: Treated (TG, n=6; receiving supplementation) and Control (CG, n = 6; without supplementation). After weaning, at five months, heifers in both groups received the same basal and the calves of the TG were added 1.5 to 2 % body weight / animal / day of ground corn. From the 18th day of life were performed ovarian evaluations in each every four days until the first ovulation to analyze the follicular characteristics. Additionally, were held every two months, daily evaluations for consecutive 17 days in order to monitoring the follicular waves. Concomitantly to ovarian evaluations were collected venous blood samples for plasma LH, FSH, leptin and progesterone quantification. The plasma concentration of leptin increased in TG th th th th at 13 , 14 , 16 and 17 month of life Five TG heifers ovulated at 17.8 ± 1.1 months and one CG heifer ovulated to 20.1 months. Based on these results it could be concluded that supplementation with ground corn anticipated age at first ovulation and increased plasma leptin from five months before the first ovulation / Doutor

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