Dynamic impacts of a financial reform of the CAP on regional land use, income and overall growth

In this paper we investigate the impacts of abolishing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the post-2013 European Union (EU) financial perspective and the impacts of re-investing the released funds on research and development (R&D). We apply a linked system of models to analyze the impacts for the EU member states. The linked system consists of five land-use sector models (agriculture, forestry, urban area, tourism and transport infrastructure), which are connected to a macro-econometric model. Additionally, a land cover model is used to disaggregate land use countries to a 1 km² grid. Three scenarios are analysed. In the “baseline” currently decided policies are assumed to be continued until 2025. In the “tax rebate” scenario agricultural support (first pillar) is removed, and the member states’ contributions to EU lowered. In the “R&D investments” scenario agricultural support is also removed, and the released funds are used to increase general R&D efforts in the EU. We find that in both liberalization scenarios, agricultural producer prices drop compared to the baseline. Agricultural production drops too, but less so in the “R&D investment” scenario due to productivity gains resulting from the increased R&D spending. In some countries, the productivity gains totally offset the negative impact of liberalisation on agricultural production. Smaller agricultural production implies less agricultural land use, and the more so in the “R&D Investment” scenario where productivity increases. The fall in agricultural production and prices negatively affects economic activity and households’ purchasing power, but the reduced direct taxation compensates this effect and results in a GDP gain of 0.53% and 0.8 million additional jobs. In “R&D investment” GDP gain reaches 2.57% and yields 2.95 million additional jobs in EU in 2025. The GDP, consumption and employment gains in the “R&D Investment” scenario widely exceed the losses in the agriculture sectors. The analysis indicates that if no external effects of agriculture are considered, then the CAP is an inefficient use of tax money, and that a considerable contribution to reaching the goals of the Lisbon agenda would be achieved if the same amount of money was instead invested in R&D.CAP reform, economical growth, land use, Agricultural and Food Policy, Land Economics/Use,

Rumination and its relationship to feeding and lying behavior in Holstein dairy cows

The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between rumination and feeding and lying behavior in dairy cows. Rumination time was monitored electronically using HR-Tags (SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel). Feeding time and dry matter intake (DMI) were monitored using Insentec feed bins (Insentec BV, Marknesse, the Netherlands). All measures were collected in 2-h periods for 42 mature Holstein cows for a minimum of 9 d in the early dry period. Pearson correlation was used to describe associations, among 2-h periods within cow, first examining the relationship within a single period, and then modeling how this relationship changes when a lag of 2, 4, or 6h was imposed. Periods when cows spent more time ruminating were associated with lower feeding times and lower DMI (r = -0.71 and r = -0.72, respectively), likely because cows were unable to feed and ruminate simultaneously. The correlations with rumination time changed from negative to positive when lags of 2, 4, and 6h were modeled (r = -0.09, 0.24, and 0.15, and r = -0.16, 0.23, and 0.17 for feeding time and DMI at lags of 2, 4, and 6h, respectively). These results indicate that following periods of high feeding times and intakes, cows spent more time ruminating. This relationship peaks at approximately 4h after feeding. Periods of rumination were also associated with time spent lying down. Cows that spent more time ruminating per day, spent less time feeding (r = -0.34) and rumination times did not relate to DMI (r = 0.11). These data indicate that rumination time can be used to estimate within-cow variation in feeding behavior and intake, but daily summaries of rumination behavior are a poor indicator of DMI

Short-term effects of regrouping on behavior of prepartum dairy cows

The objectives were to determine the effect of regrouping during the dry period on feeding, social, rumination, and lying behavior for cows that were moved to a new pen and cows that remained in their home pen but had new cows introduced. Forty-eight prepartum Holstein dairy cows were housed in groups of 6 and regrouped in groups of 3 (16 triads) with 1 triad moving to another pen and 1 triad staying in the same pen; the triad was considered the experimental unit. For 7 d before and 8 d after regrouping, cows were continuously monitored for feeding, rumination, and lying behavior by means of an electronic feeding system, a rumination logger on each cow's neck, and a data logger attached to 1 of the hind legs, respectively. Video recording was used to monitor displacements at the feeder for 3h following the afternoon fresh feed delivery before regrouping and for the 2 subsequent afternoon feed deliveries after regrouping. Cows that were moved to a new pen after regrouping decreased DMI by approximately 9% on the day of regrouping compared with baseline values, but cows that remained in their home pen showed no significant decrease in intake after regrouping. Feeding rate decreased in both treatments by 10% after regrouping. Rumination times also decreased by approximately 9% in both treatments, reaching the lowest values on the day of regrouping for cows that stayed in the home pen and on the day after regrouping for the moved cows. Cows that were moved to a new pen displaced other cows at the feeder twice as frequently after regrouping, but no such effect of regrouping on cows that stayed in the home pen was observed. These results indicate that regrouping can affect behavior of prepartum dairy cows, especially those cows that are moved to a new pen

evaluation of a system for monitoring rumination in heifers and calves

The Hi-Tag electronic rumination-monitoring system (SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel), based on capturing audio recordings, provides a reasonable measure of rumination time in dairy cows, but has not been validated for milk- fed or weaned heifers. The objective of this study was to validate the Hi-Tag rumination-monitoring system in heifers and calves and to assess whether suckling from a teat interfered with recording from this system. Assessments of 2 independent observers were highly correlated (r=0.99, n=20), indicating that direct visual observations provide a useful standard. Measures from the Hi-Tag system were validated by comparing values with those from a single human observer, using observations from three 2-h intervals from 35 Holstein calves and heifers aged 4, 6, and 9 wk and 3, 6, and 9 mo, respectively. In 9 -mo-old heifers, rumination times obtained from the electronic system were highly correlated with visual observations (r=0.88, R2=0.77, n=15), and the mean difference was minor (-4±8 min/2-h interval). The accuracy of data from the automated system decreased when used on heifers less than 9 mo old. Suckling did not interfere with the electronic system (r=-0.1, n=18). These results indicate that the Hi-Tag system is an accurate tool for monitoring rumination behavior in Holstein Friesian heifers from the age of 9 mo

Thin film contamination effects on laser-induced damage of fused silica surfaces at 355 nm

Fused silica windows were artificially contaminated to estimate the resistance of target chamber debris shields against laser damage during NIF operation. Uniform contamination thin films (1 to 5 nm thick) were prepared by sputtering various materials (Au, Al, Cu, and B4C). The loss of transmission of the samples was first measured. They were then tested at 355 nm in air with an 8-ns Nd:YAG laser. The damage morphologies were characterized by Nomarski optical microscopy and SEM. Both theory and experiments showed that metal contamination for films as thin as 1 nm leads to a substantial loss of transmission. The laser damage resistance dropped very uniformly across the entire surface (e.g. 6 J/cm2 for 5 nm of Cu). The damage morphology characterization showed that contrary to clean silica, metal coated samples did not produce pits on the surface. B4C coated silica, on the other hand, led to a higher density of such damage pits. A model for light absorption in the thin film was coupled with a simple heat deposition and diffusion model to perform preliminary theoretical estimates of damage thresholds. The estimates of the loss due to light absorption and reflection pointed out significant .differences between metals (e.g. Al and Au). The damage threshold predictions were in qualitative agreement with experimental measurements

Understanding mothers' decision-making needs for autopsy consent after stillbirth: Framework analysis of a large survey

Background: Experiencing stillbirth is devastating and leaves parents searching for causes. Autopsy is the gold standard for investigation, but deciding to consent to this procedure is very difficult for parents. Decision support in the form of clear, consistent, and parent‐centered information is likely to be helpful. The aims of this study were to understand the influences on parents’ decisions about autopsy after stillbirth and to identify attributes of effective decision support that align with parents’ needs. / Methods: Framework analysis using the Decision Drivers Model was used to analyze responses from 460 Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) mothers who took part in a multi‐country online survey of parents’ experiences of stillbirth. The main outcomes examined were factors influencing mothers’ decisions to consent to autopsy after stillbirth. / Results: Free‐text responses from 454 ANZ mothers referenced autopsy, yielding 1221 data segments for analysis. The data confirmed the difficult decision autopsy consent entails. Mothers had a strong need for answers coupled with a strong need to protect their baby. Four “decision drivers” were confirmed: preparedness for the decision; parental responsibility; possible consequences; and role of health professionals. Each had the capacity to influence decisions for or against autopsy. Also prominent were the “aftermath” of the decision: receiving the results; and decisional regret or uncertainty. / Conclusions: The influences on decisions about autopsy are diverse and unpredictable. Effective decision support requires a consistent and structured approach that is built on understanding of parents’ needs

Potencial de aquecimento global de sistemas forrageiros.

A pecuária catarinense apresenta produção animal com base em distintos sistemas forrageiros, mas pouco é sabido sobre o potencial de aquecimento global (PAG) desses sistemas. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o PAG de quatro sistemas forrageiros: PN- Pastagem Natural; PMPastagem Natural Melhorada; PP- Pastagem Perene; e PA- Pastagem Anual. O estudo foi conduzido durante 5 anos na EPAGRI, Lages, SC, Brasil. O PAG parcial (PAGp) das pastagens foi calculado considerando a emissão anual de óxido nitroso (N2O) e metano (CH4) do solo e a taxa de sequestro de carbono anual relativa (TSR). A intensidade de emissão de gases de efeito estufa (IEGEE) foi calculada considerando o PAGp e a produção de matéria seca (MS) das pastagens. A emissão de N2O variou de 0,08 a 2,96 Mg CO2eq. ha-1 ano-1 para PN e PA, respectivamente. A PP apresentou o menor influxo de CH4 no solo (-0,018 Mg CO2eq. ha-1 ano- 1), diferindo de PM e PN. A TSR foi negativa para PN, PM e PP indicando potencial mitigador em relação a PA. A produção de MS variou de 6,62 a 13,04 Mg ha-1 para PN e PP, respectivamente. Apesar das diferenças na produtividade, a IEGEE não diferiu entre as pastagens. Os sistemas forrageiros não diferiram quanto ao PAGp, independentemente do manejo do solo e do pasto. Sequestro de Carbono, Manejo de Pastagens, Gases do Efeito Estuf

Emisión acumulada de óxido nitroso (N20) en sistemas pastoriles de la Sierra Catarinense - Brasil.

En este trabajo se evaluaron y compararon la emisión de N2O generados por los sistemas pastoriles más empleados en Santa Catarina, Brasil.Suplemento 1. Edição do 43º Congreso Argentino de Producción Animal