Dairy wintering systems in southern New Zealand : quantification and modelling of nutrient transfers and losses from contrasting wintering systems : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Traditional dairy wintering practice in the lower South Island of New Zealand has been to graze brassica crops in situ. This practice has been under increasing scrutiny from local Regional Councils due to the relatively high nitrogen (N) leaching losses from this component of the whole farm system. Alternative wintering options to reduce N leaching losses that are currently available to farmers (such as barns and permanent wintering pads) are high cost and involve a large capital investment. In this work a new wintering system (termed a ‘portable pad’) was developed for use on support blocks (which can be located many kilometres from the milking platform) as an interim measure for reducing N leaching losses that is low cost and low input. This system is designed as a mitigation strategy that is available for use immediately while research investigates more permanent solutions. This system is a hybrid of the traditional crop grazing system and an off-paddock system, where effluent is captured. It makes use of the advantages of each of the original systems utilising the low cost feed source of the brassica crops, grazed in situ, while also utilising the benefits of duration controlled grazing with its associated effluent capture and irrigation at low rates. The aim of the research was to generate whole system N leaching loss values for each of the three farm systems investigated (crop wintering, deep-litter wintering barn, and portable pad). Field and laboratory research was conducted to fill identified knowledge gaps such that system N loss values could be estimated. OVERSEER Nutrient Budget software tool was used in conjunction with measured and modelled (APSIM) data to simulate whole farm N leaching loss values for the three farm systems investigated. Nitrogen leaching losses from the portable pad and barn systems were between 5 and 26 % and between 13 and 26 % lower, respectively, than the crop wintering system

The effects of milk matrices on the transit and digestion of secretory immunoglobulin A in the gut : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand and AgResearch, Ruakura, Hamilton, New Zealand

Figures 1-8 have been removed for copyright reasons, but may be accessed from their sources listed in the bibliographyBovine secretory immunoglobulin A (BSIgA) has the potential to provide protective effects to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) when consumed orally. Oral administration of immunoglobulin (Ig) preparations has been explored and proven satisfactory in defence of a variety of enteric microbial infections in humans. Currently Ig preparations focus on bovine colostrum or whole milk. The effects of different milk matrices and how the overall composition may impact BSIgA transit and digestion have not been explored. In this study, an in vivo experiment was used to demonstrate the transit and digestion of BSIgA in two different milk matrices through the GIT of mice. The milk matrices of interest were whey protein concentrate (WPC) and skim milk powder (SMP). Mice were gavaged with 200 μL of each treatment and groups were culled at four time points; 7 minutes, 20 minutes, 1 hour, and 4 hours. The GIT was dissected into four pieces; stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and caecum. These were flushed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and the amount of BSIgA in the washouts was measured on an ELISA. Bovine SIgA survived digestive processes in the GIT of mice in SMP and WPC, as it was detected at all time points. Intestinal washouts from mice that were fed SMP measured at 7 minutes, 20 minutes, 1 hour, and 4 hours detected 66.3%, 22.4%, 0.45%, and 0.97%, of BSIgA respectively. The corresponding values for mice that were fed WPC were 43.8%, 10.2%, 0.12%, and 0.14%, respectively. Overall, the results supported the hypothesis that the milk matrix affected transit and digestion of BSIgA through the GIT of mice. BSIgA was digested 10 fold faster in a WPC matrix than SMP matrix. The BSIgA in SMP appeared more protected from digestion than that in WPC. This is the first study to highlight different milk matrices affecting the transit and digestion of BSIgA. It gives an insight into manufacturing BSIgA into a commercial product and the potential benefits it may provide to the consumer

Commentary on "Assessing monetary policy effects using daily federal funds futures contracts"

Monetary policy ; Federal funds rate

International banking facilities

Banks and banking, International

A guide to foreign exchange markets

Foreign exchange

Central bank structure, policy efficiency, and macroeconomic performance: exploring empirical relationships - commentary

Monetary policy ; Banks and banking, Central

Dutch disease or monetarist medicine?: The British economy under Mrs. Thatcher

Great Britain ; Economic development

Metropolis on the margins: talent attraction and retention to the St. John’s city-region

The objective of this research is to examine the factors that influence the attraction and retention of creative and highly educated workers in a small-sized Canadian city. The study examines two hypotheses: that the social dynamics of city-regions constitute the foundations of economic success in the global economy; and, that talented, highly educated individuals will be attracted to those city-regions that offer a richness of employment opportunity, a high quality of life, a critical mass of cultural activity and social diversity. The hypotheses are explored through in-depth interviews with creative and highly educated workers, employers and intermediary organizations. The evidence from the interviews suggests mixed support for the hypotheses. In view of these findings, we contend that the specificities of place must be more carefully theorized in the creative class literature and be more carefully considered by policy-makers designing policies directed towards attracting and retaining talented and highly educated workers

Empirical evidence on the recent behavior and usefulness of simple-sum and weighted measures of the money stock

Money supply

How the 1992 legislation will affect European financial services

European Economic Community