Interregional Competition in the U.S. Cattle Feeding Fed-Beef Economy.

63 p

Analyses of Value-added for Case-ready Beef, with Special Emphasis on Texas.

66 p

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

EAST AFRICAN MARKETS AND TANZANIAN POLICIES FOR PRICING AND PLANT LOCATION-LIVESTOCK AND MEAT

A model of the Tanzanian beef markets was designed to estimate the price difference among markets due to transportation cost, optimum number of plants and plant locations for a variety of conditions

A THEORETICAL MODEL OF OVERGRAZING IN TRADITIONAL LIVESTOCK ECONOMIES OF AFRICA: A PARADOX OF PERCEIVED VALUES

Communal grazing is the mojor barrier to development of livestock economies in Africa. With a theoretical model, the paradox in a producer's perceived values for inputs and outputs in his livestock operation is examined to explain overgrazing. Analysis of governemnt policies indicate improved livestock systems requireappropriate institution building

The Texas Cattle Feeding Industry - Operations, Management, and Costs.

28 p

A Socio-Economic Analysis of Technology Adoption in an African Livestock Industry

The study examines the Tanzanian livestock industry to explain low levels of improved management and commercial sales. Level of technology adoption and two perceived economic values by producers are estimated in 792 herds. Communal grazing and depressed government regulated prices of cattle are determined as factors causing low levels of technology adoption