Impacts of Improved Animal Welfare Standards on Competitiveness of EU Animal Production

The paper presents results of the FP7 Econ-Welfare Project “Assessing the socio-economic consequences of measures promoting good animal welfare”. The paper illustrates the economic consequences at the farm level of indicative improvements in animal welfare conditions for pigs and cattle and addresses the consequences of improved animal welfare for international trade and competitiveness1. For the farm level considerations costs - effectiveness analysis was applied, whilst impacts of the upgraded standards on international trade and competitiveness was assessed with the use of the partial equilibrium Agmemod model. The Belief Network Approach was used to determine the effects of animal welfare standards and labels on the competitiveness of the EU animal production and supply chain.Introducing upgraded Animal Welfare standards at the farm level would increase costs of production in pigs and beef cattle sectors. In dairy sector upgrading cows welfare standards results with higher benefits than costs. Accordingly, Agmemod results indicate that on the pork and beef markets international competitive position of the EU producers may be undermined. However, as the analysis showed, there are both supply conditions and demand side circumstances which may well resolve the apparent conflict between animal welfare and chain competitiveness. On the supply side, it is apparent that there are some animal welfare improvements that can be made without compromising competitiveness. Supply chain information, education and training may well be able to improve both animal welfare and competitiveness. In addition, better understanding of both animal welfare and animal productivity (through R&D) can be expected to lead to improvements in both objectives

Low ejection fraction predisposes to contrast-Induced nephropathy after the second step of staged coronary revascularization for acute myocardial infarction : a retrospective observational study

Patients who develop contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) are at an increased short-term and long-term risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. Our aim was to search for patient characteristics associated with changes in serum creatinine and CIN incidence after each step of two-stage coronary revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing staged coronary angioplasty during hospitalization for AMI. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of 138 patients with acute myocardial infarction without hemodynamic instability, in whom two-stage coronary angioplasty was performed during the initial hospital stay. In-hospital serum creatinine levels were recorded before the 1st intervention (at admission), within 72 h after the 1st intervention (before the 2nd intervention), and within 72 h after the 2nd intervention. The incidence of CIN was 2% after the 1st intervention (i.e., primary angioplasty) and 8% after the 2nd intervention. Patients with significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction after the 1st intervention (ejection fraction (EF) ≤35%) exhibited higher relative rises in creatinine levels after the 2nd intervention (18 ± 29% vs. 2 ± 16% for EF ≤35% and >35%, respectively, p = 0.03), while respective creatinine changes after the 1st revascularization procedure were comparable (−1 ± 14% vs. 2 ± 13%, p = 0.4). CIN after the 2nd intervention was over five-fold more frequent in subjects with low EF (28% vs. 5%, p = 0.007). The association between low EF and CIN incidence or relative creatinine changes after the 2nd intervention was maintained upon adjustment for baseline renal function, major CV risk factors, and the use of renin-angiotensin axis antagonists prior to admission. In conclusion, low EF predisposes to CIN after second contrast exposure in patients undergoing two-stage coronary angioplasty during the initial hospitalization for AMI. Our findings suggest a need of extended preventive measures against CIN or even postponement of second coronary intervention in patients with significant left ventricular dysfunction scheduled for the second step of staged angioplasty. View Full-Tex

Comparison of the effect of classic massage and aromatherapy on cardiac parameters in patients with cervical spine pain

Admission: Chronic pain of the cervical spine is second, the lumbar pain, the most common symptom discomfort bone - joint experienced by patients. There are many methods of treatment, aimed at eliminating the symptoms associated with back pain. One of them is the massage.The aim of the study is to assess the impact of aromatherapy massages and classic parameters pressure and heart rate in patients with pain of the cervical spine.Material and methods: The study group has been acquired 46 people of both sexes aged 20 to 45 years with chronic pain of the cervical spine. The subjects were divided the two treatment groups. In Group Idonea series of 10 aromatherapy massages. In Group II conducted seriesę 10 classical massage. In each test was carried out standardized scale NDI. Before treatments and massages after a series of measurements were made in the level of intensity of pain NRS. Measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were carried out before, immediately after and 5 minutes after the massage in 1, 5 and 10 day massage.Results: The data obtained suggest that aromatherapy massage showed a better analgesic effect. Classic massage showed a statistically significant decreasesystolic and diastolic pressure 5 minutes after the treatment (at 5 and 10 days of treatment) and after a series of massage (p <0.05). In Group I and II noted statistically significant (<0.05) drop in heart rate immediately after the massage only on day 1 of therapy.Conclusions: Classical massage treatments affect the changing parameters of blood pressure and heart rate immediately after the massage and 5 minutes after the massage. Aromatherapy massage exhibits superior analgesic effect than classic massage, what to look for when selecting treatment for patients with back pain

COMPARISON OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF MILK PROCESSING ENTERPRISES IN POLAND AND UKRAINE

The study aimed to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of enterprises processing and trading dairy products in Poland and Ukraine. Milk processing is an important sector of food production. Milk and milk products account for about 14% of world trade in agricultural products. The five largest companies from Poland and Ukraine were selected for the study. Evaluation of the effectiveness of dairy enterprises required the adoption of appropriate indices. Therefore, the research considered, above all, the indices characterizing the profitability of the surveyed companies as the basic ones in the evaluation of the financial condition of enterprises. In addition, the evaluation included the surveyed enterprises’ return on sales, assets, and equity. The analyses were performed based on data available in the EMIS database for 2016-2020. In Poland, the milk processing sector was in a relatively good financial condition, although the profitability ratios were not too high. Profitability ratios have long been lower than the food industry average and have fallen even further in recent years. The data show that the return on equity slightly exceeded the interest rate on bank deposits and treasury bonds. In Ukrainian enterprises, the return on equity, assets, and sales was much higher, but it was also characterized by high volatility

THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE EVALUATED BY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS DEPENDING ON FARM INC

This study aims to estimate the knowledge about sustainable agriculture and its implementation as part of farm practice, depending on a subjective evaluation of farm income status. Moreover, an attempt has been made to determine the importance of benefits for the environment, community, and farmers resulting from the implementation of this concept, in the opinion of farmers declaring a varying income status. The research carried out in 2019 for a sample of 291 farms using an interview questionnaire states that a more favourable subjective evaluation of own income status was connected with a more significant share of farmers formally declaring to know the concept of sustainable agriculture and the methods of this agricultural system. The research shows the following ranking of environmental benefits: water protection against pollution, reduced emission of greenhouse gases, reduced consumption of energy from non-renewable sources, and increased biodiversity in the natural environment. No distinct diversification was observed regarding presented groups according to age and declaration of income status evaluation. As regards benefits for the community in general, the succession was as follows: the production of safer foods, improvement of working conditions in a farm, improvement of farm animal welfare and better attractiveness of rural areas. However, this hierarchy differed depending on income status evaluation. As regards farmer benefits, the developed ranking showed minor diversification of the average position (rank) of individual advantages (ease sale of products, better farm productivity, improved soil condition, acquired knowledge and experience), which primarily resulted from different preferences of respondents depending on their income status

EDUCATION AS THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR IN APPLYING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES ON FARMS

The study is dedicated to the issue of implementing rules of sustainable development on farms. Research was conducted on 310 farms. The farm classification criterion was the education of the farm manager. Farms in four provinces were analyzed: Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mazowieckie, Lubelskie, and Wielkopolskie. The aim was to determine the knowledge and scope of applying sustainable development in farming, depending on the farmer's education level. The research consisted of determining the importance attached by farmers, depending on their declared level of formal education, to features of a sustainable farm and advantages of this mode of management for the environment, the society, and agricultural producers themselves. It was assumed that the higher the farmer's education level, the better the familiarity with sustainable development principles and their practical application. It was found that depending on the agricultural producer's education, the importance attached to individual variables characterizing a sustainable farm varied. In terms of environmental advantages, the most important feature was water protection; among benefits for the society, safe food was considered to be of the highest significance, while for producers, the most important was a higher income. The research results did not make it possible to unambiguously state that university education determines farmers' familiarity and compliance with sustainability principles. In some cases, farmers, who had good knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices, failed to apply them in their operations

EDUCATION AS THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR IN APPLYING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES ON FARMS

The study is dedicated to the issue of implementing rules of sustainable development on farms. Research was conducted on 310 farms. The farm classification criterion was the education of the farm manager. Farms in four provinces were analyzed: Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mazowieckie, Lubelskie, and Wielkopolskie. The aim was to determine the knowledge and scope of applying sustainable development in farming, depending on the farmer's education level. The research consisted of determining the importance attached by farmers, depending on their declared level of formal education, to features of a sustainable farm and advantages of this mode of management for the environment, the society, and agricultural producers themselves. It was assumed that the higher the farmer's education level, the better the familiarity with sustainable development principles and their practical application. It was found that depending on the agricultural producer's education, the importance attached to individual variables characterizing a sustainable farm varied. In terms of environmental advantages, the most important feature was water protection; among benefits for the society, safe food was considered to be of the highest significance, while for producers, the most important was a higher income. The research results did not make it possible to unambiguously state that university education determines farmers' familiarity and compliance with sustainability principles. In some cases, farmers, who had good knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices, failed to apply them in their operations

THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE EVALUATED BY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS DEPENDING ON FARM INC

This study aims to estimate the knowledge about sustainable agriculture and its implementation as part of farm practice, depending on a subjective evaluation of farm income status. Moreover, an attempt has been made to determine the importance of benefits for the environment, community, and farmers resulting from the implementation of this concept, in the opinion of farmers declaring a varying income status. The research carried out in 2019 for a sample of 291 farms using an interview questionnaire states that a more favourable subjective evaluation of own income status was connected with a more significant share of farmers formally declaring to know the concept of sustainable agriculture and the methods of this agricultural system. The research shows the following ranking of environmental benefits: water protection against pollution, reduced emission of greenhouse gases, reduced consumption of energy from non-renewable sources, and increased biodiversity in the natural environment. No distinct diversification was observed regarding presented groups according to age and declaration of income status evaluation. As regards benefits for the community in general, the succession was as follows: the production of safer foods, improvement of working conditions in a farm, improvement of farm animal welfare and better attractiveness of rural areas. However, this hierarchy differed depending on income status evaluation. As regards farmer benefits, the developed ranking showed minor diversification of the average position (rank) of individual advantages (ease sale of products, better farm productivity, improved soil condition, acquired knowledge and experience), which primarily resulted from different preferences of respondents depending on their income status