Socio-economic status of farmers rearing Bachaur cattle in its habitat under middle Gangetic plains

Bachaur cattle, the only recognized cattle breed of Bihar, was studied for its role in uplifting the farmers in their breeding tract by visiting 53 villages in 5 blocks of Sitamarhi district in Bihar. The different practices of farming systems involving Bachaur cattle, socio-economic status of farmers and economics of rearing of Bachaur cattle were studied through standard questionnaire. The regression of different independent variables on the total income was calculated. The study revealed that 29.7 % of farmers possessing Bachaur cattle were practicing agriculture apart from rearing cattle. Literacy rate of Bachaur cattle owners ranged from 21.39 to 57.14% for different types of farmers. Marginal, small, semi-medium and medium farmers earned 91.40, 89.90, 86.31 and 87.22%, respectively, of their income from draught power of Bachaur cattle. Rearing of Bachaur bullocks supported the income of marginal, small and semi-medium farmers to the tune of 50.12, 48.31 and 42.66%, respectively. Regression of independent variables on income from Bachaur bullocks indicated that expenses incurred on maintenance of health and feeding of bullocks influenced the total income of farmers to a greater extent followed by money invested in purchasing Bachaur bullocks

Characteristics and performance of Bachaur cattle in the Gangetic plains of North Bihar

A field study was undertaken in 53 villages belonging to 5 blocks of Sitamarhi district of Bihar to study the morphometric and performance traits of Bachaur cattle in its breeding tract. Animals (752) of both sexes belonging to different age groups were studied. The study revealed that in Bachaur cattle, a small size breed, the height at withers, body length and chest girth were 119.23±0.47 cm, 116.99±0.48 cm and 150.88±0.55 cm in adult males and 112.53±0.25 cm, 109.71±0.25 cm and 140.46±0.32 cm in adult females, respectively. The estimated body weights of Bachaur cattle were 246.76±2.42 kg in adult males and 200.55±1.32 kg in adult females. Among the draught breeds of India, the Bachaur cows were reasonably good milkers with an average lactation yield of 752.10±5.82 kg and peak yield of 4.70±0.07 kg/ day. The breed is reported to be regular in reproduction cycle with the age at first calving and calving interval of 31.55±0.35 months and 14.44±0.22 months, respectively in its breeding tract. Bachaur cattle fulfilled the livelihood requirement of cattle farmers in the breeding tract by its draught power to a greater extent and by milk and dung to a smaller extent. The strategies for improving the performance of the cattle are discussed

Effect of shade materials on rectal temperature, respiration rate and body surface temperature of crossbred calves during rainy season

An attempt was made to study the effect of different shade materials on body surface temperature, rectal and respiration rate in Vrindavani calves during the rainy season. Crossbred calves (18) were divided into 3 group, viz. thatch shading roof with plastic covering (T1), agro-net shading roof- 60% light diffusion (T2), and asbestos with canvas shading roof (T3). The recording of macro and microclimate as well as the entire physiological parameters, viz. rectal temperature, respiration rate and body surface temperature were recorded at 9:00 and 2:00 PM for 2 consecutive days at every fortnight interval. The microclimate, viz. maximum and minimum, RH, THI and surface temperature of roof was lower in T2 group. The physiological parameters values were significantly lower in T2 group. It can be concluded that in rainy season agro-net helped to protect calves from the hot and humid condition

Experimental determination of the permeability of engineering textiles: Benchmark II

In this second international permeability benchmark, the in-plane permeability values of a carbon fabric were studied by twelve research groups worldwide. One participant also investigated the deformation of the tested carbon fabric. The aim of this work was to obtain comparable results in order to make a step toward standardization of permeability measurements. Unidirectional injections were thus conducted to determine the unsaturated in-plane permeability tensor of the fabric. Procedures used by participants were specified in the guidelines defined for this benchmark. Participants were asked to use the same values for parameters such as fiber volume fraction, injection pressure and fluid viscosity to minimize sources of scatter. The comparison of the results from each participant was encouraging. The scatter between data obtained while respecting the guidelines was below 25%. However, a higher dispersion was observed when some parameters differed from the recommendations of this exercise.The authors are grateful to J.M. Beraud from Hexcel Fabrics for his support that made possible this exercise. The contributions of J.B. Alms, N.C. Correia, S. Advani, E. Ruiz and P.C.T. Goncalves to the preparation of the guidelines document and templates are acknowledged by the participants of this benchmark.Vernet, N.; Ruiz, E.; Advani, S.; Alms, JB.; Aubert, M.; Barburski, M.; Barari, B.... (2014). Experimental determination of the permeability of engineering textiles: Benchmark II. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 61:172-184. doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2014.02.010S1721846

Effect of Single Selection Method on Woody and Herbaceous Plant Biodiversity in Khalil-Mahale Forest, Behshahr

This study was undertaken to investigate the role of forest management in tree diversity, regeneration and vegetation in control and managed parcels of series No. 1 of forestry plan in Khalil-Mahale, Behshahr. Thirty samples with an area of 1000 m2 were systematically and randomly taken with a 100 × 75 m grid in both parcels. In each plot, tree number and species type were recorded. In order to study the vegetation, five micro-plots (1 m2), one in the center and four others in four main directions (half radius from the center of the plot) were taken in each plot. The type and percentage of herbaceous species were recorded in each microplot. To count the regeneration in the center of the main plot, circular sample plots with an area of 100 m2 were used. To study and compare the biodiversity in the two plots and to calculate the richness and evenness, the Simpson and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices, Margalef and Menhinic indices and the Pilo index were used, respectively, using PAST software. The results showed that the number of plant species was more in managed plots. The biodiversity of woody and herbaceous plants richness indices and regeneration of tree species were higher in managed plots. In fact, the results showed that forest management using single selection method had different effects on woody species regeneration and diversity of herbaceous and tree species

Using Feedback Strategies in Simulated Annealing with Crystallization Heuristic and Applications

This paper represents how typical advanced engineering design can be structured using a set of parameters and objective functions corresponding to the nature of the problem. The set of parameters can be in different types, including integer, real, cyclic, combinatorial, interval, etc. Similarly, the objective function can be presented in various types including integer (discrete), float, and interval. The simulated annealing with crystallization heuristic can deal with all these combinations of parameters and objective functions when the crystallization heuristic presents a sensibility for real parameters. Herein, simulated annealing with the crystallization heuristic is enhanced by combining Bates and Gaussian distributions and by incorporating feedback strategies to emphasize exploration or refinement, or a combination of the two. The problems that are studied include solving an electrical impedance tomography problem with float parameters and a partially evaluated objective function represented by an interval requiring the solution of 32 sparse linear systems defined by the finite element method, as well as an airplane design problem with several parameters and constraints used to reduce the explored domain. The combination of the proposed feedback strategies and simulated annealing with the crystallization heuristic is compared with existing simulated annealing algorithms and their benchmark results are shown. The enhanced simulated annealing approach proposed herein showed better results for the majority of the studied cases