Agricultural Information Needs and Food Access in the Stann Creek District of Belize

The purpose of this study was to describe agricultural information sources available to farmers and to describe food access and availability for the people of Dangriga, Stann Creek, Belize. This study used descriptive survey research methods with convenience sampling of the general public (n=22) and of farmers (n = 38) in the summer of 2017. Farmers use a variety of agricultural information sources with the extension service cited most often, followed by friends and fellow farmers. Weather, lack of information, pests, and inadequate access to capital were of primary concern for farmers. Face-to-face meetings were used most often by extension officers for disseminating agricultural information. Smallholder farmers and the general public have very similar levels of food access and availability. No significant difference was foundbetween the smallholder farmers and the general public on food insecurity with both groups reporting mild to severe food insecurity. Recommendations focused on practical operational strategies for the local Department of Agriculture, as well as the Belize Ministry of Agriculture to eradicate hungerand increase overall food access and availability throughout Belize

A four year longitudinal sero-epidemiological study of bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) in adult cattle in 107 unvaccinated herds in south west England

Background: Bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) is an important pathogen of cattle that presents with a variety of clinical signs, including the upper respiratory tract infection infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR). A seroepidemiological study of BHV-1 antibodies was conducted in England from 2002 – 2004: 29,782 blood samples were taken from 15,736 cattle from 114 herds which were visited on up to three occasions. Antibody concentration was measured using a commercial ELISA. Farm management information was collected using an interview questionnaire, and herd size and cattle movements were obtained from the cattle tuberculosis testing database and the British Cattle Movement Service. Hierarchical statistical models were used to investigate associations between cattle and herd variables and the continuous outcome percentage positive (PP) values from the ELISA test in unvaccinated herds. Results: There were 7 vaccinated herds, all with at least one seropositive bovine. In unvaccinated herds 83.2% had at least one BHV-1 seropositive bovine, and the mean cattle and herd BHV-1 seroprevalence were 42.5% and 43.1% respectively. There were positive associations between PP value, age, herd size, presence of dairy cattle. Adult cattle in herds with grower cattle had lower PP values than those in herds without grower cattle. Purchased cattle had significantly lower PP values than homebred cattle, whereas cattle in herds that were totally restocked after the foot-and-mouth epidemic in 2001 had significantly higher PP values than those in continuously stocked herds. Samples taken in spring and summer had significantly lower PP values than those taken in winter, whereas those taken in autumn had significantly higher PP values than those taken in winter. The risks estimated from a logistic regression model with a binary outcome (seropositive yes/no) were similar. Conclusion: The prevalence of BHV-1 seropositivity in cattle and herds has increased since the 1970s. Although the study population prevalence of BHV-1 was temporally stable during study period, the associations between serological status and cattle age, herd size, herd type, presence of young stock and restocked versus continuously stocked herds indicate that there is heterogeneity between herds and so potential for further spread of BHV-1 within and between herds

A four year longitudinal sero-epidemiology study of Neospora caninum in adult cattle from 114 cattle herds in south west England : associations with age, herd and dam-offspring pairs

Background: Neosporosis caused by the protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, is an economically important cause of abortion, stillbirth, low milk yield, reduced weight gain and premature culling in cattle. Consequently, a seroepidemiological study of N. caninum antibodies was conducted in England with 29,782 samples of blood taken from 15,736 cattle from 114 herds visited on three occasions at yearly intervals. Herds were categorised into lower (< 10%) and higher (≥ 10%) median herd seroprevalence. Hierarchical models were run to investigate associations between the sample to positive (S/P) ratio and herd and cattle factors. Results: Ninety-four percent of herds had at least one seropositive cow; 12.9% of adult cattle had at least one seropositive test. Approximately 90% of herds were seropositive at all visits; 9 herds (8%) changed serological status between visits. The median N. caninum seroprevalence in positive herds was 10% (range 0.4% to 58.8%). There was a positive association between the serostatus of offspring and dams that were ever seropositive. In the hierarchical model of low seroprevalence herds there was no significant association between S/P ratio and cattle age. There was a significantly lower S/P ratio in cattle in herds that were totally restocked after the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2001 compared with those from continuously stocked herds and cattle purchased into these herds had a higher S/P ratio than homebred cattle. In the model of high seroprevalence herds the S/P ratio increased with cattle age, but was not associated with restocking or cattle origin. Conclusion: There were no strong temporal changes in herd seroprevalence of N. caninum but 90% of herds had some seropositive cattle over this time period. Vertical transmission from seropositive dams appeared to occur in all herds. In herds with a high seroprevalence the increasing S/P ratio in 2–4 year old cattle is suggestive of exposure to N. caninum: horizontal transmission between adult cattle, infection from a local source or recrudescence and abortions. Between-herd movements of infected cattle enhance the spread of N. caninum, particularly into low seroprevalence herds. Some restocked herds had little exposure to N. caninum, while in others infection had spread in the time since restocking

The impact of limiting long term illness on internal migration in England and Wales: New evidence from census microdata

Previous research has suggested that poor health is associated with reduced migration; this knowledgestems from models based on past censuses, or longitudinal studies which imply that the factors influencing migration are the same between those in good and poor health. This paper addresses these issuesby utilising health-stratified analyses on the 2011 Census Individual Secure Sample for England and Wales.Multilevel models predict the odds of moving for working age adults, controlling for key predictors of migration, estimating the effect of health status on the odds of moving and the destination specific variance in migration. We find that those in poor health are less likely to move, after controlling for individual level characteristics. In contrast with expectations, economic inactivity, marriage and being in African, Caribbean, Black, Other or Mixed ethnic groups were not significant predictors ofmigration among the unhealthy sample, but were for the healthy sample. We conclude that migration is health-selective and propose implications for understanding area level concentrations of poor health in England and Wales

Through the past into the future: Jean-François Bill - pastor, activist, theologian 8 July 1934 -12 March 2005

Jean- François Bill was a significant church leader of the second half of the twentieth century. He was born, raised and educated in South Africa, and he lived, worked and died in South Africa. He possessed a multi-cultural identity. He had a rare academic ability but was no academic recluse. His varied and intensive ministry was marked by committed, responsible, constructive engagement. He was a convinced yet reasonable ecumenist with a powerful social conscience who offered a great deal to the field of theological education. He had a vision of a responsible church which was responsible in a practical way by working through the live issues of the day. This would be a church which would strive for authentic unity and be the leaven in the lump of the world.http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=19577am2017Science of Religion and Missiolog

Baitshop Survey Report 2008: With a focus on the supply and demand for bait-worms in South Australia

Recreational fishing is an increasingly popular hobby both locally and globally. This rise in popularity has increased the global demand for bait and has resulted in a higher demand for bait-worms than can be supplied. Bait-worms are a highly valued resource with a price tag, which is often higher per kg than that of human food. Evidence from overseas indicates that recently three main avenues have been adopted to fill this deficit 1) the culture of bait-worms, 2) the importation of live or preserved bait-worms or 3) by increasing the intensity of wild harvest (which has led to the development of a black market in Europe). None of these avenues has thus far proven sufficient to meet the current bait-worm deficit. Australia is currently mirroring the worldwide bait-worm situation, but to a much lesser extent, so is in the enviable position of being able to address the issue before it becomes dire, as has occurred in many parts of Europe and the USA. Of the three main avenues attempted overseas, only two realistic options are available for Australia and indeed South Australia as our strict quarantine laws preclude the importation of live bait-worms. The two remaining options are to increase the intensity of wild harvest and/or to culture bait-worms. There appears little chance of increasing commercial wild harvest for various reasons discussed in this report, so the development of a culture industry may be the most viable means of addressing the bait-worm deficit. Before considering the development of such an industry, it is imperative, and pertinent, to assess the current and potential markets for both live and preserved bait-worms within South Australia to assess the need for the end product. To this end, a survey was developed, distributed and the findings reported here. This survey was distributed to 92 retailers and 25 (27%) surveys were returned.This survey has identified that: • there is likely to be a market for aquaculture derived worms: 64% of baitshop owners would use a regular source of live worms with >85% of shop owners may prefer cultured worms to wild harvested • approximately 73% of anglers buy their worms from baitshops - which could equate to approximately 225,000 South Australian recreational anglers based on the 2000 - 2001 SA regional version of the National Recreational and Indigenous Fisheries Survey and ~$100 million of funds for fishing related expenses • the responding baitshop owners estimated potential sales of live worms was approximately 1.25 tonnes in the first year. The survey respondent’s sales accounted for only 15% of the total wild harvested bait–worms in the year surveyed, so the above estimate is probably conservative. The potential sales for preserved bait-worms was not assessed