Analysis of the milking work on "Serrana" goat farms in NE Portugal, in order to improve goat breeding and milk production, in this region

The “Serrana” goat is the leading Portuguese local breed and it is generally bred to produce milk for cheese-making. Besides, the "Serrana" goat is largely predominant in the northeastern region of Portugal. In this region, the farms on which the Serrana goat is raised are small, with small flocks raised according to extensive systems and they rarely have suitable milking facilities. Mostly, goats are hand-milked inside the shelters in which they are housed during the night. As a result of actions carried out over the recent years involving strategies to improve milking conditions on goat farms in the region, some breeders adopted mechanical milking. Presently, there are very few farms with milking machines. Milking parlors are in very reduced number and usually, goats are placed on a platform and milked by small-scale milking machines (mobile/portable machines). For these breeders, mechanical milking is a new technology, they are inexperienced and they lack knowledge about the correct use of these machines and best milking practices. The main objectives of this work were to identify milking practices on farms with mechanical milking; to analyze milker's procedures and activities; and to study work organization during goat milking. The study allows us to identify problems and to think about ways to tackle them, as well as to propose changes that should be recommended. ANCRAS (Serrana breeder's association) intends to encourage breeders to adopt mechanical milking, aiming to improve working conditions and milk quality. Therefore, it contributes to improvement in goat production and the development in rural areas.Milking was studied on six goat farms (ANCRAS affiliate) that used milking machines. We collected data about the conditions of the place where milking is carried out, the equipment used and work organization. Milking procedures were recorded on video with a digital camera. Later, video recordings were studied with appropriate software in order to identify milking practices, to analyze working organization and to identify activities and procedures performed by milkers. After that, we identified the problems and deficiencies that occurred during milking work.Observing milking work we can say that there are significant differences among goat farms studied. There are milkers with different working methods and different work organization. On several farms, it is possible to verify the poor adaptation to new technologies (mechanical milking) and the lack of knowledge about good practices required by this type of milking method. The main problems and deficiencies identified have to do with the cleanliness and disinfection of the teats and udder. Other times, they concern handling and controlling goats, or the way work is organized

Problemas e dificuldades no acesso e disponibilidade de energia nas instalações de caprinos de leite em Trás-os-Montes

O licenciamento de instalações de caprinos está sujeita a normativos decorrentes de legislação nacional e de regulamentos e posturas municipais, que condicionam a sua localização. As instalações isoladas e afastadas das localidades têm dificuldade no acesso à rede eléctrica pública, principalmente pelo custo associado à sua ligação. A indisponibilidade de energia é um factor limitante ao crescimento e desenvolvimento da produção caprina. O acesso a energia é importante para conseguir condições adequadas para a realização de alguns trabalhos como distribuição de alimentos e ordenha. Nas explorações de caprinos de leite, a ordenha é uma operação de grande importância pois dela depende o rendimento da exploração e a qualidade dos produtos obtidos (por exemplo, o queijo). Para a implantação e divulgação da ordenha mecânica é necessário que as instalações tenham ligação à rede de energia eléctrica ou disponham de outra fonte de energia que permita a utilização dos equipamentos de ordenha. Mesmo na ordenha manual, a hora e tempo de ordenha está condicionada pela iluminação disponível (natural ou outra). Para este trabalho, foram consideradas todas as explorações de associados da ANCRAS dos concelhos de Alfândega da Fé, Alijó, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela, Mogadouro e Murça, na região de Trás-os-Montes. Foram estudadas as formas de energia disponíveis e a sua utilização, principalmente nas explorações que praticam ordenha mecânica. Estudaram-se, também, os custos associados ao acesso e utilização da energia nas diferentes situações. Os dados já analisados permitem concluir que a grande maioria das explorações de caprinos de leite da região de Trás-os-Montes não dispõe de energia eléctrica nas suas instalações. Os custos de ligação à rede eléctrica são demasiado elevados para a capacidade de investimento das explorações de caprinos da região. A necessidade básica de iluminação é, geralmente, assegurada por equipamentos portáteis de vários tipos, maioritariamente por lanternas de mão (a pilhas) e, muitas vezes, por velas de cera. Este tipo de iluminação não é a mais adequada para a realização dos trabalhos de distribuição de alimentos e ordenha. É necessário encontrar soluções ou alternativas para a disponibilidade de energia nas instalações de caprinos de leite, tendo em conta as condições económicas e possibilidades financeiras dos criadores da regiã

Waste identification diagrams

CLME'2011 / IIICEM – 6º Congresso Luso-Moçambicano de Engenharia - 3º Congresso de Engenharia de Moçambique Maputo, 29Ago - 2Set 2011 - Edições INEGI 2011, (ISBN: 978-972-8826-24-6), Ref: CLME’2011_0912AThe most popular and perhaps the most effective way to represent the material flow in production units is the diagram known as Value Stream Map (VSM). Moreover these maps are also used to help in the identification of waste as well as a tool to support continuous improvement. Nevertheless, many of VSM limitations are known and thus there is room for the creation of other more effective ways to represent productive units as well as helping the identification of production waste. This paper presents a new graphic representation model for production units, as a tool to identify three forms of waste, designated as Waste Identification Diagram (WID), which aims to provide information to top managers in a much more effective format. The WID is a network of blocks and arrows, showing visually the throughput times, idle capacity, transport effort, changeover times and work-in-process levels. To illustrate the main features of this new tool, the paper includes a WID of a real production unity

The potential of organisations' SWOT diagnostic assessment

UIDB/04647/2020 UIDP/04647/2020The need to demonstrate high organisational efficiency has become central. In this context, organisational assessment becomes a critical element, although the specificities of each organisation are indisputable and have to be considered in their assessment. This paper aims to reflect on a specific type of diagnostic assessment - SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) - in its potential, implementation and limitations and, thus, to add to the analysis of organisations. For this purpose, the methodology used was based on the researchers' reflection and discussion of an empirical process of organisational diagnosis. The results of this reflection allow concluding that the SWOT diagnostic assessment needs to incorporate, in its systematic analysis, a prospective dimension to improve its efficiency in organisational strategy.publishersversionpublishe

The Importance of Smart Education for Smart Societies

UIDB/04647/2020 UIDP/04647/2020 UIDB/00757/2020Digital society is already a reality and is increasingly shaping many aspects of social, economic and political life, among other aspects. The concept of Society 5.0 is a proposed form of a possible political nature to fulfil this digital society through a super-smart society. Based on document analysis of articles and books on this topic, this conceptual paper aims to critically discuss some aspects of Society 5.0, such as the dimensions of digitalization and sustainability. It is concluded that Society 5.0 is not an inevitability, and that the transformations it entails, as well as its advantages, also have challenges and limitations that should be considered, such as the risk of reproducing old forms of micro, meso and macrosocial inequalities within each country and between countries and regions, and, at the same time, creating new forms of social, cultural, economic and political inequalities, among others. A critical spirit seems to be necessary in the follow-up of this Society 5.0 and for which citizen-science logic, in an interdisciplinary way, can potentially provide tools for previous and prospective analysis of its implementation. We justify the need for smart education in these smart societies as a way of contributing to responding to the pressing problem of sustainability. It is smart education in and for a super smart society.publishersversionpublishe

Lifecycle Assessment of Different Constructive Solutions in Aggressive Maritime Environments - Application to the Viaduct of the Oil Terminal of the Port of Leixões

The maritime environment is one of the most aggressive for infrastructures. This type of exposure affects severely the durability of any infrastructure, if proper preventive measures are not taken into account. In the construction of new structures one of the most important factors to take into account is the ratio cost / durability. This way, it is intended to make a study of two different structural solutions, as well as an analysis of their life cycles, for the viaduct of the oil tanker terminal of port of Leixões, in Portugal, since the current structure has reached the end of its life cycle after 50 years. It will be then designed a solution of precast and pre-stressed reinforced concrete beams with a reinforced concrete slab, and another solution with steel beams with a reinforced concrete slab. The new structure will be designed according to current regulations, which are developed in a way that such structures should reach a service life of 100 years. It is expected that this study will be able to provide a solution that is economically viable for the replacement of the viaduct, and where it is possible to reach the expected life time of 100 years with the lowest possible cost(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dance is for all: A social marketing intervention with children and adolescents to reduce prejudice towards boys who dance

Dance is proven to offer a myriad of physical, psychological, and social benefits. However, because dance has been frequently perceived as a feminine practice, there is a prevailing prejudice towards boys who dance, making it hard for them to engage in this physical activity. Social marketing has been presented as a promising framework to deal with different social problems, including prejudice, although its effectiveness is still difficult to establish. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a quasi-experimental study involving a sample of 436 children and adolescents, composed of 51.38% boys and 48.62% girls was implemented to measure the effectiveness of a Social Marketing Intervention (SMI) in reducing prejudice towards dance and boys who dance, in particular, and in increasing their intentions to practice this physical activity. The study furthermore aimed to compare the influence of the SMI on participants of two different stages of child development to ascertain when it is most effective to intervene. The questionnaire was used to collect information and included items derived from relevant literature. To assess differences between children and adolescents before and after the SMI, the analysis relied on independent t-tests and paired t-tests. Results suggest positive effects of the SMI on some dimensions of the TPB.The authors would like to thank the board of the schools that collaborated in the implementation of the research, as well as all the teachers, children and adolescents and their parents/legal guardians that participated in the study or helped in its implementation

Quantitative analysis of PIN choices: a contribution to the establishment of authentication requirements

The authentication using a PIN number remains one of the most used ways to enter a system (mobile phone, ATM, etc.). Many people seem to dislike this form of authentication because they simply despise their use, placing unsafe PINs just because they have to put some. Some relevant results are the combination 1234, the combinations using only one digit (example: 1111), or the central line of the numerical keypad. On the other hand there is some understanding because it is proven that remember strong passwords is a difficult task for humans, and the tendency is to choose the simplest ones. This research had a sample of 497 participants and aimed to understand the preferred choice of the participants in relation to the number of digits used for a PIN number (a choice between four and/or six digits) and realized the amount of times that each of the available digits was used. To this end it was developed a web-based tool for entering the data. This application was intended only to the data collection process, being the information processed further. Through this application, the user was asked to enter four and/or six-digit PINs. The method does not raise any doubt on the participants, which were informed about the anonymity and confidentiality of the data, and never they were asked to identify themselves. Participants were asked to use the PINs that they normally use in other contexts. With the analysis of the data it was possible to understand the distribution of digits per position in a PIN, check which digits is more/less used in each position, and check which digit is more/less used regardless of its position. Among the conclusions it appears that the layout of the numeric keypad of the system influence the PIN choice.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope UID/CEC/00319/201