Interrelatedness of grazing livestock with vegetation parameters and farmers’ livelihoods in the Mahafaly region, southwestern Madagascar

The study aims to get deeper insight into the highly extensive system of animal husbandry in the Mahafaly region of southwestern Madagascar. It tries to understand the major drivers for pastoral dynamics, land and resource use along a gradient in altitude and vegetation to consider the area’s high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The study also analyzes the reproductive performance of local livestock as well as the owners’ culling strategies to determine herd dynamics, opportunities for economic growth, and future potential for rural development. Across seasons, plateau herds from both livestock species covered longer distances (cattle 13.6±3.02 km, goats 12.3±3.48 km) and were found further away from the settlements (cattle 3.1±0.96 km, goats 2.8±0.98 km) than those from the coastal plain (walking_dist: cattle 9.5±3.25 km, goats 9.2±2.57 km; max_dist: cattle 2.6±1.28 km, goats 1.8±0.61 km). Transhumant cattle were detected more vulnerable through limited access to pasture land and water resources compared to local herds. Seasonal water shortage has been confirmed as a key constraint on the plateau while livestock keeping along the coast is more limited by dry season forage availability. However, recent security issues and land use conflicts with local crop farmers are gaining importance and force livestock owners to adapt their traditional grazing management, resulting in spatio-temporal variation of livestock numbers and in the impending risk of local overgrazing and degradation of rangelands. Among the 133 plant species consumed by livestock, 13 were determined of major importance for the animals’ nutrition. The nutritive value and digestibility of the natural forage, as well as its abundance in the coastal zone, substantially decreased over the course of the dry season and emphasized the importance of supplementary forage plants, in particular Euphorbia stenoclada. At the same time, an unsustainable utilization and overexploitation of its wild stocks may raise the pressure on the vegetation and pasture resources within the nearby Tsimanampetsotsa National Park. Age at first parturition was 40.5±0.59 months for cattle and 21.3±0.63 months for goats. Both species showed long parturition intervals (cattle 24.2±0.48 months, goats 12.4±0.30 months), mostly due to the maintenance of poorly performing breeding females within the herds. Reported offspring mortality, however, was low with 2.5% of cattle and 18.8% of goats dying before reaching maturity. The analysis of economic information revealed higher than expected market dynamics, especially for zebus, resulting in annual contribution margins of 33 € per cattle unit and 11 € per goat unit. The application of the PRY Herd Life model to simulate herd development for present management and two alternate scenarios confirmed the economic profitability of the current livestock system and showed potential for further productive and economic development. However, this might be clearly limited by the region’s restricted carrying capacity. Summarizing, this study illustrates the highly extensive and resources-driven character of the livestock system in the Mahafaly region, with herd mobility being a central element to cope with seasonal shortages in forage and water. But additional key drivers and external factors are gaining importance and increasingly affect migration decisions and grazing management. This leads to an increased risk of local overgrazing and overexploitation of natural pasture resources and intensifies the tension between pastoral and conservation interests. At the same time, it hampers the region’s agronomic development, which has not yet been fully exploited. The situation therefore demonstrates the need for practical improvement suggestions and implication measures, such as the systematic forestation of supplemental forage plant species in the coastal zone or a stronger integration of animal husbandry and crop production, to sustain the traditional livestock system without compromising peoples’ livelihoods while at the same time minimizing the pastoral impact on the area’s unique nature and environment.

Heat stress response for physiological traits in dairy and dual purpose cattle populations on phenotypic and genetic scales

The main objective of this thesis was to determine the potential impact of heat stress (HS) on physiological traits of lactating cows and semen quality of bulls kept in a temperate climate. The thesis is comprised of three studies. An innovative statistical modeling aspect common to all three studies was the application of random regression methodology (RRM) to study the phenotypic and genetic trajectory of traits in dependency of a continuous temperature humidity index (THI). In the first study, semen quality and quantity traits of 562 Holstein sires kept on an AI station in northwestern Germany were analyzed in the course of THI calculated from data obtained from the nearest weather station. Heat stress was identified based on a decline in semen quality and quantity parameters. The identified general HS threshold (THI = 60) and the thermoneutal zone (THI in the range from 50 to 60) for semen production were lower than detected in studies conducted in tropical and subtropical climates. Even though adult bulls were characterized by higher semen productivity compared to younger bulls, they responded with a stronger semen production loss during harsh environments. Heritabilities (low to moderate range) and additive genetic variances of semen characteristics varied with different levels of THI. Also, based on genetic correlations genotype, by environment interactions were detected. Taken together, these findings suggest the application of specific selection strategies for specific climate conditions. In the second study, the effect of the continuous environmental descriptor THI as measured inside the barns on rectal temperatures (RT), skin temperatures (ST), vaginal temperatures (VT), respiration rates (RR), and pulse rate (PR) of lactating Holstein Friesian (HF) and dual-purpose German black pied cattle (DSN) was analyzed. Increasing HS from THI 65 (threshold) to THI 86 (maximal THI) resulted in an increase of RT by 0.6 °C (DSN) and 1 °C (HF), ST by 3.5 °C (HF) and 8 °C (DSN), VT by 0.3 °C (DSN), and RR by 47 breaths / minute (DSN), and decreased PR by 7 beats / minute (DSN). The undesired effects of rising THI on physiological traits were most pronounced for cows with high levels of milk yield and milk constituents, cows in early days in milk and later parities, and during summer seasons in the year 2014. In the third study of this dissertation, the genetic components of the cow’s physiological responses to HS were investigated. Heat stress was deduced from indoor THI measurements, and physiological traits were recorded on native DSN cows and their genetically upgraded crosses with Holstein Friesian sires in two experimental herds from pasture-based production systems reflecting a harsh environment of the northern part of Germany. Although heritabilities were in a low range (from 0.018 to 0.072), alterations of heritabilities, repeatabilities, and genetic components in the course of THI justify the implementation of genetic evaluations including heat stress components. However, low repeatabilities indicate the necessity of using repeated records for measuring physiological traits in German cattle. Moderate EBV correlations between different trait combinations indicate the potential of selection for one trait to simultaneously improve the other physiological attributes. In conclusion, bulls of AI centers and lactating cows suffer from HS during more extreme weather conditions also in the temperate climate of Northern Germany. Monitoring physiological traits during warm and humid conditions could provide precious information for detection of appropriate times for implementation of cooling systems and changes in feeding and management strategies. Subsequently, the inclusion of these physiological traits with THI specific breeding values into overall breeding goals could contribute to improving cattle adaptability by selecting the optimal animal for extreme hot and humid conditions. Furthermore, the recording of meteorological data in close distance to the cow and visualizing the surface body temperature by infrared thermography techniques might be helpful for recognizing heat tolerance and adaptability in cattle.

Aplicación de gestión y web para un criadero-residencia canino.

El objetivo de este proyecto es implementar un sitio Web i un programa gestor de datos para el criadero/residencia canino De La Serranía (Madrid). Gracias al desarrollo de esta aplicación y del sitio Web se conseguirá que el cliente suprima el uso de todo el papel utilizado anteriormente para guardar la información relativa a clientes, animales y entradas a la residencia, podrá controlar la ocupación de la residencia y generar automáticamente las facturas, crear automáticamente árboles genealógicos de todos los ejemplares registrados, mejorar el rendimiento del criadero gracias a la opción que controla los datos de cría de cada animal: fecha de monta, fecha de parto, resultados de cada parto, etc. y controlar los gastos y ganancias de la empresa

Descobrint l'univers animal : nous aprenentatges i valors. 'Descubriendo el universo animal : nuevos aprendizajes y valores'.

resumen basado en el de la publicación

El devenir animal en la construcción del territorio. Aproximación deleuzeana al enunciado “yo soy jaguar"

La composición de realidad indígena consolida procesos de individuación en los que la dinámica del devenir circunscribe afectos al ámbito social. Ante la emergencia de problemáticas sociales, el devenir puebla de sentido el saber y el hacer, en función de la continuidad y permanencia de dicho saber. Esta dinámica se evidencia en la construcción de territorio a través de la circulación y sentido del enunciado “yo soy jaguar”, expresado por los sabedores de diversas comunidades amerindias. Este texto problematizará la experiencia del sabedor a través de conceptos centrales de la obra de Gilles Deleuze.

Animal Biosafety Level 1 Training Video

This training video is intended to familiarise researchers and technicians working with Hazard Group 1 pathogens in Containment Level 1 animal facilities. It is in Flash video format which will require a free media player such as VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) to watch.

Animal Biosafety Level 3 Training Video

This training video is intended to familiarise researchers and technicians working with Hazard Group 3 pathogens in Containment Level 3 animal facilities. It is in Flash video format which will require a free media player such as VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) to watch.

Animal Biosafety Level 2 Training Video

This training video is intended to familiarise researchers and technicians working with Hazard Group 2 pathogens in Containment Level 2 animal facilities. It is in Flash video format which will require a free media player such as VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) to watch.

Animal Biosafety Risk Assessment and Management Training Video

This training video is intended to familiarise researchers and technicians working in animal containment facilities with appropriate risk assessment and risk management systems. It is in Windows Media Video format which will require a free media player such as Windows Media Player or VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) to watch.

De la inutilidad del proyecto "gran simio" y de la vigencia de liberación animal

En esta monografía se expondrá detalladamente en un primer capítulo la teoría de los Actos de habla de John Searle, que nos ayudarán a dilucidar las leyes detrás del lenguaje. Además en este mismo capítulo se tratará de probar la existencia de los Acto de Habla en el lenguaje de señas de los sordomudos para luego, en un segundo capítulo, aplicar esta teoría de los Actos de Habla a los experimentos de enseñarle este lenguaje de señas a simios. Si se logra probar que los simios en realidad no usan este lenguaje de señas para comunicarse entonces se podrá al descubrimiento la inutilidad del Proyecto "Gran Simio", por lo que en el tercer capítulo, se verá la necesidad de un movimiento de defensa de los animales y se rescatará la importancia de Liberación Animal

Miotragus : un animal desconegut. 'Miotragus : un animal desconocido'.

Se presenta, mediante un cuento, la historia del Miotragus, una especie extinguida parecida, según los científicos, a las cabras. El cuento trata diversos aspectos de este animal tan desconocido como son: los fósiles que han permitido su conocimiento, los primeros estudios sobre el Miotragus en manos de la naturalista Dorothea Bate, su nombre, las características como mamífero, su descripción física (interna y externa), el tipo de vida que desarrollaron en las Islas y su extinción y desaparición. Finalmente se presentan una serie de actividades de ampliación y un pequeño glosario.

Quinta Internacional : el animal que nos viene.

En la obra de Thomas Gründfeld se propone una visión irónica del monstruo, entendido como la excepción del resto; de un cruce genético casi imposible surgen seres reales por medio del taxidermista que convulsioná así nuestra idea de zoología y del propio universo. Andreas Schulze antepone lo lúdico a la razón, para jugar con la ambivalencia y conseguir mantenerse sin llegar a ser ni figurativo ni abstracto. La obra de ambos autores recogida en esta 'V Internacional: el animal que nos viene' ha sido expuesta en Santa Cruz de Tenerife y en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Accidentes por agresión animal atendidos en el Hospital Centro Oriente E.S.E. de Bogotá 2002 - 2003

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de los accidentes por agresión animal atendidos en el Hospital Centro Oriente E.S.E. de Bogotá, D.C. durante los años 2002 y 2003, con el objetivo de caracterizar clínica y epidemiológicamente los pacientes que consultaron por este evento. La población estudio fue 338 pacientes atendidos en las diferentes Unidades Asistenciales por accidentes causados por animales 46% (n=154) en el 2002 y 54% (n=184) en el 2003, encontrando el mayor porcentaje de ocurrencia en el grupo etáreo de 5 – 9 años, (11%, n =17 y 13%, n =23), predominando el género masculino con 64% (n = 99) en el 2002 y 55% (n =102) en el 2003.

El creyente religioso como un animal esperanzado: Wittgenstein y la creencia religiosa

Este trabajo pretende hacer una terapia, propia de la metodología sugerida por el segundo Wittgenstein, respecto de la visión que sostiene a la creencia religiosa como una creencia cuyo contenido es empírico, proponiendo que dicha visión debe ser disuelta y dando como posibilidad en cambio una nueva analogía que lleve a su comprensión a través de contextos de esperanza.