This study investigated the effect of credit constraints and credit unconstraints on the technical efficiency of hybrid maize growers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province(KPK) of Pakistan. The primary data were collecte...This study investigated the effect of credit constraints and credit unconstraints on the technical efficiency of hybrid maize growers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province(KPK) of Pakistan. The primary data were collected by a direct elicitation method from 510 maize growers of KPK Province. Stochastic frontier model techniques were used for technical efficiency analyses. The results revealed that the mean technical efficiency difference between the two groups was 10.2%. The results of technical inefficiency effect modeling demonstrated that education of the household head, family size, number of married family members, off-farm income, farming experience, tractor drill, water irrigation through a lined course, certified seed, extension services, household saving variables, and a credit size variable had positive effects on technical efficiency for both credit constrained farmers(CCFs) and credit unconstrained farmers(UCCFs). In addition, age of household head and fragmented land values had negative effects on technical efficiency for both groups. However, the interest rate had positive and negative impacts on the technical efficiency of CCFs and UCCFs, respectively. Our results have significant implications for policies related to land use, interest rate, and banking sector expansion in the rural areas of Pakistan.展开更多
Background: Supplementation of feed with long-chain fatty acids(LCFAs) during the grower and finisher phases has long been discussed as a growth promotion strategy in pigs, but its effects are inconsistent. The purpos...Background: Supplementation of feed with long-chain fatty acids(LCFAs) during the grower and finisher phases has long been discussed as a growth promotion strategy in pigs, but its effects are inconsistent. The purpose of our study was to comprehensively evaluate its effects on the growth performance based on the average daily gain(ADG), average daily feed intake(ADFI) and gain: feed(G:F) ratio and to unveil the roles of the basal diet, LCFA concentration and LCFA saturation.Results: We searched the Pub Med and Web of Science databases(articles published from Jan 1 st, 2000, to Sep 30 th,2018;restricted to English) and compared LCFA-supplemented diets with control diets. We retrieved 2346 studies, 18 of which(1314 pigs, 26 records) were eligible for our analysis. We used a random-effects model to calculate the weighted mean differences(WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs). LCFA supplementation in the grower-finisher phase improved the ADG(WMD = 41.74 g/d, 95% CI: 8.81 to 74.66, P = 0.013) and G:F ratio(WMD = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.032, P = 0.003). For supplementation solely in the finisher phase, we found a similar performance in the ADG(WMD = 39.93 g/d, 95% CI: 26.48 to 53.38, P < 0.001) and G:F ratio(WMD = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.032, P < 0.001) but a reduction in the ADFI(WMD =-83.863 g/d, 95% CI:-156.157 to-11.569, P = 0.023). Specifically, approximately 5%LCFA supplementation in the finisher phase had significant effects on the ADG(WMD = 51.385 g/d, 95% CI: 35.816 to66.954, P < 0.001), ADFI(WMD =-102.869 g/d, 95% CI:-189.236 to-16.502, P = 0.02) and G:F ratio(WMD = 0.028, 95%CI: 0.018 to 0.039, P < 0.001), whereas a concentration of approximately 1% exhibited no effects.Conclusions: Overall, regardless of the basal diet and saturation, LCFA supplementation greatly improves the growth performance of grower and finisher pigs, primarily by increasing the energy density.展开更多
Background:We hypothesized that supplementation of nursery and grower pig diets with coconut oil in the absence of antibiotics would yield maintenance of glucose homeostasis,growth performance,and immune function simi...Background:We hypothesized that supplementation of nursery and grower pig diets with coconut oil in the absence of antibiotics would yield maintenance of glucose homeostasis,growth performance,and immune function similar to what is achieved with nursery and grower pig diets containing antibiotics.Pigs received the same base treatment diets from d24(weaning)to d71 of age and had blood and fecal samples collected on d24,d31,d45 and d71 for measurement of whole blood glucose,serum insulin,cortisol and cytokines,and fecal microbiome.Pigs had weekly weights and daily feed consumption measured throughout the study.Animals were euthanized at d71 and subcutaneous fat and ileal contents were collected for assessment for fatty acids and microbiome,respectively.Diet treatments consisted of 2%soybean oil plus antibiotics(ABX;n=22),2%soybean oil without antibiotics(NABX;n=22),and 2%coconut oil without antibiotics(COC;n=22).Statistical analysis examined the effect of diet within each timepoint using a repeated measures ANOVA.Results:Pigs fed COC diet had decreased serum insulin levels,maintained feed intake,feed conversion and weight gain,and,based on serum cytokines and fecal microbiome,were immunologically similar to ABX-fed pigs.However,NABX-fed pigs performed similarly to the ABX-fed pigs in all parameters except for serum cytokines.Additionally,there was no difference in the incidence of diarrhea between any of the diet treatments.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that dietary antibiotics are not necessary to maintain growth performance in nursery and grower pigs.However,dietary antibiotics appear to modulate circulating cytokine levels.Dietary coconut oil is neither harmful nor helpful to growth performance or immune function in nursery and grower pigs but does modulate serum insulin levels.Therefore,while coconut oil fed at 2%by weight is a suitable substitute for dietary antibiotics,this study suggests that no substitute for dietary antibiotics is needed at all.展开更多
This article conducts empirical analysis of rice growers' behavior of productive capital input and the influencing factors,using the input-output survey data concerning rice growing by 305 peasant households in 20...This article conducts empirical analysis of rice growers' behavior of productive capital input and the influencing factors,using the input-output survey data concerning rice growing by 305 peasant households in 2009 in Huanan County and Huachuan County,Jiamusi City,Heilongjiang Province.I use Logit model to carry out econometric test of factors influencing the possibility of fixed productive investment.The test results show that family size,the proportion of non-agricultural employment,the average educational level of households,farmland area,household farming income,credit level,peasant households' expectation of the minimum purchase price of rice,have significant effect on whether to conduct fixed productive investment,whether there are disasters has no significant effect on the scale of peasant households' productive investment.Then I use Tobit model to carry out econometric test of factors influencing the scale of productive capital input.The results show that family size,the proportion of non-agricultural employment,the average educational level of households,farmland area,household farming income,credit level and family housing value,peasant households' expectation of the minimum purchase price of rice,whether there are disasters,have significant effect on the scale of peasant households' productive investment.On the basis of model test results,in order to promote the rice growers to increase fixed productive input and increase productive capital input,rational recommendations are put forward as follows:raising the minimum purchase price of rice,scaling up rice growing,making every effort to promote the educational level of rice growers,ensuring that the rice growers obtain productive capital input loans timely.展开更多
A total of 216 survey interviews were completed in the orchards of the Aksu Region and the outskirts of Korla City, in October, 2009. The questionnaire was structured around fruit growers＇ opinions about insect pest ...A total of 216 survey interviews were completed in the orchards of the Aksu Region and the outskirts of Korla City, in October, 2009. The questionnaire was structured around fruit growers＇ opinions about insect pest management, bird conservation and included brief profiles of the growers＇ social background. The results showed that pest management was a great concern to all types of orchard growers and more than half of them would like to attract more birds to their orchards. The age, income level, education level and the orchard type of the fruit growers had significant effects on their opinions about bird protection.展开更多
Based on the survey data of major grain growers in Jiaojiang District,we make a thorough inquiry into the current situation and various problems concerning major grain growers in this district,explore the factors that...Based on the survey data of major grain growers in Jiaojiang District,we make a thorough inquiry into the current situation and various problems concerning major grain growers in this district,explore the factors that affect major grain growers' operation behavior,and set forth corresponding countermeasures for solving these problems and promoting further development.展开更多
The tobacco growers with the growing area of greater than or equal to 100 mu,have become an important subject of tobacco production in Weng'an County of Guizhou Province. Regulating and developing the production a...The tobacco growers with the growing area of greater than or equal to 100 mu,have become an important subject of tobacco production in Weng'an County of Guizhou Province. Regulating and developing the production and business activities of large-scale tobacco growers, plays an important role in stabilizing tobacco production,reducing costs and increasing efficiency in Weng'an County. Through the field survey of large-scale growers' production activities,this article analyzes the input and output levels,and explores the key factors influencing benefit, in order to provide a basis for further regulating the tobacco growing practices and improving the flue-cured tobacco production benefit.展开更多
Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was c...Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was conducted among 60 mango farmers in 7 districts in Sierra Leone between June and August, 2022, to assess their perceptions regarding fruit fly pest status and the current management options adopted for the control of this pest. Semi-structured questions designed in an open and closed-ended fashion were used for the study. The majority (83%) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 62% perceiving it to be very severe. The majority (60%) of farmers, however, demonstrated poor knowledge of identifying fruit fly species, especially Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra. Farmers were more conversant about the direct damage symptoms to host fruits and the economic impact of fruit flies. A total of 32% of growers took no action to control fruit flies on their farms. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the farmers adopted cultural control measures, like practicing prompt harvesting, collection and disposal of infested fruits, and weeding to maintain better sanitary conditions on their farms. Recommended fruit fly management strategies such as the use of botanicals and resistant varieties were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of 52% applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through extension agents that are appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their management.展开更多
Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of benzoic acid on the growth performance of nursery and grower-finisher pigs. A randomized complete block design was used in both experiments with the initia...Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of benzoic acid on the growth performance of nursery and grower-finisher pigs. A randomized complete block design was used in both experiments with the initial body weight as the blocking factor. There were 3 treatments corresponding to 3 dietary levels of benzoic acid: 0, 0.3%, and 0.5%. In experiment 1, a total of 144 PIC L1050 barrows(initial body weight 7.1 ± 0.6 kg) were used with each treatment replicated 8 times. In experiment 2, a total of 288 PIC L1050 barrows(initial body weight 36.1 ± 3.6 kg) were used with each treatment replicated 16 times.There were 6 barrows in each replicate pen for both experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 lasted 28 and 70 days, respectively. In experiment 1, average daily gain(ADG) of all growth phases increased linearly(P < 0.05) with increasing supplementation of benzoic acid, which led to a linear improvement in average body weight on d 28(P < 0.05). There was also an improvement in feed conversion ratio(FCR) of d 0 to 14(linear effect: P < 0.05) and in average daily feed intake(ADFI) of d 14 to 28 and d 0 to 28(linear effect:P < 0.01). In experiment 2, ADG during d 0 to 35 and d 35 to 70 and average body weight on d 35 improved linearly(P < 0.05) with increasing supplementation of benzoic acid. Average daily gain of d 0 to70 and average body weight on d 70 increased significantly in a both linear and quadratic manner. There was a linear improvement in FCR in all growth phases(P < 0.05). In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of benzoic acid at the supplementation levels of 0.3% and 0.5% significantly improved the growth performance of nursery and grower-finisher pigs in the current study; the nursery pigs responded to the dietary supplementation of benzoic acid up to 0.5% linearly while the grower-finisher pigs achieved the optimal ADG at the calculated supplementation level of 0.36%.展开更多
基金sponsored by the National Natural Social Science Foundation of China (71573211)
文摘This study investigated the effect of credit constraints and credit unconstraints on the technical efficiency of hybrid maize growers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province(KPK) of Pakistan. The primary data were collected by a direct elicitation method from 510 maize growers of KPK Province. Stochastic frontier model techniques were used for technical efficiency analyses. The results revealed that the mean technical efficiency difference between the two groups was 10.2%. The results of technical inefficiency effect modeling demonstrated that education of the household head, family size, number of married family members, off-farm income, farming experience, tractor drill, water irrigation through a lined course, certified seed, extension services, household saving variables, and a credit size variable had positive effects on technical efficiency for both credit constrained farmers(CCFs) and credit unconstrained farmers(UCCFs). In addition, age of household head and fragmented land values had negative effects on technical efficiency for both groups. However, the interest rate had positive and negative impacts on the technical efficiency of CCFs and UCCFs, respectively. Our results have significant implications for policies related to land use, interest rate, and banking sector expansion in the rural areas of Pakistan.
基金supported by the Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant#3163000269)National Special Fund for Modern Industrial Technology System(grant#CARS-35)Major Science and Technology Special Fund of Zhejiang Province(grant#2015C02022)
文摘Background: Supplementation of feed with long-chain fatty acids(LCFAs) during the grower and finisher phases has long been discussed as a growth promotion strategy in pigs, but its effects are inconsistent. The purpose of our study was to comprehensively evaluate its effects on the growth performance based on the average daily gain(ADG), average daily feed intake(ADFI) and gain: feed(G:F) ratio and to unveil the roles of the basal diet, LCFA concentration and LCFA saturation.Results: We searched the Pub Med and Web of Science databases(articles published from Jan 1 st, 2000, to Sep 30 th,2018;restricted to English) and compared LCFA-supplemented diets with control diets. We retrieved 2346 studies, 18 of which(1314 pigs, 26 records) were eligible for our analysis. We used a random-effects model to calculate the weighted mean differences(WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs). LCFA supplementation in the grower-finisher phase improved the ADG(WMD = 41.74 g/d, 95% CI: 8.81 to 74.66, P = 0.013) and G:F ratio(WMD = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.032, P = 0.003). For supplementation solely in the finisher phase, we found a similar performance in the ADG(WMD = 39.93 g/d, 95% CI: 26.48 to 53.38, P < 0.001) and G:F ratio(WMD = 0.019, 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.032, P < 0.001) but a reduction in the ADFI(WMD =-83.863 g/d, 95% CI:-156.157 to-11.569, P = 0.023). Specifically, approximately 5%LCFA supplementation in the finisher phase had significant effects on the ADG(WMD = 51.385 g/d, 95% CI: 35.816 to66.954, P < 0.001), ADFI(WMD =-102.869 g/d, 95% CI:-189.236 to-16.502, P = 0.02) and G:F ratio(WMD = 0.028, 95%CI: 0.018 to 0.039, P < 0.001), whereas a concentration of approximately 1% exhibited no effects.Conclusions: Overall, regardless of the basal diet and saturation, LCFA supplementation greatly improves the growth performance of grower and finisher pigs, primarily by increasing the energy density.
基金This study was made possible through the grant USDA Formula Animal Health Fund(NIFA)to A.E.Newell-FugateThe open access publishing fees for this article have been covered by the Texas A&M University Open Access to Knowledge Fund(OAKFund)supported by the University Libraries and the Office of the Vice President for Research
文摘Background:We hypothesized that supplementation of nursery and grower pig diets with coconut oil in the absence of antibiotics would yield maintenance of glucose homeostasis,growth performance,and immune function similar to what is achieved with nursery and grower pig diets containing antibiotics.Pigs received the same base treatment diets from d24(weaning)to d71 of age and had blood and fecal samples collected on d24,d31,d45 and d71 for measurement of whole blood glucose,serum insulin,cortisol and cytokines,and fecal microbiome.Pigs had weekly weights and daily feed consumption measured throughout the study.Animals were euthanized at d71 and subcutaneous fat and ileal contents were collected for assessment for fatty acids and microbiome,respectively.Diet treatments consisted of 2%soybean oil plus antibiotics(ABX;n=22),2%soybean oil without antibiotics(NABX;n=22),and 2%coconut oil without antibiotics(COC;n=22).Statistical analysis examined the effect of diet within each timepoint using a repeated measures ANOVA.Results:Pigs fed COC diet had decreased serum insulin levels,maintained feed intake,feed conversion and weight gain,and,based on serum cytokines and fecal microbiome,were immunologically similar to ABX-fed pigs.However,NABX-fed pigs performed similarly to the ABX-fed pigs in all parameters except for serum cytokines.Additionally,there was no difference in the incidence of diarrhea between any of the diet treatments.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that dietary antibiotics are not necessary to maintain growth performance in nursery and grower pigs.However,dietary antibiotics appear to modulate circulating cytokine levels.Dietary coconut oil is neither harmful nor helpful to growth performance or immune function in nursery and grower pigs but does modulate serum insulin levels.Therefore,while coconut oil fed at 2%by weight is a suitable substitute for dietary antibiotics,this study suggests that no substitute for dietary antibiotics is needed at all.
基金National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant (Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,2009)
文摘This article conducts empirical analysis of rice growers' behavior of productive capital input and the influencing factors,using the input-output survey data concerning rice growing by 305 peasant households in 2009 in Huanan County and Huachuan County,Jiamusi City,Heilongjiang Province.I use Logit model to carry out econometric test of factors influencing the possibility of fixed productive investment.The test results show that family size,the proportion of non-agricultural employment,the average educational level of households,farmland area,household farming income,credit level,peasant households' expectation of the minimum purchase price of rice,have significant effect on whether to conduct fixed productive investment,whether there are disasters has no significant effect on the scale of peasant households' productive investment.Then I use Tobit model to carry out econometric test of factors influencing the scale of productive capital input.The results show that family size,the proportion of non-agricultural employment,the average educational level of households,farmland area,household farming income,credit level and family housing value,peasant households' expectation of the minimum purchase price of rice,whether there are disasters,have significant effect on the scale of peasant households' productive investment.On the basis of model test results,in order to promote the rice growers to increase fixed productive input and increase productive capital input,rational recommendations are put forward as follows:raising the minimum purchase price of rice,scaling up rice growing,making every effort to promote the educational level of rice growers,ensuring that the rice growers obtain productive capital input loans timely.
基金Supported by the Forestry Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
文摘A total of 216 survey interviews were completed in the orchards of the Aksu Region and the outskirts of Korla City, in October, 2009. The questionnaire was structured around fruit growers＇ opinions about insect pest management, bird conservation and included brief profiles of the growers＇ social background. The results showed that pest management was a great concern to all types of orchard growers and more than half of them would like to attract more birds to their orchards. The age, income level, education level and the orchard type of the fruit growers had significant effects on their opinions about bird protection.
文摘Based on the survey data of major grain growers in Jiaojiang District,we make a thorough inquiry into the current situation and various problems concerning major grain growers in this district,explore the factors that affect major grain growers' operation behavior,and set forth corresponding countermeasures for solving these problems and promoting further development.
文摘The tobacco growers with the growing area of greater than or equal to 100 mu,have become an important subject of tobacco production in Weng'an County of Guizhou Province. Regulating and developing the production and business activities of large-scale tobacco growers, plays an important role in stabilizing tobacco production,reducing costs and increasing efficiency in Weng'an County. Through the field survey of large-scale growers' production activities,this article analyzes the input and output levels,and explores the key factors influencing benefit, in order to provide a basis for further regulating the tobacco growing practices and improving the flue-cured tobacco production benefit.
文摘Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was conducted among 60 mango farmers in 7 districts in Sierra Leone between June and August, 2022, to assess their perceptions regarding fruit fly pest status and the current management options adopted for the control of this pest. Semi-structured questions designed in an open and closed-ended fashion were used for the study. The majority (83%) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 62% perceiving it to be very severe. The majority (60%) of farmers, however, demonstrated poor knowledge of identifying fruit fly species, especially Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra. Farmers were more conversant about the direct damage symptoms to host fruits and the economic impact of fruit flies. A total of 32% of growers took no action to control fruit flies on their farms. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the farmers adopted cultural control measures, like practicing prompt harvesting, collection and disposal of infested fruits, and weeding to maintain better sanitary conditions on their farms. Recommended fruit fly management strategies such as the use of botanicals and resistant varieties were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of 52% applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through extension agents that are appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their management.
文摘Two experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of benzoic acid on the growth performance of nursery and grower-finisher pigs. A randomized complete block design was used in both experiments with the initial body weight as the blocking factor. There were 3 treatments corresponding to 3 dietary levels of benzoic acid: 0, 0.3%, and 0.5%. In experiment 1, a total of 144 PIC L1050 barrows(initial body weight 7.1 ± 0.6 kg) were used with each treatment replicated 8 times. In experiment 2, a total of 288 PIC L1050 barrows(initial body weight 36.1 ± 3.6 kg) were used with each treatment replicated 16 times.There were 6 barrows in each replicate pen for both experiments. Experiments 1 and 2 lasted 28 and 70 days, respectively. In experiment 1, average daily gain(ADG) of all growth phases increased linearly(P < 0.05) with increasing supplementation of benzoic acid, which led to a linear improvement in average body weight on d 28(P < 0.05). There was also an improvement in feed conversion ratio(FCR) of d 0 to 14(linear effect: P < 0.05) and in average daily feed intake(ADFI) of d 14 to 28 and d 0 to 28(linear effect:P < 0.01). In experiment 2, ADG during d 0 to 35 and d 35 to 70 and average body weight on d 35 improved linearly(P < 0.05) with increasing supplementation of benzoic acid. Average daily gain of d 0 to70 and average body weight on d 70 increased significantly in a both linear and quadratic manner. There was a linear improvement in FCR in all growth phases(P < 0.05). In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of benzoic acid at the supplementation levels of 0.3% and 0.5% significantly improved the growth performance of nursery and grower-finisher pigs in the current study; the nursery pigs responded to the dietary supplementation of benzoic acid up to 0.5% linearly while the grower-finisher pigs achieved the optimal ADG at the calculated supplementation level of 0.36%.
