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Effects of helicopter topping on tree growth and stem interior
Get PDFManaging tree heights near powerlines via helicopter topping has been a new subject of interests to forest owners and the energy sector. However, tree topping may have consequences on tree growth and tree health, as well as economic ramifications. This thesis aimed to evaluate the effects of heli-copter topping on tree growth and the possible occurring economic losses.
On four locations topped and not-topped trees were selected and felled. Stem samples in form of discs were taken at specific heights, polished and used to measure tree rings. The tree-ring data was then analysed in R. Other stem samples were used to check for occurrence of pathogenic fungi.
The results showed that spruce trees are affected by topping, while pine trees are not. An analysis regarding the influence of pathogenic fungi showed occurrence of infection, but no influence on volume growth. Economic losses could be calculated for both species. Monitoring of topped trees for a longer time after topping and a larger sample size is recommended for better understanding of growth- recovery, influence of fungi infections and the effects of climatic factors like increased temperature and water stress on tree performance
The potential of genetically modified (Bt) cotton to diversify the farm input subsidy program for smallholder farmers income enhancement in Balaka and Chikwawa Districts in southern Malawi
Get PDFThe topic of genetically modified (GM) crops elicits a considerable degree of controversy within the field of agriculture. While certain nations are actively embracing the advantageous aspects associated with technological advancements, others demonstrate reluctance towards adopting such innovations due to a multitude of reasons. However, despite these controversies, the progress of technology adoption in countries like Malawi is not impeded. Nevertheless, the exorbitant expenses associated with Bt seed jeopardize its affordability and accessibility, thereby presenting significant obstacles for adoption amongst smallholder farmers facing limited resources. Malawi is among the nations that have embraced the commercialization of Bt cotton subsequent to the achievement of effective confined field trials. Given the considerable costs associated with Bt seeds, this research aims to examine the potential of Malawi's farm input subsidy program (FISP) in diversifying the smallholder farming portfolio with Bt cotton for the purpose of improving livelihoods. The study utilizes mixed methods to investigate the socioeconomic profile of farming households in Malawi. Furthermore, the research documents the perspectives of key informants and farmers regarding the usefulness of FISP and the potential of Bt cotton in the context of Malawi. The findings indicate that cotton holds substantial economic value as a cash crop for Malawi. However, it is evident that a significant number of cotton farmers lack sufficient access to the necessary inputs including high value seeds, have deficiencies in technologies and extension services, as demonstrated by the farmers' limited understanding and awareness of Bt cotton. The research outcomes also delineate the impact of FISP on maize cultivation within the smallholder farming community. It further demonstrates that FISP has the capacity for incorporating modifications, thereby offering potential avenue for diversification with crops beyond maize and include cash crops such as Bt cotton. Nevertheless, the financial requirements associated with the inclusion of the expensive Bt seed may present challenges in terms of budgetary constraints for FISP
Milsbosjöarna
Get PDFThe EU Water Framework Directive has introduced changes in work procedure for the
Swedish administration of water. During 2008 an abatement programme will be
established for all water bodies that do not achieve the Water Framework Directive
environmental objective of ”good surface water status”. Övre Milsbo Lake and Nedre
Milsbo Lake in the Milsbo stream catchment area outside Borlänge are two eutrofied lakes
which will need defined mitigation strategy and significant abatement efforts to achieve
“good ecological status”. These lakes are eutrophicated due to high loads of phosphorus
(P). A source apportioned phosphorus modelling indicates that agriculture is responsible
for the main part of phosphorus reaching the lakes. The aim of this report is to suggest
agricultural measures for the Milsbo Lakes to achieve the Water Framework Directive
environmental objective of “god surface water status”.
The background information about the Milsbo stream catchment area is presented. The
farmers have been interviewed regarding cultivation and management practices during
2005-2007 and these results are presented as well. Soil surveying regarding phosphorus
content has been accomplished and analyses of water chemistry samples taken in streams
within the catchment area have been performed. Calculations of the source apportion of
phosphorus has been made using the Fyris model. A list of agricultural measures to
decrease the load of phosphorus to the lakes is suggested in the light of the mentioned
analyses.
Calculations with the Fyris model shows that the Övre Milsbo Lake is loaded with 190 kg
P/yr and that the Nedre Milsbo Lake is loaded with 375 kg P/yr. According to
calculations the phosphorus load has to decrease 60 kg P/yr to the Övre Milsbo Lake and
220 kg P/yr to the Nedre Milsbo Lake for the lakes to achieve the Water Framework
Directive environmental objective of ”good surface water status”. The measures to
achieve these goals should consider both reducing the sources of phosphorus and
minimizing the surface run-off as the main transport path for phosphorus in the
catchment area. Some of the most important measures are modification of
fertilizer/manure rate to meet crop demand and soil P status, riparian buffer zones,
wetlands and changed time periods for cultivation and applications of fertilizer/manure.
According to the water quality analyses and modelling results, an unidentified extensive
point source within the water catchment is assumed and need to be taken into
consideration within the abatement efforts.Införandet av EU:s ramdirektiv för vatten har lett till ett förändrat arbetssätt för
vattenförvaltningen i Sverige och under 2008 ska åtgärdsprogram för alla vatten som inte
uppnår god status upprättas. Två av sjöarna som behöver åtgärdas är Övre och Nedre
Milsbosjön i Milsboåns avrinningsområde utanför Borlänge. Dessa sjöar har belastats med
höga halter fosfor (P) vilket lett till eutrofiering (övergödning) och en
källfördelningsmodellering visar att en stor del av den fosfor som når sjöarna härstammar
från jordbruket. Syftet med denna rapport är att ge förslag till åtgärder inom jordbruket
för att Övre och Nedre Milsbosjön ska uppnå god status inom arbetet med EU:s
Ramdirektiv för vatten.
I arbetet med att hitta effektiva åtgärder redovisas kunskapsläget om Milsboåns
avrinningsområde. Lantbrukarna har intervjuats om hur marken brukats under 2005-2007
och dessa uppgifter har sammanställts. Markkartering har utförts och uppmätta
fosforhalter i jordbruksbäckar i området har utvärderats. För att bland annat beräkna
sjöarnas interna belastning och källfördelning har Fyrismodellen upprättats över området.
Utifrån ovan nämnda underlag föreslås slutligen ett antal åtgärder för att minska
fosforförlusterna från jordbruksmark till sjöarna.
Beräkningar med Fyrismodellen visar att Övre Milsbosjön belastas med 190 kg P/år och
Nedre Milsbosjön med 375 kg P/år. För att sjöarna ska uppnå god status enligt EU:s
vattendirektiv behöver tillförseln minska med ca 60 kg P/år till Övre och 220 kg P/år till
Nedre sjön. Åtgärderna för att uppnå detta riktar sig till stor del mot att reducera källorna
till fosfor eller att minska ytavrinningen som är den dominerande transportvägen för
fosfor i området. Några av de viktigare åtgärderna som föreslås är behovsanpassad
gödsling, skyddszoner, våtmarker och jordbearbetningsåtgärder. Analyserna indikerade
även att det bör finnas en större icke identifierad punktkälla i området vilket bör utredas
Skogsbrukseffekter på små vattendrag
Get PDFThe goal of biological monitoring is to evaluate the effect of human activities on biological resources. In this study, I've looked closer into what happens with streams degraded by forestry. Seventeen streams in Stugun, Jamtland, were sampled for benthic fauna and water chemistry. Each watershed were analysed with maps, air photographs and by descriptions in field. The aim was to find changes in benthic fauna composition due to forest clear cutting. When there was no watershed that could be useful as a reference area, I had to construct an index of disturbance. To test my data I used several multivariate analyses (PCA, Twinspan, CA, CCA och RDA) and a multimetric index method. I found five attributes that could be possible indicators of disturbance (EPT taxa, filter feeders, Diptera, Baetis and
collectors/gatherers). No other set of data has been tested to confirm these indicators. No clear response in benthic fauna composition to catchment forestry was recorded, but the scores from the constructed multimetric index could distinguish disturbed stream sites from minimally disturbed stream sites (R2= 0,46). Principal component analysis (PCA) was also tested for the scores of benthic fauna and could distinguish different grades of influence, but not significantly.
Another study was performed in stream Slattflobacken. Four sample points were selected to compare different sections of the stream. One point was selected upstream a clear-cut area, one point in the clear-cut area and two points downstream the clear-cut area. The purpose was to see how the species composition varies in the same stream but with different grade of degradation by forestry. The variation was not big enough among the sample point to confirm that hypothesis.
Analysis of alkalinity, pH, conductivity and total phosphorus clearly showed a north-southern gradient, were watersheds south of river Indalsalven has low alkalinity, pH and conductivity, but high total phosphorus. These results could have effect on benthic species composition and could be one explanation why watersheds degraded by human activities does not clearly show changes in composition of benthic fauna
Samråd för alla?
Get PDFI ett hållbart samhälle inkluderas alla människor. Universell utformning är en process vars mål är att produkter, tjänster, och miljöer ska kunna användas av alla utan att de behöver anpassas i efterhand. För att utforma universellt behöver de strängaste kravställarnas behov vara utgångspunkten i designprocessen. Då säkerställs att de krav som annars kan vara svårast att uppfylla finns med, och utformningen kan fungera för alla. Det mest effektiva sättet är att människor med olika funktionsförmågor deltar i designprocessen.
För att vi ska kunna planera och bygga ett hållbart samhälle som inte diskriminerar är det viktigt att människor med spridda förmågor kan delta i den kommunala planprocessen. Ett universellt utformat samråd är möjligt att delta i oavsett funktionsförmåga, eftersom det utgår från de strängaste kravställarnas behov. Ett universellt utformat samråd ger alla människor möjlighet till insyn och påverkan, och förbättrar kommunens möjligheter att ta fram ett så bra beslutsunderlag som möjligt.
I uppsatsen utreds hur samrådet för detaljplaner kan förbättras enligt principen om universell utformning, samt på vilka sätt det nuvarande samrådet för detaljplaner i Uppsala kommun möjliggör eller hindrar deltagande från individer med olika funktionsförmågor. Utredningen gjordes i tre steg:
• Sammanställning av funktionsrättsrörelsens egna checklistor för delaktighet och kunskaperna kring universell utformning och samskapande. Det resulterade i sammanlagt 119 konkreta punkter för hur samrådet bör vara för att möjliggöra deltagande från personer med olika funktionsförmågor.
• Fallstudie av två samråd för detaljplaner i Uppsala kommun under läsåret 2023/2024. Dessa baserades på författarens egna försök till deltagande som begränsades av funktionshinder i planprocessen. Erfarenheterna från samråden dokumenterades i dagboksform.
• Analys av erfarenheterna från samråden med punkterna från den sammanställda checklistan som bedömningsgrund. Resultatet visar att dagens samråd är funktionshindrande även för personer med andra funktionsförmågor än författaren.
Målet med att samla och jämföra dessa processer är att vi som planerar ska få bästa möjliga förutsättningar att skapa ett inkluderande samhälle. Den sammanställda checklistan möjliggör fortsatt utveckling av kunskaperna kring universell utformning i planprocessen med förhoppningen att resultatet av studien ska användas i arbetet med att förverkliga de mänskliga rättigheterna i stadsbyggnadssammanhang.A sustainable society includes all people. Universal design is a process with the goal of making products, services and environments usable for all, without the need for adaptations or special designs. In universal design, the needs of the most demanding users are at the centre of the design process to ensure the usability of the final design. Inclusion of people with different abilities in the design process is the most effective approach to making designs usable for all.
Planning and building a sustainable society without discrimination also means people with different abilities can participate in the municipal planning process. Universally designed consultations in detailed development planning makes it possible for all to participate, as they are designed with the most demanding users. Universally designed consultations help fulfil the statutory purpose of consultations in planning: giving insight to the planning process and making it possible to influence, as well as supporting the municipality’s goal of collecting relevant planning material.
This thesis explores the possible improvements of consultations in planning using the principle of universal design, as well as examining the disabling structures of municipal planning today, using the consultations for two detailed development plans in Uppsala municipality as examples. The study was done in three parts:
• Compilation of demands from the Swedish Disability Rights movement on how to make activities and meetings inclusive for all, as well as knowledge about universal design and co-creation processes. The result was a checklist with 119 items on how to make consultations accessible to people with different abilities.
• Case study of consultations for two detailed development plans in Uppsala municipality during the 2023/2024 academic year. The study is based on the author’s own participation in the consultations, which was limited by the disabling structures. The experiences were recorded in diary format.
• Analysis of the experiences of the consultations compared to the compiled checklist from the Swedish Disability Rights movement. The result indicates that the consultations use disabling structures that impacts the opportunities for participation for people with different abilities to the author as well.
The goal for compiling and comparing demands and experiences was to improve the potential for municipal planners to plan for a sustainable and inclusive society. The compiled checklist makes future expansion of the knowledge base possible, with the hopes that the result of this study can be used to realise fundamental human rights in the municipal planning process
The effect of different light spectra on photosynthetic rates in three leafy plant species
Get PDFBy year 2050 and beyond, the global population is projected to increase significantly, accompanied by climate changes. In this context indoor plant production, or plant factories, holds good promise for enhancing food security. Previous research highlights that green light can penetrate deeper into leaf tissues when compared to blue and red light, influencing photosynthesis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of adding green light spectra to other light spectra. The previous research raised the hypothesis that supplementing green light with red-blue light possibly can enhance photosynthesis in higher plants.
The main hypothesis in this study was that the addition of green light would enhance the photosynthetic rates. Hence, this study’s aim is to optimise photosynthesis performance of plants produced in greenhouses or plant factories utilizing artificial light. The three different plant species were all separately analysed in photosynthesis measurements, the plant species bell pepper (Capsicum annuum), Pak Choi (Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) were used in this study that aimed to examine the potential of different wavelength of light and to optimise photosynthesis. The photosynthetic capacity, Amax and the gs, the stomatal conductance was together measured by the Infra-Red Gas Analyser (IRGA).
The analysation of the results of the photosynthesis measurements indicates that the addition of green light to a combined red-blue light spectra did not enhance the photosynthetic rates in the three plant species under given circumstances. The results from the chlorophyll fluorescence trials and the response from these specific plants show variability and were difficult to interpret.
In conclusion, comprehensive research can possibly identify patterns and trends, which in the future can lead to new practical recommendations for horticultural practices and provide insight into practical implications of light treatments
“When culture speaks, does development listen?” Cultural integration in development projects
Get PDFIn rural Nigeria, several development projects have been implemented by government agencies and private organisations over the years, aimed at driving economic growth and poverty reduction through agricultural productivity, entrepreneurship, healthcare, climate adaptation, and education. However, many of these programs have been rigged with overwhelming challenges and have raised critical questions about rural development strategies in the country. Some investigations have indicated the lack of cultural sensitivity and adaptation as a central contributing factor in the poor delivery of desired outcomes for rural community residents. While local culture may be inherent in some discussions, analyses, and even intuitive practices, it is usually not explicitly considered as an aspect, element or lens critical in rural development endeavours.
This study investigates the process of cultural integration in the design and implementation of development projects targeting rural communities across the southwest and northern Nigeria.. It provides an understanding of how culture and its integration process are perceived by both the project implementing organisation and rural community residents in these parts. Using the concept of culture, the post-development theory and the capability approach, the study engages with findings on development practice, how development providers engage with local culture and what role culture plays in shaping development objectives for rural communities in Nigeria.
The study takes a qualitative approach, using in-person semi-structured interviews and non-participatory observation to collect data across four rural communities, four project implementing organisations, and perspectives drawn from several ongoing and past projects spanning 12 states in Nigeria.
The results suggest that while culture is indeed considered crucial for meaningful, lasting, and desired outcomes in rural communities, in the parts of Nigeria considered in this study, its practice remains intuitive, inconsistent, and often superficial; constrained by an enduring top-down decision-making approach, and near invisibility of cultural priorities in project budget allocations, and a lack of inter-organisational coordination within the development landscape.
Though the reality shown within the context and scope of this study is that external funder-priorities and top-down approach of decision making and design tend to override local culture, identities, and voices, and result in disparities between what is desired by rural communities and what is produced by development projects, I highlight that community voices, when genuinely heard, offer rich insights that can shape outcomes which fit their cultural contexts, and are desired and meaningful for rural communities
Cat shelters’ view on the cooperation with the County Administration and the new demands regarding ID-marking and registration
Get PDFMinst 100 000 katter uppskattas i dagsläget vara hemlösa i Sverige. Årligen har det omhändertagits ett stort antal katter av Sveriges 21 Länsstyrelser, vanligen i samarbete med lokalt upphandlade katthem som genomfört stora delar av det praktiska arbetet så som bland annat transport och uppstallning. Huruvida alla Länsstyrelser hade upphandlade katthem, hur kraven på dem såg ut samt huruvida de skiljde sig åt mellan länen var inte undersökt tidigare. Detta arbete syftade därför till att skapa en bättre förståelse för hur dessa krav, samt samarbetet katthem och Länsstyrelser emellan såg ut.
Den 1 januari 2023 trädde en ny lag i kraft Sverige, den innebar att alla katter som vistas stadigvarande i landet måste vara ID-märkta och registrerade i Jordbruksverkets nya register. Lagen kunde antas påverka Länsstyrelsens- och därmed även katthemmens arbete. Hur lagen hanterades i praktiken och om det fanns några oklarheter angående den praktiska tillämpningen av lagen var inte känt. Den andra delen i syftet med detta arbete blev således att undersöka detta.
Samtliga Länsstyrelser kontaktades via mail under våren 2023, handlingar avseende huruvida de hade något upphandlat katthem samt eventuella krav som ställts på katthemmen vid en sådan upphandling begärdes ut. Svar erhölls från samtliga Länsstyrelser, det visade sig dock att endast 17 av 21 Länsstyrelser hade upphandlade katthem, vilket såklart väckte frågor kring vad som skett och sker med hemlösa katter i de fyra län som svarade nej. Samtliga avtal undersöktes systematiskt med syftet att finna likheter och skillnader. Konstateras kunde att grunden i avtalen var snarlik men att deras omfattning och nivån av detaljstyrning skiljde sig åt avsevärt, exempelvis ersättningen varierade med mer än 900 % i vissa fall. Anmärkningsvärt var även att i drygt 70 % av de län som hade upphandling så förbehöll sig Länsstyrelsen rätten att på individnivå byta ut katthemmens personal baserat på huruvida Länsstyrelsen upplevde sig ha samarbetssvårigheter med en individ.
Vidare genomfördes åtta intervjuer med upphandlade katthem från olika län där de fick ge sin syn på samarbetet med Länsstyrelserna, hur de upplevde Länsstyrelsernas hantering av hemlösa katter, samt de krav som Länsstyrelserna ställde på dem i upphandlingarna. Vidare ombads de även redogöra för hur de hanterade lagen om märkning och registrering av katter, i praktiken. Katthemmens bild av hur Länsstyrelserna hanterade hemlösa katter varierade, de åsikter som framfördes var dock övervägande av kritisk karaktär. Generellt ansågs Länsstyrelsen ofta vara för försiktig då rådande lagstiftning tolkades, på bekostnad av djurskyddet. Även katthemmens syn på kraven i upphandlingarna varierade. Kraven upplevdes oftast som rimliga men ansågs inte stå i proportion till katthemmens ersättning. Återkommande var temat att katthemmen upplevde att Länsstyrelsen var ovillig att ersätta dem för det arbete de ansåg sig ha rätt att få betalt för. Avseende lagen om märkning och registrering av katter var det endast kring registrering katthemmen förändrat sina rutiner, de uppmanar numera kattägare att registrera sig i Jordbruksverkets register. Frågetecken kring om- och hur katthemmen bör använda sig av registret har retts ut i arbetet genom kontakt med Jordbruksverket. Katthemmen uttryckte sig skeptiskt kring lagens genomslagskraft avseende en minskning av antalet hemlösa katter. Detta så länge en straffskala och tydliga direktiv, helst prejudicerande domar på området, saknas.
Förhoppningen med detta arbete var att rådande förhållanden skulle belysas och att denna kunskap skulle kunna bidra till en mer enhetlig hantering av hemlösa katter på nationell nivå samt att katthemmen skulle känna en ökad trygghet i hur de förväntades använda Jordbruksverkets nya register.It is estimated that as of today at least 100 000 cats are homeless in Sweden. Annually a large number of cats have been taken into custody by Sweden´s County Administration (CABs), normally in cooperation with locally procured cat-shelters who have carried out a large portion of the practical work, including transport and housing. As to whether the various CABs even had any procured cat shelters, what the demands on these cat shelters were, or whether they were at all different in their ways of operating had previously not been studied. This study has therefore been aimed at creating a greater understanding over how these demands from the CAB have taken shape, in addition to what the cooperation between the two parties has looked like.
On the 1st of January 2023 a new law entered into force requiring all cats that permanently reside within Sweden to be ID-marked and registered with the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The law can be assumed as to have affected the work of the CAB, and therefore also the cat shelters. In practicality, how the new law has been handled and if there has existed any uncertainty regarding its application was not known. The secondary purpose of this study therefore became to investigate and bring to light this information.
The various CABs were collectively contacted by email during the spring of 2023. Official documentation regarding as to whether they had any procured cat shelters, along with any demands that had been placed on the cat shelters by the CABs during such a procurement, was requested for study. Each of the 21 CABs replied, with four saying that they did not have any procured cat shelters. This begged the question as to what happened and happens to the cats in the counties where they have no designated cat shelters. Each contract between CAB and cat shelter was systematically studied to find differences and similarities. What could be concluded was that the fundamentals of the differing contracts were similar to each other. However, it became clear that the scope and detail within the agreement could vary significantly from county to county. An example of this was that the payments received by the cat shelters could vary by more than 900% in certain cases. In addition, it was worth noting that in roughly 70% of the counties that had procured cat shelters, the CAB reserved the right to change personnel at an individual level in the cat shelters if the CAB considered itself to have difficulties cooperating with a certain individual.
Furthermore, interviews were conducted with eight cat shelters from different counties, in which they gave their opinions on their cooperation with the CAB, their thoughts on the CABs handling of homeless cats, as well as the demands that were placed on them by the CAB. In addition, the cat shelters were asked how they dealt with the law regarding the marking and registration of homeless cats in practice. The attitudes regarding the CABs handling of homeless cats varied, with the majority of opinions given being largely critical. In general, the CAB was seen as being too careful in regard to applying the law, at the cost of animal welfare. The cat shelters’ views regarding the demands being placed on them by the CAB after procurement also varied in opinion. The demands were often seen as reasonable but not in proportion to the compensation received. A recurring theme was that many cat shelters experienced that the CAB were unwilling to compensate them for work they believed they should be compensated for. With regards to the law about marking and registration of cats, routines of the cat shelters had only changed regarding registration, with cat shelters urging people to register their cats with the Swedish Board of Agriculture. How the cat shelters should use the registry has given rise to questions that have been solved within the bounds of this study by contacting the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The cat shelters expressed scepticism to the efficiency of the new law in decreasing the number of homeless cats as long as it was lacking in penalties, clear directives and, preferably, prejudicial sentencing for breaking it.
The goal of this study has been to hopefully illuminate current conditions, and that the knowledge garnered could contribute to a more uniform management of homeless cats on a national scale, as well as offering the cat shelters an increased feeling of security in how they are expected to make use of the new registry from the Swedish Board of Agriculture
The effect of probiotics on calf health
Get PDFDet är avgörande att lägga en god grund för kalvens start i livet och kalvens framtida hälsa. För en
kvigkalv är detta av yttersta vikt som framtida mjölkko. Tarminflammationer med diarré utgör en
allvarlig risk för kalvar under de tre första månader och är den vanligaste orsaken till hög dödlighet
och sjuklighet hos kalvar. Kalvens allmäntillstånd sänks som leder till att det blir en ökad
mottaglighet för andra sjukdomar. De främsta orsakerna till diarré är virus, bakterier och parasiter,
vilket kan leda till uttorkning, näringsbrist och obalans i elektrolyterna.
För att behandla diarré är det vanligt att ge kalven elektrolyter, vatten och mjölk. Förebyggande
åtgärder är goda rutiner kring råmjölk, rengöring av boxar och att undvika att blanda spädkalvar med
äldre kalvar. En effektiv metod är att isolera kalvar i boxar för att minska risken för smittspridning
till andra kalvar. Rengöring av kalvningsboxar mellan varje kalvning och att hålla en ko per box är
också viktigt för att minska infektionsrisken till nyfödda kalvar. Råmjölk ger ett naturligt skydd mot
infektioner och även helmjölk innehåller lokalt verksamma antikroppar, vilket ger en viss grad av
skydd.
Att kolla på andra alternativ till elektrolytlösningar för att förebygga störningarna som blir i mag�och tarmkanalen vid diarré kan vara ett bra alternativ. Idag finns det olika probiotika preparat som
kan hjälpa kalven att bli bättre.
I denna studie gjordes en enkät som var riktad till både dem som använder probiotika och till dem
som inte använder probiotika för att se hur de ställer sig till att testa probiotika. Enkäten skickades
ut genom delningar i grupper på Facebook och totalt var det nio frågor angående om det fanns
problem med diarré på gården, vad de använde för behandling mot diarré idag, om de inte använder
probiotika kan de tänkas prova, om de använder probiotika vilken typ, hur länge och om de såg
skillnad, vilken typ av produktion de har och besättningsstorlek.
De som använde probiotika preparat till sina kalvar upplevde att kalvarna blev bättre av att använda
probiotika preparaten och det varierade hur länge de hade använt det från att ha börjat med det i år
upp till tre år. De var bara några få av de tillfrågade som svarade på frågan om det kunde tänka sig
att prova probiotika och det fanns ett intresse från de som svarade.
Slutsatsen är att probiotika förebygger och behandlar störningar i mag- och tarmkanalen vid diarré
på kalvar samt att kalvarna får en bättre hälsa och en förbättrad tillväxt. Däremot finns det andra
aspekter att ta hänsyn till såsom miljö och hur hygienen är i stallet. Vissa elektrolytlösningar
innehåller probiotiska bakterier, men de marknadsförs inte alltid tydligt. Därför kan det vara bra att
leta efter produkter som innehåller mjölksyrebakterier för att hitta probiotiska lösningar.
Tillgängliga produkter på marknaden kräver minimalt extra arbete att använda för lantbrukarna.It's crucial to lay a good foundation for the calf's start in life and its future health. For a heifer calf,
this is of utmost importance as a future dairy cow. Intestinal inflammations with diarrhea pose a
serious risk for calves during the first three months and are the most common cause of high mortality
and morbidity among calves. The calf's general condition deteriorates, leading to increased
susceptibility to other diseases. The main causes of diarrhea are viruses, bacteria, and parasites,
which can result in dehydration, nutrient deficiency, and electrolyte imbalance.
To treat diarrhea, it's common to provide the calf with electrolytes, water, and milk. Preventive
measures include good colostrum management, cleaning of pens, and avoiding mixing young calves
with older ones. An effective method is to isolate calves in individual pens to reduce the risk of
spreading infection to other calves. Cleaning calving pens between each calving and keeping one
cow per pen are also important to reduce the risk of infection to newborn calves. Colostrum provides
natural protection against infections, and even whole milk contains locally acting antibodies,
providing some degree of protection.
Exploring alternative electrolyte solutions to prevent disturbances in the digestive tract during
diarrhea can be a good option. Today, there are various probiotic supplements available that can help
the calf recover.
In this study, a survey was conducted targeting both those who use probiotics and those who do not,
to see their attitudes towards trying probiotics. The survey was distributed through Facebook groups,
comprising nine questions regarding whether there were issues with diarrhea on the farm, current
treatments for diarrhea, willingness to try probiotics if not already using them, types of probiotics
used if any, duration of use, perceived differences, types of production, and herd size.
Those who used probiotic supplements for their calves reported that the calves improved with their
use, and the duration of use varied from starting this year to up to three years ago. Only a few of
those surveyed answered the question about being willing to try probiotics, but there was interest
among respondents.
In conclusion, probiotics help prevent disturbances in the digestive tract during calf diarrhea,
resulting in better health and improved growth. However, other aspects such as environmental
conditions and hygiene in the barn must also be considered. Some electrolyte solutions contain
probiotic bacteria, although they may not always be clearly marketed as such. Therefore, it's
beneficial to look for products containing lactic acid bacteria to find probiotic solutions. Products
available on the market require minimal extra effort for farmers to use
The Role of Macrophytes in Nutrient Retention in Swedish Two-Staged Ditches
Get PDFEutrophication continues to be a persistent threat to the health of ecosystems globally and in the Baltic Sea region, causing a loss in ecosystems and industry profits. Measures have been researched and implemented to stop the spread of excess nutrients from agricultural sources, but innovative, cost-effective nutrient mitigation strategies are still needed to reach water quality targets.
Redesigning traditional trapezoidal ditches has been researched to offer alternative, sustainable methods of inducing water purification and biological physiochemical activity nearby agricultural fields. The two-stage ditch is a design that increases water retention by adding a flood plain buffer. This design encourages nutrient and carbon processing, including denitrification, sedimentation of particulate phosphate and sorption of phosphate among other processes. But generally, the role of ditch vegetation, particularly macrophytes, in promoting these processes is not well understood. Therefore, to improve this understanding of the role of macrophytes in ditch remediation, relationships between macrophyte diversity and abundance and water quality in two-stage ditches were studied.
This study was conducted in nine agricultural catchments where environmental factors (stream nutrient content, soil type, stream flow, land use, etc.) were investigated to explain macrophyte abundance and diversity during the summer growing period. An Ecological Quality Ratio was determined for each site and related to macrophyte diversity and water chemistry through the historical trends in total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations in each ditch. Macrophyte species that were most abundant at each site were then sampled for their total nitrogen and total phosphorus content and compared with the measured nutrient loads in their respective two-stage ditches.
The results showed that macrophyte communities commonly associated with eutrophic and mesotrophic aquatic environments, such as agricultural ditches, can be used as indicators for stream ecological quality that complement water chemistry measurements. Prevalence of certain macrophytes varied depending on the environmental characteristics, such as: ditch location and soil type and texture, but were heavily influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus availability. The total nitrogen concentrations in June of 2022 strongly negatively correlated with the macrophyte diversity recorded at that same time. The species identified for their nutrient retention capacity were: Typha sp., Phragmites australis, Epilobium hirsutum, and Alisma plantago-aquatica. Analysis of the August stream sample nutrient uptake data implies that species abundance and biomass affect water quality by decreasing nutrient availability in the water column and in turn are affected by water quality. Thus, harvesting them prior to decay is suggested as a remediation practice with potential for sustainable nutrient recycling, especially in two-stage ditches