20 research outputs found
"Shifting Perspectives in Two Mid-Twentieth Century Robinsonades"
No full text© 2019, The Author(s). The attached document (embargoed until 30/09/2021) is an author produced version of a chapter published in DIDACTICS AND THE MODERN ROBINSONADE: NEW PARADIGMS FOR YOUNG READERS uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it
"Shifting Perspectives in Two Mid-Twentieth Century Robinsonades"
No full text© 2019, The Author(s). The attached document (embargoed until 30/09/2021) is an author produced version of a chapter published in DIDACTICS AND THE MODERN ROBINSONADE: NEW PARADIGMS FOR YOUNG READERS uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it
Investigating the effects of free lactation crates on sow and piglet welfare
No full textFarrowing crates, which are widely used in commercial pig farming, present major animal welfare problems. Sows are severely confined, being only able to stand up and lie down and not turn around for a period of five weeks around farrowing. This study compared the welfare of sows and piglets housed in two types of farrowing accommodation, free lactation pens (Free, n = 22) and conventional farrowing crate pens (Control, n = 24). Free lactation pens allowed for temporary confinement of sows at the most critical period for piglet pre-weaning mortality, from the onset of farrowing until day 4 post-farrowing. For the remainder of the time the sows were in the pens, the crate was opened wide enough for them to turn around. Sows were monitored from entry to the farrowing room (approximately day 108 of gestation) until weaning (approximately day 26 of lactation). The study examined 675 piglets, the offspring of these sows, from birth until slaughter. A range of behaviour and physical health measures were utilised to assess animal welfare and performance. Sows in the Free treatment had greater freedom of movement, as demonstrated by their use of the available space to turn around in the crates while they were open. At weaning, Free sows had significantly lower (better) locomotory scores than those which were housed in Control pens, this may be related to their improved ability to move during the 5-week treatment period. These sows also had significantly lower (better) tear stain scores around their left eyes at weaning, indicating reduced stress. Although Free sows had higher salivary cortisol concentrations overall when compared with Control sows, this is a measure that may reflect increased activity rather than higher levels of stress.
Overall, piglets from the Free treatment performed better than those from Control pens; pre-weaning Free piglets had a tendency to be heavier than those from the Control treatment, and this difference became significant post-weaning, leading to Free pigs having a mean finishing weight of 114.73kg, compared to 110.82kg for Control pigs. This increase in weight gain did not affect ADFI (average daily feed intake) and resulted in Free pigs having a significantly better FCE (feed conversion efficiency) in the weaner stage. There was a reduction in days to slaughter with free pigs reaching the 105kg target weigh in 147.56 days compared with 149.23 days for Control pigs. This is a very promising result regarding both productivity and welfare, and could result in increased profitability for producers. Prior to weaning Free piglets tended to perform less damaging behaviour than Control piglets, although this result was not significant. Most importantly, overall mortality was unaffected by treatment with total mortality of 15.95% for Free pigs and 14.42% for Control pigs (P = 0.61). Overall, the results from this study suggest that implementing a management strategy where sows have increased freedom of movement during lactation compared to traditional farrowing crates may help to improve sow and piglet welfare. Further research investigating the best length of time to confine the sow, taking litter size into consideration, would be beneficial to developing the most effective management practices for free lactation crates
"James Bond Studies: Evolutions of a Critical Field"
No full text© 2017, The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
"'Phonies' and Phones Calls: Social Isolation, the Problem of Language, and Communication in J.D. Salinger's <i>The Catcher in the Rye</i>"
No full text© 2017, Johns Hopkins University Press. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Arizona Quarterly uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link below. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it
Freedom to Grow: Improving Sow Welfare also Benefits Piglets
No full textPiglet mortality, especially due to crushing, is a concern in pig production. While current systems use farrowing crates to reduce mortality, they present major animal welfare problems for the sow. This study investigated the effects of free lactation farrowing accommodation on the welfare of piglets born and reared in such accommodation when compared with conventional farrowing crates. Piglets were born to sows in one of two farrowing accommodation treatments and followed from birth to slaughter. Treatments were conventional farrowing crates (control, n = 24 litters) and free lactation pens, which were larger and allowed the sow freedom of movement both pre and post farrowing, (free, n = 22 litters) (675 total piglets). Individual weights were recorded from birth to slaughter. Hoof score was recorded at weaning. Behaviour was recorded during lactation and during the weaner stage. Pre-weaning percentage mortality was equal in treatments (free = 15.95 ± 2.31, control = 14.42 ± 2.15, p = 0.61). Final weight was influenced by treatment (p < 0.05) with pigs from free lactation pens significantly heavier at 114.73 kg compared to 110.82 kg for control pigs. Free pigs took fewer days than control pigs to reach the target weight of 105 kg (147.6 vs. 149.23 days). Throughout lactation, fewer instances of damaging behaviour (ear and tail biting) were observed in free pigs (p = 0.07). Improved growth rates and a decrease in damaging behaviours provide evidence to suggest that pigs from free lactation pens experience improved welfare when compared with control pigs
Freedom to Move: Free Lactation Pens Improve Sow Welfare
No full textSIMPLE SUMMARY: Pigs in Ireland are reared in intensive indoor systems, with sows normally confined in farrowing crates for a period of five weeks each time they farrow. This practice presents major animal welfare problems, with permeant confinement being banned at all other stages of production due to the negative impact on welfare. This study identified positive effects on sow behaviour and welfare when housed in free lactation pens compared with conventional farrowing crates. Such pens allow sows greater freedom of movement throughout farrowing and lactation, and this resulted in decreased locomotion score impact for sows housed in the free lactation treatment. This could be beneficial with regard to both sow longevity and sow welfare. ABSTRACT: Farrowing crates present a major animal welfare problem. This study investigated the effects of temporary confinement at farrowing on sow welfare and aimed to determine whether this type of system could improve sow welfare through increased freedom of movement. Sows were housed in one of two farrowing accommodation treatments: conventional farrowing crates (Control) or free lactation pens (Free). Sows in the Control treatment were confined from entry to weaning, a period of five weeks. Sows in the Free treatment were temporarily confined from before farrowing (approximately 24 h) until day 4 post-partum, after which time the crate was opened, and they had increased freedom of movement. Sow physical measures (weight, back-fat thickness, hoof score, locomotion score and tear stain score) were measured at entry to farrowing accommodation and at weaning. Salivary cortisol concentration was measured throughout lactation. Farrowing duration and sow posture (Days 1, 3, 7 and 34 after entry) were recorded. Between entry and weaning, locomotion scores significantly increased for sows housed in the Control treatment compared with those housed in Free lactation pens (p < 0.01). Sows in the Free treatment were observed to use all orientations in the pen, showing that when more space is made available to them, they will choose to utilise the space. Tear staining under the left eye was found to be less in Free sows at weaning (p = 0.05), indicating reduced stress. However, salivary cortisol concentration was higher in Free sows overall; cortisol is affected by both positive and negative stimuli, and so, this may be due to factors other than stress, such as higher levels of activity and mental stimulation. These results suggest that free lactation pens can benefit sow welfare; increased freedom of movement throughout lactation can improve sow locomotory health, and as suggested by improved tear stain scores, sow stress levels may be reduced in this type of system compared with conventional farrowing crates
Ridan the devil, and other stories / by Louis Becke, author of 'By reef and palm', etc
No full textIncludes advertisements.VLU copy has stamp on t.p.Electronic reproduction.Contents: Rídan the devil -- A memory of "the system" -- A North Pacific lagoon island -- Bilger, of Sydney -- The vision of Milli the slave -- Denison gets a berth ash re -- Addie Ransom -- In a native village -- Maurice Kinane -- The "killers" of Twofold Bay -- Denison's second berth ashore -- A fish drive on a Micronesian atoll -- Bobaran -- Sea fishing in Australia -- An adventure in the New Hebrides -- The south sea bubble of Charles du Breil -- The white wife and the brown "woman" -- With hook and line on an Austral river -- The wreck of the "Leonora" -- An old colonial mutiny -- A boating adventure in the Carolines -- A Christmas Eve in the Far South Seas
Introductory considerations on crop diversity
No full textModern society faces decreased biodiversity in nature caused by increased uniformity in agriculture, and health related problems with nutrition caused by industrialisation in food production. Conversion to organic farming increases biodiversity, because of diversification in crops and decreased intensity in control of weed and pests, and increase biochemical diversity within food products because of decreased nitrogen application in field. The author argues that the positive effects of in organic farming can be further improved by improved genetic diversity within the crop. Inter-cropping and variety mixtures are already used by some farmers, but diversity within the crop can be further improved by development of composite cross populations, composition of new stabilized populations, and reintroduction of historic varieties and populations
