Browsing by Subject "livestock"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Evaluating on-farm methods for estimating gas emissions and quantifying risk of disease transmission for livestock barns
    (2023-08) Warmka, Anna
    The need for producers to demonstrate the environmental and economical sustainability of their operations is driven by several stakeholder and consumer groups, creating a call for methods to accurately estimate gas emissions and quantify risk of disease transmission. In this work, I first provide background on the mechanisms of gas emissions from deep-pit swine operations and a summary of current emission estimation strategies in the literature. Next, I present one thesis project demonstrating the opportunities and limitations to applying a mass balance approach to estimate methane and ammonia emissions from deep-pit swine barns. Through this project, different mass balance approaches are evaluated against each other and typical emission modeling approaches. Findings from this project show that there are limitations to the application of a mass balance approach in swine barns, particularly related to in-barn sample collection and dataavailability. Then, I present a second thesis project identifying opportunities and limitations to using a fluorescent gel as a proxy for disease transfer in biosecurity research. In this project, I present a method to quantify the luminance of the fluorescent gel and investigate the factors important in measuring the transfer of gel from one surface to another. Findings from these two projects provide a framework for the methods needed to conduct research in gas emissions and biosecurity in livestock operations. Understanding the current state and limitations of these methods is important to consider when applying them to future research, and the current limitations presented provide an outline for future work needed in these fields.
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    Grazing Systems Planning Guide
    (University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2003) Blanchet, Kevin; Moechnig, Howard; DeJong-Hughes, Jodi
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    Literature Review Summary of the Influences to Soil Health Practice Adoption Behavior in the Midwest
    (2022-11-16) Roth, Sarah
    Increasing voluntary adoption of conservation practices by producers is key to reducing agricultural pollution in Minnesota’s waterways. In order to do this, we must understand producer adoption behavior including the drivers of and barriers to adoption. A literature review was conducted that was exclusive to studies in the Midwest, published since 2000, and focused on soil health practices of interest including cover crops, conservation tillage, perennials, and livestock integration. The major factors that influence producer behavior related to adoption were grouped into 5 main categories: farm characteristics, personal characteristics, perceived practice characteristics, social factors, and structural factors.
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    Livestock Feed Concentrate Consumption by County
    (Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1969-11) Greer, R. C.; Dahl, Dale C.
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    Minnesota Farmers Survey.
    (1990) Minnesota Center for Survey Research