• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.9
• /
• pp.1207-1214
• /
• 2017

Since the industrialization of swine production in the late 1900s, swine farms in the United States, as well as in Europe, have largely become consolidated. Pig farms became larger in size but fewer in number, with 91% of market pigs being produced by large operations with 5,000 or more pigs on-site in the US, and only 3% of the total utilized agricultural land representing organic farming. Such change in the market made it difficult for small farmers to stay competitive, forcing them to find alternative ways to reduce the cost of production and increase profit using the outdoor production system. In contrast to the indoor confinement system, outdoor production system uses pasture-based units and/or deep-bedded hoop structures that promote animal welfare and environmental sustainability with a lower capital investment. In accord with the growing concern for animal and environmental welfare and food safety by the consumers, small farmers practicing an outdoor production system are seeing increased opportunities for marketing their products in the pork niche market. Unlike the general belief that the reproductive and growth performance measures of the outdoor sows and piglets are poorer in comparison with the animals reared indoors, studies showed that there was no significant difference in the performance measures, and some traits were even better in outdoor animals. Improved reproductive and production traits can increase the sustainability of outdoor farming. Present study reviewed the recent studies comparing the performance measures, meat quality and health of indoor and outdoor animals, as well as the efforts to improve the outdoor production system through changes in management such as hut types and breed of animals.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.665-680
• /
• 2016

Theoretically, it is said that economies of scope can be realized in the cropelivestock cycling organic farming. Thus, it is also used as the principle of organic farming. However, it is difficult to find the cases of the empirical analysis of it in Korea. In that sense, this study is meaningful in that it analyzed the agricultural data of case farms of obtaining the approval of both organic agricultural products and organic animal products and practicing cycling farming for 4 years and tested the hypothesis. This study measured economies of scope by using the actual measurement value and estimation value farming performance statistics for 4 years of case farms. This farmhouse conducted nutrient cycling in the farm like self-manufacturing and injecting organic agricultural byproduct and wild grass as organic livestock feed and fermenting organic livestock manure to organic compost to return it 100%. The results can be summarized as follows: According to the result of cycling farming of combining and producing organic agriculture and organic livestock, economies of scope were found to be realized in this case farmhouse. That is, although not strong, EOS>0, there were economies of scope. The measurement value appeared as 0.0722, 0.00378, 0.04667 and 0.13127 in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. It was improved as time passes and the scale gets smaller. Therefore, in order to further improve economies of scope, there should be measures of reducing duplication costs between agriculture-livestock as low as possible and lowering the production cost of organic feed. That is, there is a need for the management strategy to adjust the import function and cost function according to the change in management paradigm and cropping system.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.453-462
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to compare the mortality number of swine between before and after HACCP implementation on different scales of swine farm. The study was carried out by randomly selected sixty swine farms (twenty small, twenty midium and twenty large scales of farm) located in all around Korea. The results were as follows: In small scale swine farm, The mortality number due to respiratory, diarrhea and accidental death tended to be decreased compared to before HACCP implementation. In the case medium scale farm, the mortality number due to diarrhea significantly decreased after HACCP compared to before HACCP. Also, in both medium and large scale farms, the number of total mortality number significantly decreased with HACCP implementation. We believe that this effect is considered to be due to the operation of the HACCP prerequisite program. We are expecting that our results might be used for producing safer livestock products by improving livestock products HACCP policy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.9
• /
• pp.1318-1328
• /
• 2011

The tropics is not an ideal location for calf rearing as the high temperatures and humidities introduce many potential disease problems to milk fed calves. In addition, the type of dairy farming (generally poorly resourced small holder farming) and the general lack of awareness of the long term implications of poorly reared stock do not encourage farmers to pay close attention to their calf and heifer rearing systems. Surveys of calf rearing systems in Asia, tropical Africa and South America highlight the high calf and heifer mortalities. A range of 15 to 25% pre-weaning calf mortality is typical on many tropical dairy farms. It is often as high as 50%, indicating very poor calf management. This contrasts with US findings of less than 8% mortality from birth to 6 months while surveys of Australian farmers report only 3% losses. Simple extension programs on farms in Sri Lanka and Kenya have drastically reduced calf mortalities and improved pre-weaning growth rates. Improved management strategies leading to lower calving intervals, higher calving rates, reduced still born and pre-weaned calf mortalities and fewer non pregnant heifers can supply many more dairy herd replacements than currently occurs. Such strategies can increase the number of replacement heifer calves in the herd from 15 to over 35%, thus allowing farmers to increase their herd sizes through natural increases. Simple management procedures such as ensuring adequate intake of good quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of life, housing and good hygiene to minimise disease transfer, providing clean drinking water, developing appropriate feeding protocols to encourage early rumen development and paying closer attention to climate control and animal health can all lead to improved calf vigour and performance. Good record keeping is also important so farmers can more easily identify susceptible calves and quickly treat potential problems.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.140-145
• /
• 1999

Livestock manure is generally beneficial to soil and crop production when appropriate amount is applied, but excessive application may be detrimental to soil and water environments. A proper protocol of livestock waste treatment is required to manage the quality of soil and water. A trickling filter system using rice straw media was employed to treat piggery wastewater from small-scaled livestock farms as an alternative to the currently available methods. Batches of piggery wastewater were treated with this system, and the byproducts of rice straw media and trickling filtrate were applied to the soil with cultivating rye (Secale cereale L.). Objective of this research was to characterize these byproducts for the sustainable soil amendments and rye production. Both the treated straw medium and filtrate were proven to be effective organic fertilizers for rye plant development, with the enhanced but balanced absorption of nutrients. The synergistic effects of filtrate in addition to straw application did not show, but the filtrate appeared to lead to a higher water content of the plant. No specific nutrient deficiency or toxicity symptom was shown due to the salts derived from the byproducts applied. Chemical parameters of the soil quality were significantly improved with the application of straw medium either with or without the filtrate. Judging from parameters relating to the salt accumulations, such as sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), potassium adsorption ratio (KAR), and residual P concentrations, the byproducts from piggery wastewater exhibited no detrimental effects on soil quality within the ranges of treatments used. In addition to the effectiveness of the rice straw trickling filter system for the small-scaled swine farms, both rice straw medium and filtrate could be recycled for the sustainable soil amendment and plant nutrition.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 2023

In the present study, the incidence of bovine tubeculosis (bTB) and brucellosis in Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) and dairy cow in Gyeongsangnam-do was investigated for three years from 2020 to 2022. The incidence bTB tested by tuberculin skin test with purified protein derivative (PPD) and gamma interferon (γ-INF) test with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. From 2020 to 2022, the incidence of bTB showed a decreasing trend in Hanwoo, while an increasing trend in dairy cow. In the case of Brucellosis, the positive rates for Hanwooe gradually increased. However, no brucellosis was found in dairy cow from 2020 to 2022. The increase in the incidence of these diseases is presumed to be related the small scale and poor sanitation facilities of livestock farms in Gyeongsangnam-do, and easy access of wild animals. Therefore, in order to suppress the incidence of the diseases, it is necessary to the farm scale from small to large and to strengthen sanitary facilities on farms.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.961-987
• /
• 2012

The present study is to investigate the characteristics and determinants of spatial distribution of strong small farm by defining the term, strong small farm (SSF) extracting the SSF households data dealing with apples, from 2010 Census of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Korea. Spatial distribution and concentration of SSF are analyzed based on spatial clustering techniques. We construct discrete dependent variables on strong and non-strong small farms and then analyze the determinants of the SSFs using probit model, with independent variables including population and economic characteristics and management characteristics. As of 2010, the apple SSFs, 1,529 households in total, are geographically concentrated in Gyeonsangbuk-do according to the analysis results. The determinants of SSF are similar to those of farms' earnings. When located in the apple producing area, and participating in producers organization while selling products directly, the farm is highly likely an SSF. The findings and results of the present study are expected to provide fundamental information helpful for preparing and implementing policies for SSFs in that the present study investigates the characteristics of SSF, which is a prerequisite step for SSF-related policies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
• /
• v.7 no.2 s.14
• /
• pp.13-25
• /
• 2001

Runoff and water quality was monitored from a watershed with small-scale livestock production farms. To evaluate pollution potential, land use, population, the size of livestock production of each farm, and livestock management method were surveyed. Climate and stream flow data were measured. Water samples were taken periodically for base flow conditions and some storm events. Pollutant loading was estimated by flow volume and concentrations of constituents. Delivery ratio of pollutant load was determined using estimated pollutant load.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.157-170
• /
• 2013

The objective of this study is to investigate the commercializations and difficulties on the farm-food. For the activation of the farm-food, it is necessary to totally review the support of the government and prepare the supporting system like manual on the commercialization of farm-food that is helpful to the small farmers. It is also necessary to support small farms strategies customized for increase the sales and satisfaction on farm-food and build-up the promotion related to the green tour and/or farm experience. The results and finding of this study can be used to build-up the supporting system that reflects the rapid change of market and customer's preference. They can also be used to design rational policies that is helpful to the farm-food producers.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.311-319
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a small combine for harvesting miscellaneous cereal crops. Methods: A prototype small combine was designed and constructed. Its specifications and basic performance were investigated. Results: The prototype small combine for harvesting miscellaneous cereal crops was designed and constructed to reflect similar specifications as those of the conventional combine. The prototype small combine comprises a diesel engine with the rated power/speed of 22.0 kW/2,600 rpm, three-stage primary and two-stage speed range transmission shifts, and a double acting threshing part. The maximum travel speeds of the prototype combine are approximately 0.72 m/s, 2.50 m/s, 0.30 m/s at the low, high speed range shifts in the forward direction, and while traversing in the reverse direction, respectively. The minimum radius of turning was approximately 1.50 m. In a static lateral overturning test, the prototype combine overturned neither to the right nor to left on a $30^{\circ}$ slope. The results of an oilseed rape harvesting test included the maximum operating speed of 0.32 m/s, the grain loss ratio of approximately 9.0%, and the effective field capacity of approximately 10.3 a/h. Additionally, among the outputs in grain outlet, the whole grains, damage grains, and materials other than grain (MOG) ratios accounted for 97.4%, 0.0%, and 2.6%, respectively. Conclusions: The prototype small combine for harvesting miscellaneous cereal crops indicates good driving ability and stability. The results of the oilseed rape harvesting test reveal that the harvesting performance must be enhanced such that the separating and cleaning parts are more suitable for each type of crop, thus reducing grain loss and foreign substances among the outputs in grain outlet. An improved small prototype combine could be used effectively to mechanize the harvesting of miscellaneous cereal crops in small family farms or semi-mountainous areas.