Ethics and farm animal welfare

In this paper the authors argue that ethical considerations are relevant for evaluating animal production systems and that in consequence agrologists should seriously consider the arguments of animal welfare supporters. Furthermore, the authors point out the ethical basis for some (though not all) of the conclusions proposed by supporters of animal welfare. In consequence it is necessary to determine the nature of animal welfare and methods of evaluating the welfare of animals and to recognize when production systems fail to satisfy the needs of animals.     

A COMPARISON OF RUNOFF QUALITY EFFECTS OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS APPLIED TO FESCUEGRASS PLOTS1

ABSTRACT: Application of fertilizer can degrade quality of runoff, particularly during the first post-application, runoff-producing storm. This experiment assessed and compared runoff quality impacts of organic and inorganic fertilizer application for a single simulated storm occurring seven days following application. The organic fertilizers used were poultry (Gallus gallus domesticus) litter, poultry manure, and swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) manure. All fertilizers were applied at an application rate of 217.6 kg N/ha. Simulated rainfall was applied at 50 mm/h for an average duration of 0.8 h. Runoff samples were collected, composited, and analyzed for nitrate N (NO₃-N), ammonia N (NH₃-N), total Kjeldahl N (TKN), ortho-P (PO₄-P), total P (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), fecal coliforms (FC), and fecal streptococci (FS). Application of the fertilizers did not alter the hydrologic characteristics of the receiving plots relative to the control plots. Concentrations of fertilizer constituents were almost always greater from treated than from control plots and were usually much greater. Flow-weighted mean concentrations of NH₃-N, PO₄-P, and TP were highest for the inorganic fertilizer treatment (42.0, 26.6, and 27.9 mg/L, respectively). Runoff COD and TSS concentrations were greatest for the poultry litter treatment. Concentrations of FC and FS were greater for fertilized than for control plots with no differences among fertilized plots, but FC concentrations for all treatments were in excess of Arkansas' primary and secondary contact standards. Mass losses of fertilizer constituents were low (≤ 3 kg/ha) and were small proportions (≤ 3 percent) of amounts applied.     

氮沉降对草原凋落物分解的影响

大气氮沉降增加是全球变化的重要现象之一,草原生态系统对氮沉降增加的响应成为草地生态学的研究热点之一。凋落物分解是草原生态系统养分循环和能量流动的主要途径,氮沉降增加引起草原植物群落结构变化,导致凋落物质量、土壤肥力、土壤微生物和土壤动物的变化,最终影响凋落物的分解。本文综述了氮沉降对草原凋落物结构、化学组成和分解环境的影响等方面的国内外最新研究进展,讨论了需进一步加强研究的内容,以期为进一步拓展该领域研究的广度和深度、为全面分析和评估全球变化对草原生态系统的影响提供参考。     

安徽野生动物资源及其开发利用与保护

安徽省自然条件优越,野生动物资源丰富,但在资源的开发利用上存在不少问题。只有在科学研究的基础上,把资源的开发利用与保护有机地结合起来,才能实现野生动物资源的永续利用。     

Sustainable Agriculture is Humane,Humane Agriculture is Sustainable

Procedures that increase the sustainability of agriculture often result in animals being treated more humanely:both livestock in animal and mixed farming and wildlife in arable farming. Equally, procedures ensuring humane treatment of farm animals often increase sustainability, for example in disease control and manure management. This overlap between sustainability and humaneness is not coincidental. Both approaches can be said to be animal centered, to be based on the fact that animal production is primarily a biological process. Proponents of both will gain from recognition of commonality and development of cooperation. A collaborative approach to humane sustainable agriculture will benefit animals, people, and the environment.     

Governmental Oversight of Discharges from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

As point sources of pollution in the United States, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are subject to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permitting system requirements. Changes to federal regulations in 2003 and a 2005 court decision have increased the governmental oversight of CAFOs. Manure application to fields from “large CAFOs” that results in unpermitted discharges can be regulated under the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s interpretation of agricultural stormwater discharges was approved so that unpermitted discharges may arise if an owner or operator of a CAFO fails to apply manure correctly. Owners and operators do not, however, have a duty to secure governmental permits in the absence of a discharge. Turning to the federal provisions regarding nutrient management plans, a court found that they were deficient. Moreover, the federal government needs to reconsider requirements that would reduce pathogens from entering surface waters. Although these developments should assist in reducing the impairment of U.S. waters, concern still exists. Greater oversight of nutrient management plans and enhanced enforcement efforts offer opportunities to provide greater assurance that CAFO owners and operators will not allow a discharge of pollutants to enter surface waters.     

Causes and consequences of woody plant encroachment into western North American grasslands

As woody plants encroach into grasslands, grass biomass, density and cover decline as wood plant biomass, density and cover increase. There is also a shift in location of the biomass from mostly belowground in the grasslands to aboveground in the woodlands. In addition, species richness and diversity change as herbaceous species are replaced by woody species. This is not a new phenomenon, but has been going on continually as the climate of the Planet has changed. However, in the past 160 years the changes have been unparalleled. The process is encroachment not invasion because woody species that have been increasing in density are native species and have been present in these communities for thousands of years. These indigenous or native woody species have increased in density, cover and biomass because of changes in one or more abiotic or biotic factors or conditions. Woody species that have increased in density and cover are not the cause of the encroachment, but the result of changes of other factors. Globally, the orbit of the Earth is becoming more circular and less elliptical, causing moderation of the climate. Additional global climate changing factors including elevated levels of CO₂ and parallel increases in temperature are background factors and probably not the principal causes directing the current wave of encroachment. There is probably not a single reason for encroachment, but a combination of factors that are difficult to disentangle. The prime cause of the current and recent encroachment appears to be high and constant levels of grass herbivory by domestic animals. This herbivory reduces fine fuel with a concomitant reduction in fire frequency or in some cases a complete elimination of fire from these communities. Conditions would now favor the woody plants over the grasses. Reduced grass competition, woody plant seed dispersal and changes in animal populations seem to modify the rate of encroachment rather than being the cause. High concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ are not required to explain current woody plant encroachment. Changes in these grassland communities will continue into the future but the specifics are difficult to predict. Density, cover and species composition will fluctuate and will probably continue to change. Increased levels of anthropogenic soil nitrogen suggest replacement of many legumes by other woody species. Modification and perhaps reversal of the changes in these former grassland communities will be an arduous, continuing and perhaps impossible management task.     

盐城沿海珍稀动物保护与经济发展的关系

江苏盐城沿海有我国至今仍保存较为完好的滩涂原生生态系统，栖息着３３０余种鸟兽资源，其中被列为我国重点保护的种类达５７种之多；然而，如何保护、发展和合理利用野生动物资源，力争做到既能维持生态平衡，又能促进经济发展，是我们今天所面临的新课题。本文对盐城沿海珍稀动物保护与经济发展的关系进行了探讨。