| 1. |
- Aradom Messmer, Samuel
(författare)
-
Animal transport and welfare with special emphasis on transport time and vibration
- 2013
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Farm animals are transported several times during their lifetime and often long distances, and most of them are to slaughter. During transport they are exposed to a number of stress inducing factors. The main objective of the thesis work was to study the welfare of pigs, cows and bulls during transport from farm to abattoir. Parameters such as cortisol, glucose, lactate, creatine kinease, behaviour, carcass pH, temperature, relative humidity, THI and vibration were used to evaluate welfare of the animals. Transport-related activities such as loading, transport, stopping, queuing, unloading and waiting at lairage and their durations were also monitored. Moreover locations of collection points and trucks routes were registered. During the experiments, GPS, temperature-relative humidity and vibration sensors and video camera were mounted on animals transport vehicles. The vehicles had natural ventilation and air suspension systems. Blood parameters and their correlation with transport time were evaluated. Cortisol concentration was negatively correlated in pigs, cows and bulls except for bulls at 12 h during summer. Correlation of lactate was strong and of glucose weak in pigs and cows. In bulls there were strong glucose (summer) and weak lactate correlations. Change in creatine kinease concentration in cows, bulls and pigs were positively correlated. However it increased at earlier transport time in cattle than in pigs. Animals behaviour such as lying, travel sickness (pigs), swaying and loss of balance (cattle) were strongly correlated with transport time. Transport of cattle on gravel road at 70 km h-1 induced highest vibration level, 2.27 m s-2. Above 85% of the pigs in the third floor preferred lying in travel direction due to higher lateral acceleration. Pigs were exposed to heat and cattle to cold stress. Queuing at abattoir occurred in around 20 % of the deliveries. Queuing time at the abattoir varied between 7 and 98, with an average of 23.7 minutes. Potential savings for routes was up to 23%, therefore reducing negative impact on animal welfare and consequently on meat quality and environment. Pigs in the third floor were exposed to higher lateral acceleration. Based on behaviours and stress hormones, it could be concluded that on cattle an increase from 4 to 8 h and on pigs from 8 to 12 h transport time had higher effect on welfare. To reduce impact of vibration transporters have to adapt speed of vehicle to road and animals conditions.
|
|
| 2. |
- Aradom Messmer, Samuel
(författare)
-
Animal transport and welfare with special emphasis on transport time and vibration including logistics chain and abattoir operations
- 2012
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During transport animals are exposed to a number of stressors such as, separation from familiar and mixing with unfamiliar groups, vibration and transport time. Logistics chain of animals comprises collecting from farms, transport, unloading and slaughter chain operations. The current licentiate thesis deals with transport of pigs and cattle from farms to abattoirs including all logistics chain. Two trucks with natural ventilation and air suspension systems were used for field experiments. Stress hormones such as cortisol, glucose, lactate and creatine kinease, ethological parameters, carcass pH value, temperature and relative humidity were measured to study effect of transport on pigs welfare. Vibration levels on chassi, floor and cattle were studied and the influence of speeds, road types and cattle standing orientations on vibration levels were investigated. Field measurements were also conducted to describe the potential effect of operations planning and route optimization on welfare and meat quality. Highest pH24 value was (5.990.29) at 12 h summer transport time. Concentrations of cortisol was inversely proportional (P<0.001) to transport time, lactate and creatine kinase (P<0.002) positively correlated where as glucose level (P<0.01) was highest at 8 h transport time. Lying, sitting and rooting correlated with transport time (P<0.009). On cattle, highest vibration was 2.27±0.33 m s-2 during transport on gravel road at 70 km h-1. Vibrations in horizontal and lateral directions were lower on animals positioned perpendicular to driving direction. Uneven distributions of arrivals affected handling at the delivery gate. Unloading, including waiting and preparation, varied between 7 and 98, with an average of 23.7 minutes. Queues at washing occurred at 29% of deliveries, with waiting of up to 56 minutes. Potential savings for individual routes was up to 23%, consequently reducing negative impact on animal welfare, meat quality and environment. Based on climatic conditions, behaviours, stress hormones, and final carcases pH values, an increase from 4 to 8 h had higher effect than from 8 to 12 h transport time. To reduce vibration levels animal transporters more have to adapt vehicle's speed to road and animal conditions. Time and distance of transport activity can be reduced through effective planning and route optimisation which also improves animals' welfare and environmental impact.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Aradom Messmer, Samuel, et al.
(författare)
-
Vibration on animal transport vehicles and related animal behaviours with special focus on pigs
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of agricultural science and technology. A. - 2161-6256. ; 3, s. 231-245
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of vibration on postural stability of cattle, behaviours of pigs and vibration transmission from floor 1 to floor 3 and driving performance in terms of vibration level on pigs transport vehicle. Single deck cattle and 3 deck pigs transport vehicles were used for the experiments. Vibration sensors and video camera were mounted in the observation boxes. Observation box of pigs was on the third floor. Continuous recording and measurements were made during the journeys to adequately describe vibration and behaviours. The experimental design consisted of three series having three replications. Swaying and loss of balance constantly increased with transport time for bulls and cows. In proportion to transport retching and vomiting of pigs increased in a linear form with increase of transport time over 85% (P < 0.006) of the pigs preferred to lie in travel direction. Along the vertical and lateral directions vibration transmitted from 1st to 3rd floor was between 108% and 113%, thus amplified. Different drivers but same duration and route could result different levels of vibration in all axes. These behavioural responses indicated that vibration and associated driving performance had a considerable effect on welfare of cattle and pigs. Vibration was amplified from floor 1 to 3 in vertical and lateral directions and pigs on floor 3 were exposed to a higher level of vibration in the two axes. Performance of drivers varied considerably as related to vibration emanated from pigs transport vehicle.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Gebresenbet, Girma, et al.
(författare)
-
Optimisation analysis of large and small-scale abattoirs in relation to animal transport and meat distribution
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Australian Journal of Agricultural Engineering. - 1836-943X. ; 2, s. 31-39
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study reports the optimization analysis made to determine the benefits of establishing a small-scale local abattoir in comparison with the large scale-abattoir in relation to transport distance and time during animal transport and meat distribution, which have a direct impact on animal welfare, meat quality and the environment. Consumer attitudes towards locally produced meat and the self-sufficiency of the region, where the local abattoir was planned to be established, were also examined. It was found that consumers in the region strongly preferred locally produced meat and about 50% of the meat produced would be sufficient to meet demand in the region. Major benefits of having the local abattoir included: (1) Reductions in transport distance and transport time of collecting animals from farms and delivering them to the abattoir by 42% and 37% respectively. The corresponding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that were generated from vehicles reduced by 42%. (2) Reductions in transport distance, transport time and GHG emissions involved in distributing meat to the retailers of about 53%, 46% and 53%, respectively. (3) The significant reduction of transport distance and time improves animal welfare
|
|
| 7. |
- Gebresenbet, Girma, et al.
(författare)
-
Vibration levels and frequencies on vehicle and animals during transport
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Biosystems Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 1537-5110 .- 1537-5129. ; 110, s. 10-19
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During transport, animals are subjected to various stressors, including vibration, noise and poor handling, and these compromise animal welfare. This study determined vibration levels and resonance frequencies for vehicles and dairy cows. A Volvo FM12 with air suspension, driven at 30, 50, 70 or 90 km h1 on three road types, was used for transportation. To study the effect of standing orientation on vibration, animals were positioned parallel or perpendicular to the direction of travel. Vehicle speed was measured with MAGELLAN 315 type GPS. Two vibration sensors were placed on the chassis and floor and. additional sensors were firmly attached to adjustable straps mounted on animals. For each run, measurements were made over a 20 s period on five animals. The highest vibration level observed on animals was 2.27 0.33 m s2 when driving on gravel roads at 70 km h1. Vibrations in the horizontal and lateral directions were lower on animals positioned perpendicular to the direction of travel than on those facing forward. Both road conditions ( p < 0.0002) and standing orientation ( p < 0.002) have a significant effect on vibration levels. Three main resonance frequencies were identified for the vertical direction, at 1.3, 5.1, 12.6 Hz, and at about 23 Hz. The vibration exposure values (8 h transport period) for the vertical, horizontal and lateral directions were 0.61 0.12, 0.92 0.35, and 1 0.21 m s2, respectively. These exceed the EU daily exposure action of 0.5 m s2, but are lower than the daily exposure limit of 1.15 m s2.
|
|
| 8. |
- Ljungberg, David, et al.
(författare)
-
Lokal matlogistik : möjligheter till utveckling, effektivisering och integration med storskaliga logistikkedjor
- 2012
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Intresset för mat med en uttalad identitet är stort idag. Konsumenter vill veta var maten producerats och uppskattar mat med ursprung i till exempel den egna hembygden. Det finns också ett ökande utbud av lokala matprodukter i butiker och restaurangmenyer, på marknader och via andra försäljningskanaler. Det växande intresset för lokal mat gäller även andra aktörer i livsmedelskedjan, myndigheter och forskare. Många producenter stöter på problem som handlar om logistik och transporter. Det finns därför ett behov av att öka förståelsen för den lokala maten och dess försäljningskanaler och utveckla metoderna för att distribuera den till marknaden på ett sätt som är effektivt, hållbart och anpassat till de lokala producenternas förhållanden. Denna rapport diskuterar hur lokal mat och närliggande begrepp kan definieras, logistikens roll i form av utmaningar och möjligheter, presenterar fallstudier och analyser för att belysa olika lösningar i olika sammanhang, samt introducerar en konceptuell modell för producenternas strategiska logistikutveckling. Syftet med projektet var att utveckla kostnadseffektiva alternativa strategier för logistik och flödeskedjor hos småskaliga producenter och distributörer av lokal mat genom samordning och integration inom sektorn, samt genom att undersöka möjligheterna att integrera små- och storskaliga aktörer i livsmedelskedjan. Projektet baserades på en övergripande kartläggning och tre fallstudier med kompletterande analyser. Projektet har använt deltagande aktionsforskning som utgångspunkt, och fallstudierna har involverat slutanvändarna för att säkerställa att projektets resultat skall komma till användning. Den övergripande kartläggningen baserades på litteratur, intervjuer med nyckelpersoner inom handelssektorn och inom olika producentnätverk, samt en producentenkät. För varje fallstudie har sedan datainsamlingen kompletterats, genom intervjuer med de aktuella producenterna, insamling av dokumentation från transportföretag och beställare, samt egna observationer och mätningar. Med hjälp av programvaror och kartdatabaser för geografiska informationssystem och ruttoptimering, samt statistisk bearbetning, har den insamlade informationen från de studerade systemen analyserats. I en avslutande del av rapporten beskrivs hur erfarenheterna från de olika fallstudierna använts till att skapa en syntes i form av en konceptuell modell för strategisk analys av de småskaliga producenternas logistikfrågor, samt identifieras behov av fortsatt forskning och utveckling. Projektet har ökat kunskapen om logistiksystemen för lokalproducerad mat och skapat ny kunskap som är viktig för att utveckla dem. Studien har visat att logistiken ses som ett viktigt problemområde för många av producenterna. Fördelen med korta transporter väger inte upp de nackdelar som småskaliga flöden och geografisk spridning och variation bland producenterna innebär för logistiken och transporterna. Samordning, optimering och integration kan ändå skapa möjligheter till att förbättra logistiken, vilket har demonstrerats i projektets fallstudier. En konceptuell modell för strategisk analys av logistiklösningar för producenter av lokal mat har utvecklats, som visar på att det finns behov av olika logistiklösningar för olika grupper av producenter, och att det måste finnas en stor flexibilitet i de lösningar som utvecklas. • Modellen använder två parametrar för att dela in producenterna i fyra grupper, med olika behov av stöd för strategisk logistikutveckling och val av försäljningskanaler: o avståndet till den huvudsakliga marknaden o verksamhetens omsättning • Samordning kan initieras med små medel baserat på personliga kontakter, men betydligt fler möjligheter skulle kunna identifieras genom en systematisk kartläggning. En analys av geografiska kluster bland producenterna visade på stora möjligheter till samordning, där det dessutom finns större logistikcentraler för livsmedel i närheten av de flesta av dessa kluster. • Optimering kräver programvara, planeringsresurser och kompetens, men kan vara en viktig möjlighet, med stor potential för transporteffektivisering. Det krävs dock att producentnätverk, handelsaktörer, myndigheter eller andra organisationer kan stötta producenterna. Optimeringsanalyserna visade på möjligheter att minska körsträckorna med upp till 78% om flera rutter kunde optimeras tillsammans och leveranstiderna kunde göras flexibla. • Integrerade logistiklösningar blir allt viktigare för att framgångsrikt utveckla även mindre företag inom livsmedelssektorn, vilket innebär både utmaningar och möjligheter. Personlig kommunikation är fortfarande mest ändamålsenlig för de allra minsta företagen, men för något större företag som vill expandera och leverera till livsmedelskedjorna är det nödvändigt med en fortsatt utveckling av kostnadseffektiva, användarvänliga system där marknadsföring, orderhantering och fakturering såväl som transportplanering kan integreras med elektronisk kommunikation.
|
|
