The management of indigenous pigs in rural villages of Busia and Kakamega district, Western Kenya, is discussed. Data on husbandry practices, challenges and farmers knowledge on T. solium taeniosis / cysticercosis were gathered using questionnaires administered in face-to-face interviews. Pigs were examined for cysticercosis using the lingual palpation method. Data were managed in Stata®. Majority of the farmers were aged 30-50 years (44%), and were mostly women (69%). Years of pig keeping experience was higher in Kakamega (11.4±8.7) than it was in Busia (6.3±5.6) (P<0.05). Pork (31%) and beef (51%) were the most preferred meat types in the villages. Families owned an average of 0.94±0.81 hectares of land. The mean number of pigs owned per farm was 5.0 (±3.4), 1.8 (±1.2) and 1.5 (±0.9) for the pre-weaned, growing and adult pig categories, respectively. Constraints faced by the farmers included feeding (65%), diseases (46%), fewer breeding boars (60 %), poor profits (61%) and conflicts with neighbours (53%). Parasite control was poor. The majority of farmers (73%) had no pig house. These farmers either lacked skills to build the houses (11%; 23/209) or had no money to purchase construction materials (45%; 93/209). Tethering of pigs was frequent (>50%) during the planting (91%; 263 / 290), growing (90%; 263 / 290) and crop harvesting seasons (78%; 227 / 290). Prevalence of pig cysticercosis was 4.5%. Piglets were significantly cheaper in Busia (Ksh 509±57) than in Kakamega (Ksh 777±174) (P<0.05). Indigenous pig management in Western Kenya is reportedly poor. Improved knowledge coupled with changes in local husbandry practices would improve productivity, increase family incomes and safeguard the community from potential health risks associated with pig rearing.

This study was conducted in four Peasant Associations in Jamma district. A total of 120 households from four PAs were involved in the study. Ninety eight percent of farmers were supplementing extra feeds and water for their chickens, with the main proportion of food leftover (26.4%) followed by spoiled grain (25.1%). The proportions of households providing supplementary feeding were: 19.8, 21.5, 37.3 and 21.4% in the morning, at noon, afternoon and evening respectively. Most of the households (77.7%) were not giving feeds separately to the flock compositions. Households were practicing of chicken selection with the main characters of egg productivity (35.4) and body weight (38.4%). Majority of households (78%) were using their living room for birds penning at night and women were more (72%) responsible for flock management. The larger eggs with oval shape and smooth in eggshell were the preferred characters in selection of incubating eggs. Farmers (38%) adapted a practice of mixing local eggs with exotic or crossbred eggs while incubating for better hatchability of exotic or crossbred eggs. Around 73% the respondents reported that the highest mortality of chicks was occurring up to 2 weeks of age. But around 12.6% of the households were treating their sick birds with traditional-treatments. Ninety-one per cent of farmers pointed out that more frequently occurring and devastating disease was Newcastle Disease.

The influence of non-genetic factors on lamb survivability at various ages up to 360 days was studied under village management condition in Jimma, Ethiopia. The overall least squares means of lamb survival rate was 89.0 at 0-60, 81.5 at 0-120 and 50.0 % up to 360 days. The survival rate of lambs up to weaning (120 days) was 81.5 %. Season of birth consistently exerted a significant effect (p<0.05)) on lamb survival. Lambs born during the post rain and dry periods showed a higher survival rate than lambs born during the wet season. Districts showed a significant effect (p<0.05)) on survival rates of lambs. Lambs born in land scarce areas (Dedo) had a low survival rate than lambs born in Seka (land available area). Type of birth did not exert an influence (p>0.05) on lamb survival. Sex had a significant effect (p<0.05) on survivability of lambs at later stages and the females showed higher survivability rate than males. Mortality tended to decrease with an increase with birth weight and decreased as parity increased. The birth weight showed a significant effect (p<0.05) on survival rate of lambs. The lambs with birth weight of 2 kg and above were showing higher survival rate. The lambs with 1.5 kg and lower birth weight showed high mortality rate. The study revealed that, adequate measures to be taken to curb mortality of lambs. The selection of heavier weight and larger litter at birth coupled with improved management could be a means to improve lamb productivity in the villages.

According to FAO statistics, camel population in Sudan ranks the second in the world after Somalia with 4.5 millions heads. This population is quite important while the camel production appears, at least officially, very low. With a meat production of 49,880 tons and a milk production of 120,000 tons, camel production is far away from the potential. Even if these data did not cover the entire reality, it is obvious that camel production in Sudan is insufficiently valorized. Meat from young camels has been reported to be comparable in taste and texture to beef. Inspite of the increase in local camel meat consumption to 63,000 tons in 2009, yet camel meat is common in some parts of the country and milk consumption under gariss form is popular in rural areas where camel is generally reared. Camel diseases are the major constrains of production such as trypanosomiasis and mastitis. The research has to push in that way in order to innovate camel meat and milk sector. The modernization of meat and milk processing could be the motor for the improvement of camel production. Both in terms of research and of development, the identification of the main constraints for the camel sector is the way to propose a fruitful strategy. (Résumé d'auteur)

The article analyses organizational internal and external environments, their possible correlations with 4 components of sustainability, and the principal determination models for sustainability of organizations. Based on the general principles of sustainable development organizations, a model for the determination of organizational sustainability has been developed. The use of self-organizing neural networks allows the identification of the external sustainability of each forest enterprise and the endeavour to explore vital, social, anthropogenic and economical efficiency. The determination of the forest enterprise external sustainability is expected to help better manage the external sustainability of forest enterprises and explain the reasons for a respective level of external sustainability.

Invention of light weight panel with a trade mark of Dendrolight is one of the most distinguished wood industry innovations of the last decade. At present three layers cellular wood panels have wide non structural application. The aim of the research is to evaluate the bending properties of three layer cellular wood panels for structural application. There were 8 specimens manufactured with thickness 136 or 152 mm, width 300 mm and length 2,500 mm of each of the six horizontal load bearing panel structural models. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) cellular wood and solid pine wood ribs were used as internal layer of the structural panels. Cellular wood core was placed in horizontal or vertical direction. Scots pine solid wood panels and birch plywood were used as top layer material. Applied glue was polivinilacetate Cascol 3353. The most common stress type in structural subflooring panels is bending; therefore, the influence of the cellular material orientation, ribs and top layer material on the sandwich type structural panel bending strength (MOR) and stiffness (MOE) were evaluated according to LVS EN 408:2011. Extra parameters like moisture content and apparent density were determined. Cellular wood in vertical direction can be used as raw material for structural panel production. Panels with solid timber external layers, with ribs and with vertical orientation of the cellular material showed the highest MOR (35.2 N mmE-2) and MOE (11,500 N mmE-2) values. The influence of the solid wood ribs on the bending properties is directly dependent on external layer material.

Due to currently aggravating problems of global warming, more and more alternatives are being developed using a mixture of different fuels. The rapid development of science and engineering solutions can be the most efficient burning of the local biofuels to a minimum harmful substances from combustion process - including the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. The research concerns fuel problem of choice between cost-effective, but environmentally harmful fuels. Research data will help further studies on the fuel in order to increase energy efficiency and rational use. The research was done in 2010, in Riga Technical University laboratories. An aspen wood and hard coal was used to create this fuel mixture. During the research, sampling, grinding, sifting and blending of different proportions, moisture and calorific value determination were carried out. It was determined that the calorific value of the mixture would increase linearly, exactly in the proportion of coal quantities added.

The theoretical part of the paper presents an overview of trends in the solution of economic and social problems in rural areas and rural development. It also makes an inventory of modern theories on European rural development and analyses aspects of strategic management of the activities of regional and rural communities. The documentary part of the paper analyses the EU and Lithuanian regional and rural development policy, the developments in the implementation of the EU LEADER programme in Lithuania in 2003 – 2010 and opportunities for its improvement, the establishment of local action groups (LAGs) and their key activities. The empirical part of the paper examines the activities of LAGs in Ukmerge and Radviliskis regions and offers a comparative analysis of the content of five strategies produced by the two LAGs for the period between 2003 and 2013. The research has demonstrated that the five rural development strategies of both LAGs are based on the principles of collaboration among the representatives of local authorities, businesses and rural communities, continuity and consultations with local population. The discussion part focuses on the guidelines for the improvement of the strategic management of rural development. The conclusions present an overview of the typical features, priorities, aims and objectives of the strategies of both LAGs.

The investigations were carried out in the Lithuanian Agricultural University Water Research Institute land plots in the Endocalcari Endohypogleyic Cambisols (CMg-n-w-can). The basis of the investigation is 3 variants field experiment. Each variant consists of 3 in 0.54 ha drainage. The traditional arable farming is applied in variant I. In the variant II the land is not being cultivated, but in spring the perennial ryegrass (‘Lolium perenne L’) is being seeded into the spring barley and kept till spring. In the variant III the land is not being cultivated after the harvest and left for the rest till spring. The variant II is distinguished by the minimal mineral nitrogen content. Applied to cultivated and uncultivated land, the min N reserves are increased 51 - 83 and 33 - 40 and 11 - 101 and (38 - 134%) (to 9.5 - 14.3 mg kgE-1 and 152 - 68 and 154 - 61 kg haE-1). The average investigation of N concentration in the drainage water shows, that the minimum concentration of this element was in the second variant. Applied to the traditional farming and uncultivated land, the N concentration is increased by (30 - 42% to 34 and 37 mg lE-1). By average data the min N, leaching by drainage water in the variant II was minimal and about 27 kg haE-1. Applied to the arable farming and uncultivated land, the min N leching is increased (30 - 55%) (to 35 - 42 kg haE-1).

The negative impact of agricultural pollution with biogenic materials on surface water bodies is a relevant problem. This problem is addressed by limiting or prohibiting certain activities in so called buffer areas. The biogenic materials are carried by surface or groundwater runoff. Water infiltration is influenced by the lithological composition of sediments. Its structure is determined by analyzing geological and geomorphological maps and by drilling boreholes in the selected area. With the help of boreholes the level of groundwater and chemical composition of the infiltrate can be assessed. An installed system of lysimeters and piezometers in the borehole allows monitoring the change of water quality and groundwater level in vertical level of sediments over time. The set of lysimeter boreholes allows to capture and mapping the spatial change of these parameters. This article presents the systematic and practical methodology of drilling the lysimetric boreholes of original construction and using long-term monitoring equipment for water quality.