title: Using choice experiments to assess smallholder farmers' preferences for pig breeding traits in different production systems in North-West Vietnam

authors: Roessler, Regina

subjects: choice experiments

abstract: Livestock form key components of the livelihood strategies of many of the world's poorest people. However, despite the potential to alleviate poverty and improve food security through livestock development interventions, the lack of smallholders' participation in the planning and design of breeding programs has often been a major cause of the failure of such programs. Particularly in developing countries where livestock production is still mostly subsistence-oriented and livestock fulfil manifold functions a considerable number of livestock breeding programs have failed. The development of adequate tools to characterise these functions, bearing in mind that these are expressed only rarely in properly functioning markets, is therefore important.
This paper seeks to advance the application of such methodologies to the smallholder pig sector in Vietnam. A choice experiment was applied across 140 households involved in pig breeding in order to assess farmers' preferences and the trade-offs for a list of adaptive and productive traits. These included growth, reproduction, disease resistance, feed requirements and appearance.
The findings indicate that smallholders highly value both adaptive and performance traits, particularly in resource-driven (i.e. subsistence) production systems. Performance traits were more highly valued in the demand-driven (i.e. market-oriented) systems. These findings have implications for breeding program breed choice and breeding objectives.

text: Using choice experiments to assess smallholder farmers' preferences for pig breeding traits in different production systems in North-West Vietnam Livestock form key components of the livelihood strategies of many of the world's poorest people. However, despite the potential to alleviate poverty and improve food security through livestock development interventions, the lack of smallholders' participation in the planning and design of breeding programs has often been a major cause of the failure of such programs. Particularly in developing countries where livestock production is still mostly subsistence-oriented and livestock fulfil manifold functions a considerable number of livestock breeding programs have failed. The development of adequate tools to characterise these functions, bearing in mind that these are expressed only rarely in properly functioning markets, is therefore important.
This paper seeks to advance the application of such methodologies to the smallholder pig sector in Vietnam. A choice experiment was applied across 140 households involved in pig breeding in order to assess farmers' preferences and the trade-offs for a list of adaptive and productive traits. These included growth, reproduction, disease resistance, feed requirements and appearance.
The findings indicate that smallholders highly value both adaptive and performance traits, particularly in resource-driven (i.e. subsistence) production systems. Performance traits were more highly valued in the demand-driven (i.e. market-oriented) systems. These findings have implications for breeding program breed choice and breeding objectives.

year: 2008

title: Unsteady free surface flow induced by a line sink in a fluid of finite depth

authors: Stokes, Tim E.

abstract: The unsteady withdrawal of fluid from a reservoir of finite depth with a free surface through a line sink is considered. A numerical method is used to investigate the evolution of a free surface in several different geometric and initial configurations, and it is shown that there are some critical flow parameters at which the flow changes its nature. The existence of steady states is also considered. Results both with and without surface tension are included and placed in context with previous work. Inclusion of surface tension reveals that solutions either evolve to a steady state or drawdown. As the sink is moved off the base, the behaviour becomes consistent with flows in a fluid of infinite depth, and consequently flows can be classified as either “shallow” or “deep” depending on their drawdown behaviour.

text: Unsteady free surface flow induced by a line sink in a fluid of finite depth The unsteady withdrawal of fluid from a reservoir of finite depth with a free surface through a line sink is considered. A numerical method is used to investigate the evolution of a free surface in several different geometric and initial configurations, and it is shown that there are some critical flow parameters at which the flow changes its nature. The existence of steady states is also considered. Results both with and without surface tension are included and placed in context with previous work. Inclusion of surface tension reveals that solutions either evolve to a steady state or drawdown. As the sink is moved off the base, the behaviour becomes consistent with flows in a fluid of infinite depth, and consequently flows can be classified as either “shallow” or “deep” depending on their drawdown behaviour.

year: 2008

title: Renewal and resistance: Moko in contemporary New Zealand

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: maori

abstract: Moko is still here, contrary to the widely held belief that the art and custom of moko-Maori skin adornment-had vanished from New Zealand communities. Over the last two decades an increasingly visible number of Maori have revived and renewed the practice, taking colour into their skin. As an indigenous people, re-taking moko confronts and refutes the myth of a 'dying race'. It calls on Maori to recommit to strong Maori identities, customs and traditions and challenges the viewer to re-examine their social representations of moko and moko wearers. This paper reports the resistance strategies of a group of 83 moko wearers. Strategies include (1) educating, representing and reconstructing; (2) invalidating and minimizing representations; (3) building and enhancing social networks; and (4) securing cultural identity and pride. They reflect the celebration of cultural resilience.

text: Renewal and resistance: Moko in contemporary New Zealand Moko is still here, contrary to the widely held belief that the art and custom of moko-Maori skin adornment-had vanished from New Zealand communities. Over the last two decades an increasingly visible number of Maori have revived and renewed the practice, taking colour into their skin. As an indigenous people, re-taking moko confronts and refutes the myth of a 'dying race'. It calls on Maori to recommit to strong Maori identities, customs and traditions and challenges the viewer to re-examine their social representations of moko and moko wearers. This paper reports the resistance strategies of a group of 83 moko wearers. Strategies include (1) educating, representing and reconstructing; (2) invalidating and minimizing representations; (3) building and enhancing social networks; and (4) securing cultural identity and pride. They reflect the celebration of cultural resilience.

year: 2007