• Title/Summary/Keyword: Free-range

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Free-range Poultry Production - A Review

  • Miao, Z.H.;Glatz, P.C.;Ru, Y.J.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.113-132
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    • 2005
  • With the demand for free-range products increasing and the pressure on the intensive poultry industry to improve poultry welfare especially in western countries, the number of free-range poultry farms has increased significantly. The USA, Australia and European countries have developed Codes of Practice for free-range poultry farming which detail the minimum standards of husbandry and welfare for birds. However, the performance and liveability of free-range birds needs to be improved and more knowledge is required on bird husbandry, feed supply, disease control and heat wave management. This review examines the husbandry, welfare, nutrition and disease issues associated with free-range poultry systems and discusses the potential of incorporating free-range poultry into a crop-pasture rotation system.

Multihop Range-Free Localization with Virtual Hole Construction in Anisotropic Sensor Networks (비등방성 센서 네트워크에서 가상 홀을 이용한 다중 홉 Range-Free 측위 알고리즘)

  • Lee, Sangwoo;Kim, Sunwoo
    • The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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    • v.38C no.1
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    • pp.33-42
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    • 2013
  • This paper presents a multihop range-free localization algorithm to estimate the physical location of a normal node with local connectivity information in anisotropic sensor networks. In the proposed algorithm, a normal node captures the detour degree of the shortest path connecting an anchor pair and itself by comparing the measured hop count and the expected hop count, and the node estimates the distances to the anchors based on the detour degree. The normal node repeats this procedure with all anchor combinations and pinpoints its location using the obtained distance estimates. The proposed algorithm requires fewer anchors and less communication overhead compared to existing range-free algorithms. We showed the superiority of the proposed algorithm over existing range-free algorithms through MATLA simulations.

Free Range Hens Use the Range More When the Outdoor Environment Is Enriched

  • Nagle, T.A.D.;Glatz, P.C.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.584-591
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    • 2012
  • To evaluate the role of using forage, shade and shelterbelts in attracting birds into the range, three trials were undertaken with free range layers both on a research facility and on commercial farms. Each of the trials on the free range research facility in South Australia used a total of 120 laying hens (Hyline Brown). Birds were housed in an eco-shelter which had 6 internal pens of equal size with a free range area adjoining the shelter. The on-farm trials were undertaken on commercial free range layer farms in the Darling Downs in Southeast Queensland with bird numbers on farms ranging from 2,000-6,800 hens. The first research trial examined the role of shaded areas in the range; the second trial examined the role of forage and the third trial examined the influence of shelterbelts in the range. These treatments were compared to a free range area with no enrichment. Aggressive feather pecking was only observed on a few occasions in all of the trials due to the low bird numbers housed. Enriching the free range environment attracted more birds into the range. Shaded areas were used by 18% of the hens with a tendency (p = 0.07) for more hens to be in the paddock. When forage was provided in paddocks more control birds (55%) were observed in the range in morning than in the afternoon (30%) while for the forage treatments 45% of the birds were in the range both during the morning and afternoon. When shelterbelts were provided there was a significantly (p<0.05) higher % of birds in the range (43% vs. 24%) and greater numbers of birds were observed in areas further away from the poultry house. The results from the on-farm trials mirrored the research trials. Overall 3 times more hens used the shaded areas than the non shaded areas, with slightly more using the shade in the morning than in the afternoon. As the environmental temperature increased the number of birds using the outdoor shade also increased. Overall 17 times more hens used the shelterbelt areas than the control areas, with slightly more using the shelterbelts in the afternoon than in the morning. Approximately 17 times more birds used the forage areas compared to the control area in the corresponding range. There were 8 times more birds using a hay bale enriched area compared to the area with no hay bales. The use of forage sources (including hay bales) were the most successful method on-farm to attract birds into the range followed by shelterbelts and artificial shade. Free range egg farmers are encouraged to provide pasture, shaded areas and shelterbelts to attract birds into the free range.

An Improved Vehicle Tracking Scheme Combining Range-based and Range-free Localization in Intersection Environment (교차로 환경에서 Range-based와 Range-free 위치측정기법을 혼합한 개선된 차량위치추적기법)

  • Park, Jae-Bok;Koh, Kwang-Shin;Cho, Gi-Hwan
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.106-116
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    • 2011
  • USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Network) environment permits us to access whatever information we want, whenever we want. The technologies to provide a basement to these environments premise an accurate location establishment. Especially, ITS(Intelligent Transportation Systems) is easily constructed by applying USN technology. Localization can be categorized as either Range-based or Range-free. Range-based is known to be not suitable for the localization based on sensor network, because of the irregularity of radio propagation and the additional device requirement. The other side, Range-free is much appropriated for the resource constrained sensor network because it can actively locate by means of the communication radio. But, generally the location accuracy of Range-free is low. Especially, it is very low in a low-density environment. So, these two methods have both merits and demerits. Therefore, it requires a new method to be able to improve tracking accuracy by combining the two methods. This paper proposes the tracking scheme based on range-hybrid, which can markedly enhance tracking accuracy by effectively using the information of surrounding nodes and the RSSI(Received Signal Strength Indication) that does not require additional hardware. Additionally, we present a method, which can improve the accuracy of vehicle tracking by adopting the prediction mechanism. Simulation results show that our method outperforms other methods in the transportation simulation environment.

Effect of Free-range Rearing on Meat Composition, Physical Properties and Sensory Evaluation in Taiwan Game Hens

  • Lin, Cheng-Yung;Kuo, Hsiao-Yun;Wan, Tien-Chun
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.27 no.6
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    • pp.880-885
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    • 2014
  • Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of an outdoor-grazed raising model on meat composition, physical properties and sensory attributes of Taiwan game hens. Six hundred 1-d old female chicks were raised on a floor for 8 weeks. On day 57, 600 healthy birds, with similar body weight, were selected and randomly assigned to three treatment groups (cage, floor-pen and free-range). The results showed that different feeding models had no effect on drip loss, cooking loss, moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, zinc and calorie contents in breast meat and moisture content in thigh meat. The free-range group had the lowest fat content in both breast and thigh meat, and the lowest calorie content in thigh meat. The firmness and toughness in both thigh and breast of the free-range group were the highest values (p<0.05). The crude protein, total collagen, zinc and iron contents in thigh meat and total collagen content in breast meat of the free-range group were significantly higher than those of the cage-feeding group (p<0.05). The meat sensory scores of flavor, chewiness and overall acceptability of both thigh and breast meat of the free-range group were significantly (p<0.05) better than those of the other two groups. Moreover, the current findings also indicate that the Taiwan game hens of the free-range feeding model displayed well-received carcass traits and meat quality, with higher scores for flavor, chewiness and overall acceptability for greater sensory satisfaction in both breast and thigh meat. In addition, the thigh meat contained high protein and total collage but low fat, offering a healthier diet choice.

An Enhanced Mobile Object Tracking Method based on Range-hybrid for Low-Density USN Environment (저밀도 USN 환경을 위한 Range-hybrid 기반의 향상된 이동객체 추적기법)

  • Park, Jae-Bok;Cho, Gi-Hwan
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
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    • v.47 no.2
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    • pp.54-64
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    • 2010
  • Localization is the most important feature in the sensor network environment because it is a basic element enabling people and things to aware the circumference environment. Existing localization methods can be categorized as either range-based or range-free. While range-based is known to be not suitable because of the irregularity of radio propagation and the additional device requirement. range-free is much appropriated for the resource constrained sensor network because it can actively locate by means of the communication radio. But its location accuracy is just depended on the density of circumference nodes; it is very low in low-density sensor network environment. This paper proposes a mobile object tracking method, named DRTS(Distributed Range-hybrid Tracking Scheme), with combining range-based and range-free. It is optimally making use of the location, communication range, and received signal strength from circumference nodes. Especially, it can greatly improve the mobile tracking accuracy by adapting a new prediction method, named EGP(Estimative Gird Points) into the proposed location estimation method. The simulation results show that our method outperforms the other localization and tracking methods in the tracking accuracy point of view.

A Modified Range-free localization algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks (무선 센서 네트워크를 위한 개선된 Range-free 위치인식 알고리즘)

  • Ekale, Etinge Martin;Lee, Chaewoo
    • Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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    • 2010.11a
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    • pp.829-832
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    • 2010
  • Wireless Sensor Networks have been proposed for several location-dependent applications. For such systems, the cost and limitations of the hardware on sensing nodes prevent the use of range-based localization schemes that depend on absolute point to point distance estimates. Because coarse accuracy is sufficient for most sensor network applications, solutions in range-free localization are being pursued as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive range-based approaches. In this paper, we proposed a modified DV-Hop (range-free localization) algorithm which reduces node's location error and cumulated distance error by minimizing localization error. Simulation results have verified the high estimation accuracy with our approach which outperforms the classical DV-Hop.

Effects of Free-range Farming on Carcass and Meat Qualities of Black-feathered Taiwan Native Chicken

  • Cheng, F.Y.;Huang, C.W.;Wan, T.C.;Liu, Y.T.;Lin, L.C.;Lou Chyr, Chu-Ying
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.21 no.8
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    • pp.1201-1206
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    • 2008
  • The effects of free-range farming, compared to a conventional production system, on carcass and meat qualities were studied using black-feathered Taiwan native chickens. Twenty 16-week old females were purchased separately from a free-range farm and a conventional production farm and used for this study. The results showed similarities in the live weight (roughly 2.1 kg), dressing percentage (69%) and meat percentage (19%) of deboned leg quarter. Significant differences (p<0.05) found for the free-range chickens included: a higher percentage of meat for the breast, an increased crude protein content and chewiness value for the breast, but decreased crude fat content and lower hardness and fracturablility values for the leg quarter. Significantly higher L* values were found for the breast and leg meat of conventionally produced chickens, whereas no significant differences were found for WHC and purge loss between the breast and the leg, and between the two production systems as well. Results of sensory evaluation showed a significant preference for leg over breast meat (p<0.05). The scores of all the attributes including aroma, flavor, firmness, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability of leg meat from free-range chickens were slightly higher than for conventional chickens, while the reverse was true for breast meat, though no significant difference could be found. Free-range Taiwan native chicken appeared to yield the best of the results, with flavorful yet tender leg meat for higher sensory satisfaction, and high-protein but low-fat breast meat for healthier diet choice.

An Enhanced Range-Free Localization Algorithm Using the Average of Hop-Counts for Wireless Sensor Networks (M2M 무선센서네트워크환경에 적용한 위치인식 알고리즘 성능평가)

  • Lee, Seong-Ro;Lee, Yeon-Woo;Jung, Min-A;Park, Jin-Gwan;Ronesh, Ronesh;Tushar, Tushar;Im, Jeong-Su;Lee, Woo-Yong
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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    • 2012.05a
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    • pp.307-309
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    • 2012
  • 노드의 위치인식은 M2M 무선센서네트워크에서의 위치에 기반을 둔 여러 응용들을 위해 매우 중요한 문제이다. 센서 네트워크에서의 위치인식은 거리 정보가 사용되느냐 그렇지 않느냐에 따라 range-free와 range-based 기법으로 분류될 수 있는데, 센서노드 특성상 제한된 하드웨어로 동작해야 한다는 점에서 range-free 위치인식 기법이 range-based 기법에 비해 효율적인 방법이라 할 수 있다. DV-Hop은 range-free 위치인식 기법 중 대표적인 것으로서 홉 수와 거리 간 추정을 사용한다. 본 논문에서는 홉 수와 거리 간 추정을 위해 홉 수보다 거리와의 상관도가 높은 홉 수 평균을 사용하여 DV-Hop 에 비해 정확도를 향상시킨 DV-ANHC 알고리즘을 제시한다.

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Control of Free Spectral Range of tong Period Fiber Grating by Cladding Mode Waveguide Dispersion

  • Jeong, H.;Oh, K.
    • Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.89-96
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    • 2003
  • A new method to control the free spectral range of a long period fiber grating is proposed and theoretically analyzed. As the refractive index decreases radially outward in the silica cladding due to graded doping of fluorine, waveguide dispersion in the cladding modes was modified to result in the effective indices change and subsequently the phase matching conditions for coupling with the core mode in a long period fiber grating. Enlargement of the free spectral range in a long period fiber grating was theoretically confirmed.