The first descriptive treatise of modern bee management. In a reader-friendly, enthusiastic style, Langstroth addresses every aspect of beekeeping: bee physiology; diseases and enemies of bees; the life-cycles of the queen, drone, and worker; bee-hives; the handling of bees; and many other topics. 25 plates.

Before crude oil and the combustion engine, the industrialized world relied on a different kind of power - the power of the horse. Horses in Society is the story of horse production in the United States, Britain, and Canada at the height of the species' usefulness, the late nineteenth and early twentieth-century. Margaret E. Derry shows how horse breeding practices used during this period to heighten the value of the animals in the marketplace incorporated a intriguing cross section of influences, including Mendelism, eugenics, and Darwinism. Derry elucidates the increasingly complex horse world by looking at the international trade in army horses, the regulations put in place by different countries to enforce better horse breeding, and general aspects of the dynamics of the horse market. Because it is a story of how certain groups attempted to control the market for horses, by protecting their breeding activities or 'patenting' their work, Horses in Society provides valuable background information to the rapidly developing present-day problem of biological ownership. Derry's fascinating study is also a story of the evolution of animal medicine and humanitarian movements, and of international relations, particularly between Canada and the United States.

In tandem with the recent surge in interest by various industry players in meliponiculture that see the rapid expansion of the stingless industry globally, there is a need to disseminate new knowledge and research findings in stingless beekeeping. The demand for honey-based products and related activities in meliponiculture opens many opportunities and new challenges in the stingless bee industry that require answers and solutions. Recent Advances in Global Meliponiculture highlights the most recent work on meliponine and meliponiculture. It disseminates information, shares recent works, and fosters a global network on stingless bee research. Covering topics such as pollination services, vertical hive technology, and honey applications, this premier reference source is an essential resource for practitioners, meliponists, apiarists, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Practical Quail-keeping is a comprehensive guide for anyone who keeps quail or who is thinking about starting out. It covers all key aspects of responsible quail husbandry, and explains how to set up and equip your quail house and pens, how to care for your birds, and how to breed and raise young hatchlings through to healthy adulthood. The authors draw on their extensive experience as quail breeders to provide a unique insight into keeping these fascinating little birds.

As a city boy, all Philip Dixon wanted to be in life was a farmer, but achieving that ambition would be a lot less straightforward than he had anticipated! Starting work on a farm at the age of fifteen, Philip finds himself handling some highly temperamental bulls, meeting some very `witchy' women and encountering mysterious country ways. Later he gets married, raises a family, acquires his own farm and, along the way, becomes part of the Round Table team that invented the charity plastic duck race! Enjoy Philip's story as he makes progress in his farming career in the north east of England from the 1960s to the mid-1980s, and meets some remarkable characters, many of whom belong to an age all but lost to us. Philip's story will, at times, have you laughing out loud and weeping tears of sympathy, and will lift your spirits as you read how he overcomes all life's setbacks to make plans for a brave new future.

A lively, engaging introduction to the history of goats in Britain, and the recent renaissance of goat-related products. Ever wondered why a goat's eyes have rectangular pupils? Or what happened to Thor's goats each day after they finished pulling his thunderous chariot? Do goat's milk, cheese and meat represent more ethical food choices than cow and sheep products, and if so, can goat farming play an important role in humankind's future? Whether you're an aspiring smallholder, cheese fanatic or simply want to know more about our caprine companions, this guide introduces the fascinating history and folklore of goats and examines the development of goatkeeping in Britain, shedding light on one of our most intelligent, curious and mischievous domestic animals. It also explains the origins and features of the sixteen British goat breeds and the qualities of their products, and even has a few craft and recipe ideas for you to try.

According to its chemical composition, honey is a complex mixture of over 70 ingredients, which enter honey in a variety of ways. Not only do the different types of honey differ, but the honey within each species differs in its composition depending on its herbal and geographical origin, climatic conditions, the type of bees, and the work of the beekeeper. In this book, Chapters One provides an assessment of geographical origins of honey by the use of chemometrics. Chapter Two presents the profile of physicochemical parameters of 40 samples of the black locust honey from Krapina-Zagorje region monitored by the season. Chapter Three examines the prebiotic and probiotic properties of honey. Chapter Four gives an updated review of traditional and modern uses of honey. Chapter Five explore the actual knowledge on honeys properties, in terms of cellular and molecular effects induced by the bees products on skin care and wound management.

Welfare research has established a range of scientific indicators of stress, welfare and suffering in animals that can be applied to all aspects of improving their welfare through good housing and management, and the topic continues to grow in importance among both professionals and the public. The practical focus of this authoritative, comprehensive encyclopedia aims to promote the understanding and improvement of animals' behaviour without compromising welfare. Under the editorial direction of Professor Daniel Mills, the UK's first specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine, over 180 international experts have contributed a wealth of fully cross-referenced entries from concise definitions to detailed short essays on biological, practical, clinical and ethical aspects of behaviour and welfare in domestic, exotic, companion and zoo animals.

The Franciscana Dolphin: On the Edge of Survival provides the most updated and comprehensive knowledge on the most endangered marine mammal in the Western South Atlantic Ocean. It synthesizes all available information on this dolphin species, also referred to as La Plata dolphin, ranging from taxonomy, evolution, diet, parasites and diseases, reproduction and growth, to genetic diversity and stock definition, distribution, abundance, behavior, as well as the threats and causes behind the dwindling population numbers. Written by international experts, this book explores aspects of the species' natural history and urgent problems of accidental mortality in fishing nets, contamination, and habitat loss. It offers the most current research and practices on rehabilitating debilitated animals and presents initiatives at the regional and international level for species conservation, including current and potential strategies related to marine protected areas and public policies. The Franciscana Dolphin: On the Edge of Survival is an important resource for researchers and practitioners in marine conservation, marine biology, and zoology, particularly those who seek to gain the most reputable information on vulnerable marine mammal species for conservation efforts. Policymakers and public officials involved in environmental protection and planning will also find this useful to combat similar threats with other dolphin species around the world

Cows and horses, donkeys and mules, sheep and goats, pigs and fowl, even llamas are living on small farms and in backyard barnyards throughout the United States. But how and where are these critters being housed?
Author Carol Ekarius knows. In "How to Build Animal Housing," she provides dozens of plans--with illustrated, step-by-step instructions--for species-specific shelters that are well ventilated, safe, appropriate for the animals, appealing, convenient, and a solid value for their owners.
The book is essential reading for anyone interested in animal health and welfare. It includes complete plans and step-by-step, illustrated instructions for sheds, coops, hutches, multipurpose barns, and economical easy-to-build windbreaks and shade structures. Ekarius covers new high-tech, portable structures made of plastics and fabrics, such as hoop houses and hen spas, as well as more traditional alternatives, such as straw-bale structures. Always practical, she enumerates the advantages and disadvantages of ready-to-build kits and modular barnyard buildings and includes designs for watering systems, feeders, chutes, stanchions, and more--the essentials that help owners keep their animals healthy and happy.
Ekarius wisely emphasizes the importance of careful planning, choosing an appropriate housing site, and complying with local zoning regulations; pest control, basic housing maintenance, and insurance costs are also discussed. Real-world advice from farmers and veterinarians on the types of housing and facilities animals like best enliven the text throughout.
"How to Build Animal Housing" is the most comprehensive and useful guide of its kind. For small-scale farmers, hobby farmers, do-it-yourselfers, and animal lovers, this book is indispensable.

Every cattle farmer -- from the keeper of a family milk cow to the rancher overseeing a large herd -- will gain confidence and control by becoming more knowledgeable about calving. Healthy pregnancies, safe births, and thriving calves are critical to every cattle operation, and in remote farm locations, the veterinarian is not always readily available. Even if the vet is nearby, the farm's finances will be healthier if the farmer can oversee most of the calving process.
Heather Smith Thomas, an expert on livestock with decades of firsthand experience, covers every routine situation likely to arise before, during, and after calving. And when the calving process is out of the ordinary, Thomas guides the farmer through pregnancy problems, difficult deliveries, recognizing when to call in a vet, and postpartum complications. Her thorough coverage of what to expect in every situation gives farmers the knowledge they need to care personally for their cows.
The second half of the book is dedicated to ensuring that every calf gets off to a healthy start. Thomas helps farmers work with cows reluctant to nurse, substitute mothers, and frail calves. A complete chapter on calfhood illnesses explains warning signs and offers tips on prevention and treatment.
As people return to farming in growing numbers, the demand for safe, humane livestock knowledge continues to increase. Farmers will turn to this reliable volume again and again as they welcome each new calf.

Chickens are back in style with a vengeance: poultry breeders are struggling to cope with the increase in demand and gardens resound to the contented cluck of chickens. Chickens are back in style with a vengeance: poultry breeders are struggling to cope with the increase in demand and gardens resound to the contented cluck of chickens. This trend can be in part explained by the huge demand for organic and locally produced food; after all, what could be more natural than keeping your own chickens and collecting their eggs? This beautiful and practical guide advises on all aspects of chicken keeping, from advice on the full range of breeds available, choosing and buying the right chickens for you, to feeding and naming them and finally housing and caring for them. With charming illustrations throughout, you will find all you need to start and maintain your own chicken run.