Background: Reproductive management practices play crucial roles to maximize the reproductive performance of cows, and thus contribute to farm profitability. We aimed to assess the reproductive management of cows currently practiced in the dairy farms in an urban farming system. Methods: A total of 62 dairy farms were randomly selected considering all size of farms such as small (1-5 cattle), medium (6-20 cattle) and large farms (> 20 cattle) from selected areas of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. The reproductive managementrelated parameters viz. estrus detection, breeding method, pregnancy diagnosis, dry cow and parturition management, vaccination and treatment of reproductive problems etc. were obtained in a pre-defined questionnaire during the farm visit. Results: The visual observation method was only used (100.0%; 62/62) for estrus detection irrespective of size of the farms; while farmers observed cows for estrus 4-5 times a day, but only for 20-60 seconds each time. Regardless of farm size, 89.0% (55/62) farms used artificial insemination (AI) for breeding the cows. Intriguingly, all farms (100.0%) routinely checked the cows for pregnancy at 35-40 days post-breeding using rectal palpation technique by registered veterinarian. However, only 6.5% (4/62) farms practiced dry cow management. Notably, all farms (100.0%) provided nutritional supplements (Vit D, Ca and P) during late gestation. However, proper hygiene and cleanliness during parturition was not practiced in 77.4% (48/62) farms; even though 96.7% (60/62) farms treated cows by registered veterinarian for parturition-related problems. Conclusions: While farmers used AI service for breeding and timely check their cows for pregnancy; however, they need to increase observation time (30 minutes/ observation, twice in a day: early morning and early night) for estrus detection, consider dry cow management and ensure hygienic parturition for maximizing production.

The purpose of this study was designed to identify the health care condition aggressively to urban and semi-urban seniors and to inform the importance of prevention prior to treatment for better old age. A total of 200 seniors who were over the age of 65 and lived specific area of Seoul and Daeboo-island Ansan-city, from 7 September to 4 October 2012, and used self-developed questionnaire. The result of relevance analysis for oral health care demands shows that seniors from Ansan-city had higher dental prosthesis demands(the average 4.43) than seniors from Seoul(3.96) and the difference was statistically significant(p<0.01). Analysis of the correlation between items represented positive(+) relation in all items and same age distribution. Dental prosthesis has high correlation in every items, but fluorine treatment has low correlation relatively. Correlation between independent variables and dependent variables was slightly high, R=0.356(35.6%). However daily activity, oral heath care and anxiety times showed statistical significances. The result of this study shows that there are significant differences between urban area and semi-urban area. Therefore, authorities need to offer oral health education.

Vertical farming systems offer many advantages in urban spaces. They have also been proposed as an engineering solution to increase the productivity per unit area of cultivated land by extending crop production in the vertical dimension. However, soil water retention is a major constraint affecting the plant environment. This study analyzed the effects of growth environment of Tropaeolum majus and Fragaria spp., on the vertical farming system, by using four different types of cover material types including sphagnum moss (Control), a shading net (S.N.), multi-layered fabric (M.L.F.), and non-woven fabric (N.W.F.). The volumetric soil moisture contents and plant characteristics were investigated from May to September 2014. Plant materials were individually cultivated in hanging baskets measuring 30×17×17 cm, filled with a mixture of soil and perlite, and placed at 1.5m height. Each treatment was performed in quadruplicate and consisted of five plants, amounting to a total of 20 plants. The analysis indicated that different covers were associated with multiple functions and soil water retention improvements may have a positive impact on the vertical farming system. The difference in soil water retention increased in the following order: M.L.F. > Control > N.W.F. > S.N.. Furthermore, the differences in plant height and survival rate increased in the following order: M.L.F. > Control > N.W.F. > S.N. Therefore, M.L.F yielded satisfactory good response for the vertical farming system of cover materials. Our results clearly demonstrate that vertical spaces represent an attractive alternative to urban farming and suggest that further increases in yield may be achieved via different cover materials in vertical farming using hanging baskets.

본 연구는 국제적으로 해양투기의 기준이 엄격해지고 있는 현재의 실정에 맞추어 양식장에서 배출되는 배출수를 자원의 선순환의 개념으로 이를 토마토 재배에 적용하여 도시농업용 비료로서의 이용가치를 구명하고자 수행하였다. 시험용 작물로는 완숙형 토마토‘슈퍼 선로드’를 사용하였으며, BFT 배출수는 내수면양식연구센터 틸라피아를 양식하고 있는 양식조의 물을 채취하여 무처리, 상업용 하이포넥스500배 희 석액, 배출수 원액을 매일 관주, 배출수 원액을 1주에 1회 관주, 완효성 고체비료 시비 등 5처리로 실험하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 배출 수원액을 매일 처리하는 구가 T/R율과 엽록소함량이 제일 높은 결과를 보였으며, 과실의 당도도 제일 높은 결과를 보였다. 또한 토마토의 기 능성 물질은 리코펜함량의 결과에서도 하이포넥스와 관행의 재배방법보다 3배가 많은 함량의 결과를 보였다. 하지만 토마토 체내의 무기성 분의 함량결과 질소가 다른 처리구에 비해 제일 많은 결과를 보여 비료사용으로서의 보완점을 연구해야하는 문제점도 보였다. 하지만 생육 과 기능성 물질의 함량결과등을 고려하여 본다면 BFT 양식 배출수의 비료효과에 대한 가능성은 매우 높은 것으로 나타났다.

This study presents the methods to improve the urban farming in Korea by analysing the current circumstances of urban farming in Korea. Specifically, the legal system in association with urban farming, current status of the act on the urban farming, the present situation of the Korean urban farming, and the comprehensive plans for urban farming have been analysed in order to grasp the present situations and seek for solutions. Based on these, the research provides effective supporting methods for sustainable urban farming in Korea. As a result, the essentials to improved urban farming can be summarized with two factors; securing more space for urban farming and improving the supporting system for the urban farmers. Enthusiastic attitudes of local governments, security of budget, and cooperation with the citizens are vital to expand the urban farming in addition to the institutional and systematic urban farming improving methods mentioned above.