Spatial Transformation of the Pig Sector in Hungary and Slovenia: A Comparative Analysis
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
A logical structured paper applying clear methodological solutions from the most relevant literature to reveal the spatial transformation of the pig sector in Hungary and Slovenia. The clarity of empirical investigation is perturbed by using different aggregation level of data without any explication in the data section. The spatial concentration is examined on the municipality (LAU2) level, the spatial mobility on the district (LAU-1) level, and the spatial association of pig distribution again on the municipality (LAU-2) level. The authors should indicate the necessity of investigating different aggregations of data used in the data section. Minor spell check is required.
Author Response
A logical structured paper applying clear methodological solutions from the most relevant literature to reveal the spatial transformation of the pig sector in Hungary and Slovenia. The clarity of empirical investigation is perturbed by using different aggregation level of data without any explication in the data section. The spatial concentration is examined on the municipality (LAU2) level, the spatial mobility on the district (LAU-1) level, and the spatial association of pig distribution again on the municipality (LAU-2) level. The authors should indicate the necessity of investigating different aggregations of data used in the data section. Minor spell check is required.
Answer: We have clarified the data availability and the reasons why the final comparison has been made at the municipality (LAU-2) level, because for Slovenia, the data are available at the municipality (called „občina”) level.
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper titled ‘Spatial transformation of the pig sector in Hungary and Slovenia: A comparative analysis’ deals with a comparative analysis of spatial transformation in the Hungarian and Slovenian pig sector at the municipality level.
This manuscript deal with an interesting research topic. The study of spatial dynamics of this particular type of livestock system is of interest at the national and international levels. The current form denotes sufficient accuracy in the implementation of the research. The manuscript is clear and with a good scientific language quality, perfectly in tune with what is requested for a scientific journal.
The abstract should contain some quantitative data arose from the analyses provided in this article. In its current form, is too short and mostly devoted to providing qualitative information. A potential reader should have sufficient information to decide or not to read a scientific paper.
About the introduction, I have to say that it must be enforced to highlight the environmental problems related to the swine industry, most of all concerning the swine sewage management. In this direction, I ask the authors to consider the following papers dealing with this significant issue (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0149-y, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.299, https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010225). In these studies, providing case studies in Italy, Cyprus, and China, different multicriteria criteria approaches were proposed (also combining them), such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and CLUE-S model (the Conversion of Land Use and its Effect at Small regional extent). Obviously, some comments on the environmental management of swine sewage will help the comprehensiveness of this article. Also considering that, the swine sector is limited in several agricultural areas for its environmental impact.
Moreover, I ask the authors to enforce the discussion about the operational interest of their study. About that, I have to notice that the authors missed to highlight this in the current version of the manuscript. Indeed, as I highlighted before, I consider worthy of interest these types of research also in designing new agricultural policies at the national and international (i.e., European) level. On the other hand, also for practitioners, these researches could be of interest. Finally, in discussing the findings of this research, I would really appreciate to consider the role of organic farming in the pig sector in Hungary and Slovenia countries. Are the organic swine farming of interest in these countries?
In the conclusion section, I would expect some pros and cons of the proposed approach and, eventually, future developments needed in this research topic.
Technical comments
All the captions must be self-explicative. Therefore, in figure 5the LISA acronym must be explained, as well as HH1b, HH1a, and so on. Moreover, in this figure, the authors should also add the legend explaining the different colors of the defined clusters. The same thing for figure 6, except for the legend that was provided for it.
Moreover, all maps must be provided with the north arrow and the scale bar. Finally, I would ask to add a figure in which the two analyzed countries are geo-localized.
Author Response
The paper titled ‘Spatial transformation of the pig sector in Hungary and Slovenia: A comparative analysis’ deals with a comparative analysis of spatial transformation in the Hungarian and Slovenian pig sector at the municipality level.
Answer: Thank you.
This manuscript deal with an interesting research topic. The study of spatial dynamics of this particular type of livestock system is of interest at the national and international levels. The current form denotes sufficient accuracy in the implementation of the research. The manuscript is clear and with a good scientific language quality, perfectly in tune with what is requested for a scientific journal.
Answer: Thank you.
The abstract should contain some quantitative data arose from the analyses provided in this article. In its current form, is too short and mostly devoted to providing qualitative information. A potential reader should have sufficient information to decide or not to read a scientific paper.
Answer: We have added an additional sentence in the abstract that contains quantitative information.
About the introduction, I have to say that it must be enforced to highlight the environmental problems related to the swine industry, most of all concerning the swine sewage management. In this direction, I ask the authors to consider the following papers dealing with this significant issue (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-013-0149-y, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.299, https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010225). In these studies, providing case studies in Italy, Cyprus, and China, different multicriteria criteria approaches were proposed (also combining them), such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and CLUE-S model (the Conversion of Land Use and its Effect at Small regional extent). Obviously, some comments on the environmental management of swine sewage will help the comprehensiveness of this article. Also considering that, the swine sector is limited in several agricultural areas for its environmental impact.
Answer: We have highlighted the environmental problems and environmental management related to the pig industry and included the suggested papers.
Moreover, I ask the authors to enforce the discussion about the operational interest of their study. About that, I have to notice that the authors missed to highlight this in the current version of the manuscript. Indeed, as I highlighted before, I consider worthy of interest these types of research also in designing new agricultural policies at the national and international (i.e., European) level. On the other hand, also for practitioners, these researches could be of interest. Finally, in discussing the findings of this research, I would really appreciate to consider the role of organic farming in the pig sector in Hungary and Slovenia countries. Are the organic swine farming of interest in these countries?
Answer: We have included two new paragraphs about the operational interest and agricultural policies and practice. There is less evidence about the role of organic farming in the pig sector which might suggest that this can be an opportunity for niche market development in the future. In Slovenia, this is with „krškopoljski” pig http://www.krskopoljski-prasic.si/.
In the conclusion section, I would expect some pros and cons of the proposed approach and, eventually, future developments needed in this research topic.
Answer: We have included on advantages and disadvantates of the proposed approaches with the issues for the research in future.
Technical comments
All the captions must be self-explicative. Therefore, in figure 5the LISA acronym must be explained, as well as HH1b, HH1a, and so on. Moreover, in this figure, the authors should also add the legend explaining the different colors of the defined clusters. The same thing for figure 6, except for the legend that was provided for it.
Answer: The quality of the mentioned Figures has been improved as suggested.
Moreover, all maps must be provided with the north arrow and the scale bar. Finally, I would ask to add a figure in which the two analyzed countries are geo-localized.
Answer: the quality of the maps has been improved.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear authors,
I checked the revised version of your manuscript. Thank you for the efforts you provided in following all my suggestions that I hope helped in improving your paper. As in the rest of the paper, the quality of the language is concise and clear.
Having said that, I definitely agree with the acceptance of your paper in its present form.
Good luck in spreading the findings of your research among your colleagues and peers as well as among the practitioners.
