Caracterización de los sistemas de producción familiar ovina en la Mixteca Oaxaqueña, México

Family sheep production is common in rural Mexico. It is an important element of subsistence systems in these areas but is generally rustic. Better understanding of rustic sheep production is a first step in developing strategies and programs to support family producers. Family sheep production units in two municipalities in the Mixteca region of Oaxaca, Mexico, were characterized in terms of production system, market access and land use. A mixed methodology was applied, employing a structured questionnaire addressing socioeconomic and productive variables, and participatory observation in 29 family sheep producers. All the surveyed producers see sheep farming as their main income source. Most (86 %) use a subsistence system, and all use family labor. The main feeding strategy was grazing of communal land, and production was largely intended for sale of live animals to intermediaries or in local markets for eventual processing for meat, and/or for self-use. Most (83 %) of the production units included a pen built from regional materials, and these pens were most frequently on the family property. Implementation of management plans and animal health and safety measures were minimal. Analysis of these productive systems identified how producers manage sheep production. Management strategies respond to the environmental services available on communal lands, and involve family-type production which fulfills economic, social, environmental and cultural functions, but provides low productivity. Unit productivity and producer livelihood could be improved by implementing measures such as pasture rotation and adopting technological innovations. Broadening producer access to government programs and creating public policy that promotes development in marginal rural areas could greatly improve productivity and consequently reduce poverty and food insecurity.El objetivo fue analizar las características de las unidades de producción familiar ovina de dos municipios de la Mixteca Oaxaqueña teniendo como referencia el sistema de producción, acceso al mercado y el uso del territorio. Se usó una metodología mixta, empleando un cuestionario estructurado donde se analizaron variables de carácter socioeconómico y productivo; y observación participativa en 29 ovinocultores familiares. Los resultados señalan que el 100 % de los productores ven a la ovinocultura como principal fuente de ingresos, 86 % produce bajo un sistema de subsistencia, 100 % emplea la mano de obra familiar, la estrategia alimentaria principal es el pastoreo debido a las características del territorio y el tipo de tenencia de la tierra comunal en un 90 %, la función zootécnica es producción de carne destinada al comercio local y autoconsumo, 83 % de los productores cuentan con corral de encierro construido con material de la región, 86.7 % de los productores mantienen su corral dentro del predio familiar, se aplican escasas medidas de manejo y sanitarias. El análisis de los sistemas productivos permitió identificar formas de gestión de su producción la cual está ligada a los servicios dentro de su territorio, desarrollando una producción de tipo familiar que cumple con funciones económicas, sociales, ambientales y culturales, sin embargo, se cuenta con una baja productividad. Por lo cual, se considera necesario la adopción de tecnología e innovación a través de estrategias y políticas públicas que impulsen el desarrollo rural en zonas marginales tendientes a disminuir el nivel de pobreza e inseguridad alimentaria

Health status and productivity of sheep fed coffee pulp during fattening

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity and health of fattening lambs fed different levels of coffee pulp in their diets. Thirty-five crossbred lambs with an average weight of 21.8 kg were fed isoproteic and isoenergetic diets with different percentages of coffee pulp (T0: control; T1: 7%; T2: 14%, T3: 21% and T4: 28%), the base diet was formulated with corn, soybean meal, alfalfa stubble, molasses, urea and mineral salt. The fattening period was 98 days. Productivity was measured by weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. At the beginning and end of the study, blood samples were taken to determine the health status using a biochemical profile and blood count. Analysis of variance was performed using the initial weight as the covariate for the productive variables and the initial values of the analytes in the blood chemistry and hematological analysis tests. The coffee pulp did not affect productivity, although the amount of neutrophils decreased (P<0.05) as the coffee pulp in the diet increased. In all treatments, urea exceeded the reference values, whereas creatinine was below the reference values. We concluded that the inclusion of up to 28% coffee pulp in the diet did not affect the productive parameters, decreases the neutrophil count without affect health status of lambs during fattening

Stability of milk from dual purpose cows with different types of feeding

Objective: to determinate stability of alcohol-proof milk in cows with different feeding strategy in tropical dairy system. Design/methodology/approach: Ten cows crosses Holstein x Zebu with high frequency to alcohol-positive milk were housed in individual pens and distributed into two groups. Experiment 1. T1: cows were fed dry Pangola (Digitaria eriantha) grass; T2: cows were fed green Maralfalfa (Pennisetum violaceum) grass. Forage was provided at libitum. Experiment 2. T1 cows were supplemented with a higher crude protein percentage and metabolizable energy concentrated than T2, this was gradually increased to 4 kg. Milk was subjected to alcohol test. Analysis of variance was performed under categorical data models. Results: Higher percentages of alcohol positive test cases were observed in cows fed with dry grass than those fed with green grass (P<0.05). Addition of concentrate to dry or green forage diets reduced the positive percentage cases. Implications: A balanced diet improves milk stability. Findings/conclusions: The improvement in the nutritional contribution of the cows decrease the percentage of alcohol-positive test.Objective: To establish milk stability using the alcohol test in cows with different feeding strategies in the tropical dairy system. Design/methodology/approach: Ten crossbred Holstein x Zebu cows whose milk frequently tested positive to the alcohol test were housed in individual yards and distributed into two groups. Experiment 1. T1: cows consumed dry Pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha); T2: cows consumed green Maralfalfa grass (Pennisetum violaceum). Forage was provided ad libitum. Experiment 2. T1 cows were supplemented with a concentrate with higher crude protein and metabolizable energy percentage than T2 cows; this percentage was gradually increased up to 4.0 kg. Milk was subjected to alcohol testing. Variance analyzes were performed under categorical data models. Results: Higher percentages of cases that tested positive for alcohol were observed in cows that consumed dry grass than in cows that consumed green grass (P<0.05). The concentrate addition to diets based on dry or green forage reduced the positive case percentage. Implications: A balanced diet improves milk stability. Findings/conclusions: The improvement in the cows’ nutritional value decreases the percentage of milk with positive results in the alcohol test

Rendimiento y características organolépticas del queso fresco elaborado con leche positiva a la prueba del alcohol

Objective: To determine yield and organoleptic characteristics from cheese made with positive milk to alcohol test. Design/methodology: Fresh milk was used from cows’ crosses of Brahman x American Brown Swiss, which were maintained in grazing. Eleven judges with semi-trained category were selected. The sensorial analysis was made using triangular, two of five, acceptance, flavor and texture profiles tests. In the taste and texture profiles, a ten-centimeter line was used to indicate intensity. Acceptance test was made with fifty untrained consumers. Data obtained were subjected to an analysis of variance, with the positive or negative response of milk to the alcohol test as the fixed effect; a difference between averages was determined by Tukey's test (P?0.05). Results: Cheese made with Positive Milk to Alcohol, presented less consumer acceptance (P?0.05), a higher intensity of hardness, porosity and a lower residual taste (P?0.05). Limitations on study/implications: Alcohol test is variable, so it is necessary to do the test daily to separate the milk. Finding/conclusion: Cheese made from positive milk to alcohol test has less consumer acceptance due to its organoleptic characteristics.Objetivo: Determinar el rendimiento y las características sensoriales de quesos frescos elaborados con leche Positiva a la Prueba del Alcohol. Diseño/metodología: Se utilizó leche fresca proveniente de vacas cruzas de Brahman x Suizo Pardo Americano, las cuales se mantuvieron en pastoreo. Se seleccionaron once jueces con categoría de semientrenados. En el análisis sensorial se utilizaron las pruebas, triangular, dos de cinco, de aceptación, perfil de textura y perfil de sabor. En los perfiles de sabor y textura se utilizó una línea de 10 cm para señalar la intensidad. La prueba de aceptación se realizó a 50 consumidores sin entrenamiento. Los datos obtenidos se sometieron a un análisis de varianza, el efecto fijo y la respuesta positiva o negativa de la leche a la prueba del alcohol; la diferencia entre promedios se determinó con la prueba de Tukey (P? 0.05). Resultados: Se observó que el queso elaborado con leche Positiva a la Prueba del Alcohol presenta una menor aceptación (P?0.05), mayor intensidad de dureza y porosidad y un menor sabor residual (P?0.05). Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: El resultado a la prueba del alcohol es variable, por lo que es necesario hacer la prueba diariamente para separar la leche. Hallazgo/conclusión: El queso elaborado con leche positiva a la prueba del alcohol tiene menor aceptación por el consumidor debido a sus características organolépticas

Genetic Characterization of a Sheep Population in Oaxaca, Mexico: The Chocholteca Creole

Creole sheep in México have undergone crossbreeding, provoking the loss of genetic variability. The objective of the present study is to determine the intra-racial genetic diversity, the genetic relationship with other genotypes, and the populational substructure of the Oaxacan Creole sheep. Twenty-nine blood samples were obtained of Creole sheep of the Oaxaca Mixteca region in México. A genetic analysis was made with 41 microsatellites recommended for studies of genetic diversity in sheep. An analysis was made of genetic diversity, populational structure, and genetic distance with 27 other sheep populations. The study found 205 alleles with a range of 2 to 9 by locus and an effective number of 3.33. The intra-racial analysis showed a moderate genetic diversity with values of expected heterozygosity of 0.686 and observed of 0.756, a mean polymorphic information content of 0.609, and a mean coefficient of consanguinity of −0.002. In interracial genetic diversity for the coefficients of consanguinity, the values were FIS = 0.0774, FIT = 0.16993, and FST = 0.10028, showing an elevated genetic distance with other creole breeds, but close to Argentine Creole, to another Creole of México and the Spanish Merino. Its genetic structure showed that it does not have any populational subdivision nor mixes with the others analyzed. It is concluded that it is a distinct and isolated population and is proposed as the creole breed “Chocholteca” for its conservation