Evaluación de indicadores de bienestar animal de bovinos en un rastro Tipo Inspección Federal

The slaughter process is the last stage of management and represents a point at which the welfare of the cattle is compromised. The objective of this study was to evaluate the animal welfare indicators of cattle in a Federal Inspection Type slaughterhouse. The slaughter process of 1,167 animals [740 males (63.8 %) and 420 females (36.2 %)] was observed in a Federal Inspection Type slaughter plant in northwestern Mexico. Management and behavioral variables, as well as indicators of return to sensitivity were recorded, and the bruises observed on the carcasses were characterized. 10 % of the cattle received electric shocks with prods, while 24.2 % were beaten by operators. Arching of the spine was observed (44.5 %), 62.2 % of the animals exhibited sensitivity during exsanguination. The prevalence of bruising was 88.8 %. Females had 1.62 % higher risk of bruising than males and the presence of large horns increased the risk of bruising by 1.46 %. The characteristics of the bruises observed were bright red (93.8 %), mottled (71.5 %), small (82.9 %), and grade 1 (95.7 %). The area most affected by bruises was the dorsal-lumbar area, with 58.3 %. It was concluded that the animals included in this study were exposed to conditions conducive to stress, including the use of the electric prod by the operators, undesirable behaviors of cattle during herding, ineffective stunning, and the presence of bruises on the carcasses.El proceso de sacrificio es la última etapa de manejo y representa un punto en el que se compromete el bienestar de los bovinos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los indicadores de bienestar animal de bovinos en un rastro Tipo Inspección Federal. Se observó el proceso de sacrificio de 1,167 animales [740 machos (63.8 %) y 420 hembras (36.2 %)] en una planta de sacrificio Tipo Inspección Federal en el noroeste de México. Se registraron variables de manejo y comportamiento, así como indicadores de retorno a la sensibilidad y se caracterizaron los hematomas observados en las canales. El 10 % del ganado recibió descargas eléctricas con picanas, el 24.3 % fue golpeado por los operarios. Se observó arqueamiento de la columna vertebral (44.5 %), el 62.2 % de los animales mostró sensibilidad durante el sangrado. La prevalencia de hematomas fue del 88.8 %. Las hembras tuvieron 1.62 mayor riesgo de sufrir hematomas que los machos y la presencia de cuernos grandes incrementó el riesgo de presentar hematomas 1.46. Las características de los hematomas observados fueron rojo brillante (93.8 %), moteado (71.5 %), pequeño (82.9 %) y grado 1 (95.7 %). La zona más afectada por hematomas fue la dorso-lumbar con un 58.3 %. Se concluyó que los animales incluidos en el presente estudio estuvieron expuestos a condiciones que propician el estrés, entre estos, el uso de la picana eléctrica por los operarios, las conductas indeseables de los bovinos durante el arreo, el aturdimiento ineficaz y la presencia de hematomas en las canales

POLLEN PROFILE OF PROPOLIS PRODUCED ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE SONORAN DESERT IN CENTRAL SONORA, MEXICO

ABSTRACT Eight propolis samples from the eastern edge of the Sonoran Desert were collected at two sites (Pueblo de Álamos and Rancho Viejo, located at Ures, Sonora, Mexico) during two seasons of the year (winter and summer, 2012 and 2013) and analyzed using palynological methods in order to determine which plants were visited by bees in order to collect raw material (resins, wax and pollen) to form propolis. The pollen analysis identified a total of 42 pollen types. Six samples of propolis were bifloral (summer and winter samples) and two multifloral (winter). Mimosa distachya var. laxiflora and Prosopis velutina were considered characteristic pollen types, composing 15 to 45% of total pollen sums