INCIDENCIA DE LA PRÁCTICA EN LA FORMACIÓN DE PROFESIONALES DEL ÁREA AGROPECUARIA EN LA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE SANTIAGO DE GUAYAQUIL

INCIDENCE OF PRACTICE IN THE TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS OF THE AGRICULTURAL AREA AT THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF SANTIAGO DE GUAYAQUIL RESUMEN Se ha detectado un limitado desarrollo de habilidades y destrezas en la Práctica Veterinaria de los estudiantes de Medicina Veterinaria e Ingeniería Agropecuaria y espacio limitado para realizar investigaciones dirigidas a mejorar la producción de sistemas pecuarios del litoral ecuatoriano. Se considera como causa fundamental, el deficiente desarrollo del componente práctico. En esta investigación se demuestra la importancia del mismo en las asignaturas de: Anatomía, Fisiología y Reproducción Animal, Mejoramiento Ganadero, buscando desarrollar habilidades y destrezas en los estudiantes para llevar a cabo métodos de reproducción animal asistida, que tributen a materias de orden productivo, fomentando con ello, la mejora permanente de indicadores reproductivos de los sistemas. Se utilizó encuestas y evaluaciones a profesores y estudiantes, entrevistas a expertos del área y análisis de syllabus. Como resultado, se cuenta con un Laboratorio de Reproducción Animal, equipado para lograr potenciar la enseñanza e investigación en ésta área. PALABRAS CLAVE: Relación teoría-práctica; Enseñanza; Zootecnia; Reproducción Animal; Laboratorio Universitario ABSTRACT There has been a limited development of abilities and skills in the Veterinary Practice of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science and Agricultural Engineering students and limited space for research aimed at improving the production of livestock systems on the Ecuadorian coast. It is considered as fundamental cause, the deficient development of the practical component. This research demonstrates the importance of the same in the subjects of: Anatomy, Physiology and Animal Reproduction, Breeding Improvement, seeking to develop skills and abilities in students to carry out methods of assisted animal reproduction, which pay attention to productive matters, thus promoting the permanent improvement of reproductive indicators of the systems. Surveys and evaluations were used for teachers and students, interviews with experts in the field and syllabus analysis. As a result, there is an Animal Reproduction Laboratory, equipped to enhance teaching and research in this area. KEYWORDS: Theory-practice relationship; Teaching; Livestock; Animal Reproduction; University Laboratory

Microbial biomass and earthworms as indicators of soil quality under contrasting management practices in small-scale dairy systems

Objetive: To determine soil quality under two contrasting agricultural management practices, based on microbial biomass and earthworm density, as compared to untilled control soils in two seasons (dry and wet), in different production units of small-scale milk production systems. Methodology: The work was conducted in ten production units in the municipality of Aculco, Estado de México, Mexico. We analyzed physical, chemical, and biological soil indicators (microbial biomass and earthworm density). We conducted an ANOVA with a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (three systems [maize, grassland, and control] and two seasons [dry and wet]). Results: Values for all quality indicators in maize-cultivated soils were low, but increased in the wet season. Parameters in pasture-cultivated soils were similar to control soils. Implications: These results determine the conditions of the soils used in milk production systems. Conclusions: Some of the parameters assessed can be used as indicators of soil degradation and to strengthen other indicators which lead to an improved assessment of these systems’ sustainabilit