Decision support system for campesino maize-cattle production systems of the Toluca Valley in Central Mexico

The viability of the campesino maize-cattle production system of Central Mexico is under stress by the North American Free Trade Agreement policies. To survive Campesino farmers are developing alternative production systems and more efficient uses of their land. The objective of this work was “to develop a “Décision-Support System” (DSS) in order to support Campesino farmers in this process. Two biological models, one socio-economic model and a survey database on the target fanning system fonn the DSS. The CERES-Maize model simulated the yield response of three local land-races of maize to different management systems. The second biological model, a dynamic ‘hybrid model', which predicts potential intake, digestion and animal performance of individual dairy cows, was used to simulate alternative feeding systems. A multi-period mathematical programming model integrated the outputs of the previous models with the survey database. This model was used to find the optimal combination of resources and technologies that maximised farmers’ income. This model consists of 15,698 structural columns and 612 rows. The DSS was successful in reproducing the functioning of the main components of the farming system. More importantly it simulated the complex interactions observed between the farmers and their crops and cattle, including traditional maize management practices. The model simulated the resulting effects of these practices on the feeding systems for cattle and on the household's labour demand. The DSS selected on a monthly basis the forage type, concentrate type and supplementation level fed to all classes of cattle on the farm. Moreover, it was able to incorporate the seasonal effects on forage quality and availability

Organic Dairy Sheep Production Management

Organic production systems are based on natural processes, the use of local feed resources, and the maintenance of biodiversity in all senses. Several studies have noted the positive effects of organic sheep milk production systems on animal welfare, animal health, product quality, and environmental impact. On the other hand, it has been reported that dairy sheep organic farms show lower milk yields and increase the susceptibility to environmental impacts compared with conventional farms. The standards that regulate feeding management in organic systems are one of the most critical factors that influence milk production performance. Lower milk production is also associated with poor ability to adapt specialized dairy breeds to organic management, low genetic potential for milk production in native and local breeds, and elevated dependence on environmental conditions. However, the aim of organic dairy production is not to reach maximum dairy productivity but rather to integrate animal and crop production and to develop a symbiotic relationship between recyclable and renewable resources; furthermore, organic production positively affects the employment rate and quality of life in rural communities. Organic dairy sheep production is one means of improving the balance between society’s demand for food and the ecological impact of the agro-alimentary industry

Effect of different dietary inclusion levels of whole plant green tomato (Physalis philadelphica) silage on nutrient intake and digestibility, and in vitro rumen fermentation kinetics in sheep

Mexico has many agricultural by-products that can be used for animal feed, and green tomatoes are produced throughout the country and can be an alternative to overcome the high prices of cereal-based feeds. This study determined in vitro fermentation kinetics, production performance, nutrient intake, digestibility, and nitrogen balance from sheep supplemented with whole plant green tomato (GT) on corn silage (CS) based diets. For 21 days, eighteen Suffolk lambs (38 ± 4 kg of live weight) were grouped into three dietary GT inclusion levels to replace CS: a control diet based on 100% CS (GT0, 570 g /kg dry matter, DM), while 100 g/kg DM (GT100) and 200 g/kg DM (GT200) of GT were included as a replacement for CS. A completely randomized design was used to measure in vitro gas production, in vitro rumen fermentation, chemical composition, and in vivo parameters. In vitro gas production, “A” (ml/g DM), fermentation rates “B,” (h−1), and “C” (h−½), were lower for GT200, while DM disappearance (mg/100mg) was lower for GT100 compared with GT0. Compared to GT0, GT100 and GT200 did not affect (P > 0.05) DM and organic matter (OM) intake (g/kgLW0.75). Ether extract intake was higher for GT0 and GT100 (P < 0.001) compared to GT200. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was higher (P < 0.05) for GT200 compared with GT0. Intake of lignin was higher (P < 0.001) for GT200 than that of GT0 and GT100. Digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, NDF, and Acid detergent fiber (ADF) were lower (P < 0.05) in GT100 than in the rest of the treatments. Nitrogen intake and N excreted in feces and urine were lower (P < 0.001) for GT0. N balance was negative for all treatments, being higher for GT200 (P < 0.05). Overall, the addition of GT at 100 or 200 g/kg DM in sheep diets negatively affects nutrient digestibility and N balance, so their dietary inclusion is not recommended

Effect of forage to concentrate ratio and fat supplementation on milk composition in dairy sheep: A meta-analysis

The milk fat content and fatty acid profile in sheep milk can vary considerably and can be manipulated through diet. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of forage concentration ratio and fat supplementation in diet on milk yield production, fat, protein, lactose and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in dairy sheep using a meta-analytical approach. The sources of heterogeneity of dependent variables were explored using a meta-regression analysis. Compared to sheep fed high-concentrate diets (HC; concentrate content &gt;40% DM), those fed high-forage diets (HF; forage content &gt;40% DM) had 0.087 L/d lower milk yield (40% DM), those fed high-forage diets (HF; forage content &gt;40% DM) had 0.087 L/d lower milk yield (40% DM) had 0.087 L/d lower milk yield (P = 0.001) and 0.065 g/100g milk lactose content (P = 0.02). However, fat content and CLA concentrations were greater in dairy sheep fed HF (0.32 g/100g and 2.28 mg/g, respectively). The addition of fat to sheep diets had a positive effect on fat (0.22 g/100g; P = 0.005) and CLA concentrations (0.78 mg/g; P = 0.001) in milk, but protein concentration was reduced (−0.20 g/100g;

Worldwide Traceability of Antibiotic Residues from Livestock in Wastewater and Soil: A Systematic Review

The use of antibiotics in animal production are widely used for disease treatment, health protection, and as growth promoters. Common antibiotics used in veterinary medicine are excreted and eliminated through the sewage system, contaminating water and soil with negative effects on agricultural activities. This systematic review focuses on the trend of research works on antibiotic residues, evaluating antibiotics used in livestock production and their excretion in animal products and in environmental matrices such as water and soil. Our database was composed of 165 articles, reporting the concentration of antibiotic residues found in the environment, livestock (cow, sheep, pig, horse, chicken, rabbit, goat), aquatic and terrestrial animal tissues, animal products (milk and eggs), wastewater, and soil. The documents were obtained from Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Oceania. A descriptive analysis of antibiotic residues found worldwide was analyzed according to each of the variables used such as antibiotic family, name, concentration (% and mg/kg or ppm), and country and continent where the residue was found. The descriptive analysis was carried out using the &ldquo;describe&rdquo; function of psych package and pirate plots were drawn. According to our study, the main antibiotics used worldwide in animal production are sulfonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones, penicillin, and cephalosporins. At present, despite the trends of increased regulations on the use of antibiotics worldwide, antibiotics are still utilized in food animal production, and are present in water and soil, then, there is still the misuse of antibiotics in many countries. We need to become aware that antibiotic contamination is a global problem, and we are challenged to reduce and improve their use

Inclusion of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.) and pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita moschata) in dairy sheep diets.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seed (CS) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) seed (PS) are used in ruminant diets as energy sources. The current experiment studied the impact of dietary inclusion of CS and PS on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk yield, and milk composition of dairy sheep. Twelve primiparous Texel × Suffolk ewes [70 ± 5 days in milk (DIM); 0.320 ± 0.029 kg milk yield] were distributed in a 4 × 3 Latin square design and fed either a butter-based control diet [CON; 13 g/kg dry matter] or two diets with 61 g/kg DM of either CS or PS. Dietary inclusion of CS and PS did not alter live weight (p >0.1) and DM intake (p >0.1). However, compared to the CON, dietary inclusion of both CS and PS increased the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (p 0.05) and C18:3n3 (p > 0.05). Overall short-term feeding of CS and/or PS (up to 6.1% DM of diet) not only maintains the production performance and digestibility of nutrients but also positively modifies the milk FA composition

Chemical composition (g/kg DM) of dietary ingredients in lactating dairy ewes.

Chemical composition (g/kg DM) of dietary ingredients in lactating dairy ewes.</p

Effect of butter (CON), chia seed (CS) and pumpkin seed (PS) on <i>in vitro</i> gas production.

Effect of butter (CON), chia seed (CS) and pumpkin seed (PS) on in vitro gas production.</p

Effect of dietary butter (CON), chia seed (CS) and pumpkin seed (PS) on nitrogen balance in dairy sheep.

Effect of dietary butter (CON), chia seed (CS) and pumpkin seed (PS) on nitrogen balance in dairy sheep.</p