Comportamiento productivo y valor nutricional del pasto Pennisetum purpureum cv Cuba CT-115, a diferente edad de rebrote

Grass species forage yield and nutritional value directly affect livestock production performance. They also vary in response to regional climate and soil conditions. Forage yield and nutritional value in Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cuba CT-115 were evaluated at five regrowth ages (30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 d) in three seasons (dry, rainy and northwinds). A completely randomized block design with repeated measures was used, with four replicates per treatment. In all three seasons, maximum height was reached at 75 d: 127.1 cm in the dry season, 151.6 cm in the rainy season and 137.0 cm the northwind season. Forage yield was highest (27.0 t DM ha-1) at 90 d in the rainy season, with a growth rate of 300.2 kg DM ha-1 d-1, 7.3% crude protein and 37.0% in situ digestibility of dry matter. The leaf:stem ratio was highest at 30 d in all seasons, with a 1.65 average value. Crude protein content was highest in the northwind season at 30 and 45 d, with a 15.6 % average value. In all three seasons, digestibility was highest at 30 (mean= 49.3 %), 45 (51.8 %) and 60 d (48.2 %). Based on forage yield, use of P. purpureum cv. Cuba CT-115 grass for open grazing is recommended for cutting at 90 days’ regrowth and based on its nutritional quality is recommended for grazing at 60 days’ regrowth, both during the rainy season.Se evaluó el rendimiento de forraje y valor nutritivo del pasto Pennisetum purpureum cv Cuba CT-115, en cinco edades de rebrote: 30, 45, 60, 75 y 90 días, en tres épocas del año: seca, lluvias y nortes. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con medidas repetidas, con cuatro repeticiones por tratamiento. La mayor altura se registró a partir de los 75 días, en todas las épocas, con valores de 127.1, 151.6 y 137.0 cm, en seca, lluvias y nortes, respectivamente. El rendimiento más alto de forraje (27.0 t MS ha-1) se obtuvo a los 90 días en la época de lluvias, con una tasa de crecimiento (TC) de 300.2 kg MS ha-1 día-1, 7.3 % de proteína cruda (PC) y 37.0 % de degradación in situ de la materia seca (DIMS). La relación hoja:tallo fue mayor a los 30 días de rebrote, con un valor promedio de 1.65. El contenido de PC fue mayor en la época de nortes a 30 y 45 días, con un valor promedio de 15.6 %. La DIMS fue más alta a 30, 45 y 60 días, con valores promedio de 49.3, 51.8 y 48.2 %, respectivamente. Con base al rendimiento de forraje, se recomienda el uso del pasto Cuba CT-115 para corte a 90 días de rebrote durante la época de lluvias, mientras que, por su calidad nutricional, se recomienda su uso para pastoreo a 60 días de crecimiento después del corte

Determination of optimal areas for the establishment of buffalo herds and German grass in Tabasco, Mexico

Objective: To determine optimal (suitable) areas for the establishment of fattening buffalo herds (Bubalus bubalis) and german grass (Echinochloa polystachya Kunth Hitchc) based on biophysical environmental conditions that favor the comfort state of the animal species and the better development of the plant species. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology consisted of an analysis of the bioclimatic parameters for water buffalo and agroclimatic parameters for german grass in the state from Tabasco. A comparative table of the optimal biophysical variables of the water buffalo and the german grass was elaborated with respect to the digital geographic base of soils and the climatological normals registered in the state from Tabasco. Edaphoclimatic maps were elaborated for the establishment of buffalo herds associated with german grass from a cartographic crossing. Results: Obtaining the edaphoclimatic aptitude map of both species at a scale of 1:135,000. Limitations of the study/implications: In the state of Tabasco, there is a lack of basic information on the soil and climatic conditions suitable for water buffalo, since its exploitation is recent. Findings/conclusions: The areas for the establishment of buffalo herds and German grass were identified. 4.29% of the state of Tabasco has suitable potential, followed by 56.67% classified as moderately suitable, while 38.48% were classified as unsuitableObjective: To determine optimal (suitable) areas for the establishment of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) herds fattened with German grass (Echinochloa polystachya Kunth Hitchc), based on the biophysical environmental conditions that favor the comfort of the animal species and the best development of the plant species.Design/Methodology/Approach: An analysis of the bioclimatic parameters for water buffalo and the agroclimatic parameters for German grass was carried out in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. A comparative table of the optimal biophysical variables of water buffalo and German grass was developed from the digital soil geographic databases and the climatological normals recorded in the state of Tabasco. Edaphoclimatic maps were developed to establish buffalo herds associated with German grass, based on a cartographic cross-checking.Results: The soil-climatic aptitude map of both species was developed at a scale of 1:135,000.Study Limitations/Implications: Given its recent introduction, there is a lack of basic information on the edaphoclimatic conditions suitable for water buffalo in the state of Tabasco.Findings/Conclusions: The areas for the establishment of buffalo herds and German grass were identified. Regarding their potentiality, 4.29% of the state of Tabasco is suitable, 56.67% was classified as moderately suitable, and 38.48% is not suitable

Evidence of spatial clustering of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases in Greater Mexico City: report from the Mexican Inter-Institutional Group for the identification of the causes of childhood leukemia

BackgroundA heterogeneous geographic distribution of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases has been described, possibly, related to the presence of different environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the geographical distribution of childhood ALL cases in Greater Mexico City (GMC).MethodsA population-based case-control study was conducted. Children <18 years old, newly diagnosed with ALL and residents of GMC were included. Controls were patients without leukemia recruited from second-level public hospitals, frequency-matched by sex, age, and health institution with the cases. The residence address where the patients lived during the last year before diagnosis (cases) or the interview (controls) was used for geolocation. Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic was used to detect spatial clusters (SCs). Relative risks (RR), associated p-value and number of cases included for each cluster were obtained.ResultsA total of 1054 cases with ALL were analyzed. Of these, 408 (38.7%) were distributed across eight SCs detected. A relative risk of 1.61 (p<0.0001) was observed for the main cluster. Similar results were noted for the remaining seven ones. Additionally, a proximity between SCs, electrical installations and petrochemical facilities was observed.ConclusionsThe identification of SCs in certain regions of GMC suggest the possible role of environmental factors in the etiology of childhood ALL

Table_1_Evidence of spatial clustering of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases in Greater Mexico City: report from the Mexican Inter-Institutional Group for the identification of the causes of childhood leukemia.xlsx

BackgroundA heterogeneous geographic distribution of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases has been described, possibly, related to the presence of different environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the geographical distribution of childhood ALL cases in Greater Mexico City (GMC).MethodsA population-based case-control study was conducted. Children ResultsA total of 1054 cases with ALL were analyzed. Of these, 408 (38.7%) were distributed across eight SCs detected. A relative risk of 1.61 (pConclusionsThe identification of SCs in certain regions of GMC suggest the possible role of environmental factors in the etiology of childhood ALL.</p