Vegetation Changes Ten Years after Catclaw Mimosa ( \u3cem\u3e Mimosa laxiflora \u3c/em\u3e ) Control with Tebuthiuron in a Short Grass Prairie at Northern Sonora, Mexico

Catclaw mimosa (Mimosa laxiflora) is a native, perennial half-size brush, which invades short grass prairie and competes with desirable species for water, nutrients and light interferes with cattle grazing and reduces range productivity. Tebuthiuron [1-(5-tert-Butyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1,3-dimethylurea; chemical formula C9H16N4OS] is a granular herbicide used to control invasive shrubby species on rangelands with sustainable forage responses (McGinty et al., 2009). Research trials conducted in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts show that tebuthiuron at rates of 0.5 to 1.5 kg a.i./ha effectively controlled most shrubby species and significant increase forage in the Matorral area in Mexico and USA. Local information regarding catclaw mimosa control and forage production increases sustain after bush control in the short grass prairies does not exist. This study was conducted to evaluate vegetation changes after the application of tebuthiuron at rates of 0 and 1.5 kg a.i./ha to control high infestations of catclaw mimosa in the short grass prairies

Effectiveness of Tronador to Control Brittlebush in Buffelgrass Pastures at Central Sonora, México

Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is an introduced species which is planted in low productive semi-arid rangelands in northern Mexico to increase productivity and ranchers profit. Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) is a native half size shrub of low forage value that invades buffelgrass stands. Buffelgrass pastures lose productivity as brittlebush densities increase. Once brittlebush infestations occur plant densities do not decline unless brush control practices are applied. Mechanical treatments are mainly used when grass seeding is needed. Prescribed burning and manual control as well as granular herbicides have resulted on good plant control. Most liquid herbicides are either not as effective for plant control or not economically feasibles. Tronador is a new released herbicide but no data is available for its use. This study was conducted to evaluate several doses of Tronador to control brittlebush infestations and measure buffelgrass forage responses

Vegetation Changes Following Biosolids Applications at an Old Boer Lovegrass Pasture in Northern Sonora, México

Short grass prairies (Bouteloua-Aristida) are the main vegetation type in northern Sonora, México, however, factors such as land fragmentation, overgrazing, severe droughts and lack of infrastructure in most ranches poor grazing management has caused land degradation. Boer lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula var. conferta) is an introduced species planted to increase productivity on deteriorated rangelands. Forage production with Boer lovegrass increases two to three fold as compared to native grasses after range seeding but productivity declines as stands become old. Biosolids have been recognized as a useful soil amendment and source of nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter and other nutrients, which can enhance soil physical properties as well as plant yield (US Environmental Protection Agency 1999, Kinney et al. 2006). These organic compounds of human origins may play an important role in rangelands increasing soil fertility, however data do not exist to justify its use in México. This study was conducted to evaluate forage responses of old Boer lovegrass stands to biosolids applications

Profitability of Early Weaning of Beef Cows at Northern Sonora, Mexico: A Rancher Experience

Amount and distribution of precipitation is normally inadequate and uncertain in arid and semiarid Sonoran Desert rangelands. Low precipitation reduces forage quality and quantity and it can negatively influence livestock yield reducing milk production and calf gains. Early removal of the calf from its dam reduces forage needs of the cow-calf enterprise and has been found to improve body weight gain and pregnancy rates in the cow herd (Mulliniks et al., 2013). Additionally, weaning calves early can result in improved animal performance by increasing pregnancy rates, cow body condition scores and increased steer carcass quality while reducing forage needs of the cow-calf enterprise. Under normal conditions, a cow must yield a calf every year to be economically profitable so care should be taken in animal and range management to accomplish these goals. Blanco et al., (2009), reported that income received for early weaned calves may be greater than traditionally weaned calves. Previous studies in Mexico have shown that early weaning is a practical tool for calf production; however, local information regarding performance of cows following early weaning does not exist. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of early and normal weaning of calves on cows performance, percent pregnancy, calving interval and total profitability

\u3cem\u3eAcacia cochliacantha\u3c/em\u3e Control in Buffel Grass Pastures at Alamos, Sonora, Mexico

Chirahui (Acacia cochliacantha) is an aggressive tall-shrub which invades buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) in the short jungle area of Southern Sonora, Mexico. As brush invasion takes over the pastures buffelgrass forage production declines and spiny brush species interferes with cattle grazing (Martin et al., 1995). Manual brush control practices are common in the area but are normally ineffective because plants re-sprout back and reinvade pastures. Tordon 101 herbicide (64.0 g a.i./l Picloram + 240.0 g a.i/l 2,4-D) has been widely used for brush control in northern Mexico but it is expensive and is planned to go out of the market soon. Prado herbicide (621.3 g a.i./kg. Amynopyralid + 94.5 g a.i./kg. Metsulfuron metil) is a new and economic product released from Dow Agrosciences in Mexico but no local data is available for its use. This study was conducted in summer of 2011 to evaluate the efficiency of Prado herbicide and manual control by machete to reduce chirahui populations

Management Implications of the Biodiversity and Socio-Economic Impacts of Shrimp Trawler By-Catch in Bahía de Kino, Sonora, México

The shrimp fishery is the most economically important fishery in Mexico. The trawler-based portion of this fishery results in high rates of by-catch. This study quantifies and describes the biodiversity of by-catch associated with trawling in the Bahía de Kino region of Sonora, Mexico. Data were collected from 55 trawls, on six boats, over 14 nights, during November of 2003, 2004, 2006–2009. By-catch rates within trawl samples averaged 85.9% measured by weight. A total of 183 by-catch species were identified during the course of this study, including 97 species of bony fish from 43 families, 19 species of elasmobranchs from 12 families, 66 species of invertebrates from eight phyla, and one species of marine turtle; seven of the documented by-catch species are listed on the IUCN Red List, CITES, or the Mexican NOM-059-ECOL-2010; 35 species documented in the by-catch are also targeted by local artisanal fishers. Some of the species frequently captured as juveniles in the by-catch are economically important to small-scale fishers in the region, and are particularly sensitive to overexploitation due to their life histories. This study highlights the need for further research quantifying the impacts of high levels of by-catch upon small-scale fishing economies in the region and presents strong ecological and economic rationale for by-catch management within the shrimp fishery of the Gulf of California. Site-specific by-catch management plans should be piloted in the Bahía de Kino region to address the growing momentum in national and international fisheries policy regimes toward the reduction of by-catch in shrimp fisheries

IDENTIFICACIÓN SOCIOECONÓMICA DE MÓDULOS OVINOS DE TIPO FAMILIAR EN SISTEMA SILVOPASTORIL DE LA MIXTECA POBLANA

The present work identifies socioeconomically three modules of family-type sheep in the silvopastoral system in the Mixteca Poblana. Zootechnical, social and economic aspects have an impact on these production modules, standing out the type of natural arboreal-bush feeding, which reduces their feeding costs in sheep production, making their completion profitable in that region of the Mixteca Poblana. The study was carried out in the communities of Maninalcingo and Tehuaxtla, where a questionnaire of 80 survey questions was used in the form of an interview, the data obtained in 12 visits to the study area, were in a database in an Excel sheet (Microsoft Corp.). Study time was from July to December 2015. The objective was: to identify socioeconomically modules of family-type sheep in silvopastoral environment in the Mixteca Poblana. On the other hand, it is important to point out a strong migration of young people to the United States of America, due to the lack of agricultural programs and projects, health, employment, education and sports. If these characteristics are considered in government programs, producers and research institutions; Furthermore, by introducing and adopting technologies applied to MOFs (family sheep modules), the development and well-being of producers in the Mixteca region of Puebla would be sustained. As found in the identification of this study, the mean cost of production/sheep of the three family sheep modules (MOF) of 20.6 USD and with an average sale price/sheep of 110.3 USD. To a large extent the communities of the Mixteca Poblana have hostile social situations such as: housing, food, education, health, culture, sports. In addition to the marginalization, gender equity and social welfare due to its orographic conditions of the Mixteca Poblana. In conclusion: the socioeconomic identification is a technical-scientific tool, which allows to know in what conditions these Family Sheep Modules (MOF) are found in the Mixteca Poblana; since, through the application of questionnaire-type surveys applied to producers in the form of interviews, it is possible to better assess their social, economic and zootechnical characteristics in that region of Puebla