Characterization of growth, carcass, meat and intramuscular lipid profile quality of the Marismeña cattle breed

Existe una creciente preocupación por los productos cárnicos y su calidad, tanto en términos de la calidad nutricional como en la producción sostenible asociada al medio ambiente. Se han desarrollado marcas de calidad de diferentes productos cárnicos, muchas de ellas vinculadas a razas locales. La raza Marismeña se cría en condiciones asilvestradas dentro del Parque Nacional de Doñana (suroeste de España) y la calidad de su carne es tradicionalmente apreciada en el área de influencia. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar las curvas de crecimiento, la calidad de la canal y la carne, el perfil lipídico intramuscular y algunos polimorfismos de nucleótidos simples (SNP) mencionados en la literatura, por su posible asociación a genes candidatos. Se estudiaron un total de 30 animales (10 machos y 20 hembras) en condiciones asilvestradas y 24 (12 machos y 12 hembras) en condiciones de producción intensiva. La curva de crecimiento biológica solo se evaluó para los animales criados en su hábitat natural, utilizando registros de pesos desde el nacimiento hasta la edad adulta y testando el ajuste a modelos no lineales. Los mismos modelos fueron usados para comparar las denominadas curvas comerciales, tanto en el sistema asilvestrado como en el intensivo, las cuales estudian el crecimiento desde el nacimiento hasta la edad comercial de sacrificio. De acuerdo con los parámetros de la curva biológica, los machos y las hembras presentaron pesos asintóticos de 641,71 kg y 403,55 kg, respectivamente. Los resultados de la curva de crecimiento comercial difirieron de los de la curva biológica. La mayor ganancia de peso en el ganado asilvestrado se halló a los 7 y 10 meses para machos y hembras, respectivamente, mientras que los mejores rendimientos se alcanzaron a los 11 meses en los terneros criados en el sistema intensivo, lo que es relevante para la toma de decisiones en la gestión y el envío a matadero de los animales. Las canales provenientes del sistema asilvestrado mostraron menores pesos y rendimientos en comparación con el bovino criado en sistemas intensivos y proveniente de razas seleccionadas para la producción cárnica. La carne de los animales del sistema asilvestrado mostró algunas diferencias significativas en el color, la capacidad de retención de agua y la grasa intramuscular. La mayor proporción de ácidos grasos saturados y la menor proporción de ácidos grasos monoinsaturados en la carne de animales asilvestrados fue significativa en comparación con los de cebadero. El porcentaje de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados fue mayor para la carne del sistema asilvestrado, especialmente la proporción de n-3 que fue aproximadamente 8,5 veces mayor. Se hallaron relaciones de los genes CAPN y CAST con el engrasamiento de la canal y la fuerza de cizallamiento (Warner-Bratzler), respectivamente. Además, también se encontró relación del gen POMC con la pérdida de peso por cocción y los cortes de la categoría extra de la canal. Las relaciones de LEP y SCD se establecieron con algunos ácidos grasos y fueron semejantes a otras investigaciones. Este trabajo podría inferir un modelo para cuantificar los efectos del manejo humano, ya que las condiciones asilvestradas ofrecen una oportunidad única para estudiar el ganado doméstico sin la influencia humana. Nuestros resultados respaldan la diferenciación de la carne de raza Marismeña y sugieren un estudio más profundo de los SNPs, como punto de partida para su inclusión en un programa de mejoramiento en condiciones asilvestradas, mediante el uso de la selección asistida por marcadores/genes.There is a growing concern about meat products and their quality, both in terms of the nutritional quality and sustainable production associated with the environment. Beef quality labels have been developed and are related to different products, and many of them are linked to local breeds. Marismeña cattle is raised in feral conditions within the Doñana National Park (Southwest Spain) and its meat quality is traditionally appreciated in the area of influence. We aimed to study Marismeña growth curves, carcass and meat quality, the intramuscular lipid profile and some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mentioned in the literature as they may be associated to candidate genes. A total of 30 animals (10 males and 20 females) were studied under feral system conditions, and 24 (12 males and 12 females) under intensive system conditions respectively. The biological growth was only assessed for those animals in their natural habit, studying weight records from birth to adult age under feral conditions and testing the fitting of their biological curves to nonlinear models. Same models were used to compare feral vs intensive so-called commercial curves, which measure growth from birth to commercial slaughter age. According to the biological curve parameters, males and females presented asymptotic weights of 641.71 kg and 403.55 kg, respectively. The results of the commercial growth curve severely differed from those of the biological curve. Best performance in feral cattle was found at 7 and 10 months for males and females, respectively, while such best performances were reached at 11 months in intensive system-reared calves, what becomes relevant for management and slaughtering decision-making. Feral animal carcasses showed lower weights and poor yields when compared to those reared under intensive systems and in meat-selected breeds. Meat from feral system animals displayed some significant differences concerning its colour, water holding capacity and intramuscular fat. The higher saturated fatty acids proportion and lower monounsaturated fatty acids proportion in the meat from feral animals are remarkable when compared to those of feedlot meat respectively. Polyunsaturated fatty acids percentage was higher for feral meat, compared to that of feedlot meat, especially the proportion of n-3, which was about 8.5 times higher. The CAPN and CAST genes were found to be related to the fatness score and Warner–Bratzler shear force, respectively. Additionally, the relationship of POMC with cooking loss and carcass extra cuts was also found. The relationships of LEP and SCD were established with some fatty acids and those from certain studies. This research could infer a model to quantify the effects of human management, as feral resources offer unique opportunities to study domestic livestock without any human influence. Our results support the differentiation of Marismeña meat and allow a further study of SNPs as a starting point for their inclusion in the breeding programme in feral conditions by using marker/gene assisted selection

Camel Genetic Resources Conservation through Tourism: A Key Sociocultural Approach of Camelback Leisure Riding

Camels are exotic elements, which can be comprised within adventure travel companies promoting ecotourism activities. Such recreations contribute to sustainable livelihoods for local communities and educational empowerment towards nature and its conservation. At present, some local camel breeds’ survival reduces to this animal-based leisure industry and its reliability to perform and promote customized services accurately. By conducting an on-site questionnaire to customers participating in camelback riding tours, we assessed the motivational factors affecting participation, satisfaction, and loyalty in this tourism segment that may have made it socially differentiated. The sixfold combination of staff performance, culture geography, diverse and humane close interaction, camel behavior and performance, sociotemporal context, and positive previous experience involves the elemental dimensions that explain customer satisfaction and return intention probability within this entertainment business. Customer knowledge is essential for stakeholders to build personalized riding experiences and align profits with environmental sustainability and biodiversity mainstream concerns into their everyday operations. In turn, domestic camel tourist rides could be managed as a viable path to nature conservation by helping endangered local breeds to avoid their functional devaluation and potential extinction

The Study of Growth and Performance in Local Chicken Breeds and Varieties: A Review of Methods and Scientific Transference

A review of the scientific advances in the study of the growth and performance in native chicken breeds and varieties over the past 20 years was performed. Understanding the growth patterns of native breeds can only be achieved if the constraints characterizing these populations are considered and treated accordingly. Contextually, the determination of researchers to use the same research methods and study designs applied in international commercial poultry populations conditions the accuracy of the model, variability capturing ability, and the observational or predictive performance when the data of the local population are fitted. Highly skewed sex ratios favouring females, an inappropriate census imbalance compensation and a lack of population structure render models that are regularly deemed effective as invalid to issue solid and sound conclusions. The wider the breed diversity is in a country, the higher the scientific attention paid to these populations. A detailed discussion of the most appropriate models and underlying reasons for their suitability and the reasons preventing the use of others in these populations is provided. Furthermore, the factors conditioning the scientific reception and impact of related publications used to transfer these results to the broad scientific public were evaluated to serve as guidance for the maximization of the success and dissemination of local breed information

Sistema IoT para la monitorización de gases contaminantes en pila de compost.

Pollution is a significant environmental issue that continues to have profound effects on human health and the planet’s ecosystems. One notable source of pollution is greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global climate change. Composting, a popular method of organic waste management, has the potential to reduce pollution by diverting waste from landfills and producing a nutrient-rich soil amendment. However, the environmental impact of composting is not well understood, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. This article proposes an IoT system to monitor the data of different greenhouse gases, temperature, and humidity of a compost pile to know the carbon footprint during the composting process and even reduce it by modifying the process thanks to real-time monitoring of the parameters of interest.Este trabajo ha sido realizado dentro de la iniciativa Smart- Campus de la Universidad de Málaga, colaboración con el resto del equipo de desarrollo del proyecto UMA Composta financiado por el II Plan Propio de Smart-Campus de la Universidad de Málaga. Los autores agradecen la labor de los demás miembros de los grupos de investigación parte de este proyecto. También ha sido parcialmente financiado a través del II Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Málaga

Characterization of growth, carcass, meat and intramuscular lipid profile quality of the Marismeña cattle breed

We aimed to study Marismeña growth curves, carcass and meat quality, the intramuscular lipid profile and some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mentioned in the literature as they may be associated to candidate genes. A total of 30 animals (10 males and 20 females) were studied under feral system conditions, and 24 (12 males and 12 females) under intensive system conditions respectively. The biological growth was only assessed for those animals in their natural habit, studying weight records from birth to adult age under feral conditions and testing the fitting of their biological curves to nonlinear models. Same models were used to compare feral vs intensive so-called commercial curves, which measure growth from birth to commercial slaughter age. This research could infer a model to quantify the effects of human management, as feral resources offer unique opportunities to study domestic livestock without any human influence. Our results support the differentiation of Marismeña meat and allow a further study of SNPs as a starting point for their inclusion in the breeding programme in feral conditions by using marker/gene assisted selection.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar las curvas de crecimiento, la calidad de la canal y la carne, el perfil lipídico intramuscular y algunos polimorfismos de nucleótidos simples (SNP) mencionados en la literatura, por su posible asociación a genes candidatos. Se estudiaron un total de 30 animales (10 machos y 20 hembras) en condiciones asilvestradas y 24 (12 machos y 12 hembras) en condiciones de producción intensiva. La curva de crecimiento biológica solo se evaluó para los animales criados en su hábitat natural, utilizando registros de pesos desde el nacimiento hasta la edad adulta y testando el ajuste a modelos no lineales. Los mismos modelos fueron usados para comparar las denominadas curvas comerciales, tanto en el sistema asilvestrado como en el intensivo, las cuales estudian el crecimiento desde el nacimiento hasta la edad comercial de sacrificio. Este trabajo podría inferir un modelo para cuantificar los efectos del manejo humano, ya que las condiciones asilvestradas ofrecen una oportunidad única para estudiar el ganado doméstico sin la influencia humana. Nuestros resultados respaldan la diferenciación de la carne de raza Marismeña y sugieren un estudio más profundo de los SNPs, como punto de partida para su inclusión en un programa de mejoramiento en condiciones asilvestradas, mediante el uso de la selección asistida por marcadores/genes.Programa de Doctorado en Recursos Naturales y Gestión Sostenible por la Universidad de Córdoba. Dirección: Esperanza Camacho (IFAPA) y Cristina Bressa

Diversidad genética de la raza equina marismeña

Marismeño horse, is a Spanish equine breed threatened with extinction located almost exclusively at the Espacio Natural de Doñana, a protected area (Natural and National Park), at the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. To define the genetic profile of the breed, 25 microsatellites recommended by the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG) were analyzed: AHT4, AHT5, ASB17, ASB2, ASB23, HMS3, HMS6, HMS7, HTG10, HTG4, LEX3, LEX33, VHL20, TKY287, TKY294, TKY297, TKY301, TKY312, TKY321, TKY333, TKY337, TKY341, TKY343, TKY344, TKY394. The microsatellites were amplified by PCR (Polimerase Chain Reaction). The obtained fragments were separated by electrophoresis in an automatic sequencer ABI377XL (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The fragment analysis and genotyping was made using the programmes Genescan Analisys 3.1.2 and Genotyper 2.5, using Genescan® 400HD ROX as size standard. Heterozigosity analysis, Fis, multivariate analysis and assignation and genetic structure analysis were performed. All the microsatellites analyzed were very informative and polymorphic, with a minimum of 6 alleles for the microsatellites AHT5, HMS6 and HMS7, and a maximum of 12 for the microsatellite ASB2. The Marismeño breed shows a high variability, with an average of 8,24 alleles per locus. The FIS value for the population is 0,007. This means that the population is homogeneous and not significantly deviated from HWE. The genetic structure analysis confirms the analysed individuals group together. The conclusion is that the first results of a great effort, done by the Marismeño horse breeders are being collected, to settle the breed characteristics without significant loss of genetic variability

Genetic diversity of the semi-feral Marismeño horse breed assessed with microsatellites

Marismeño horses originated from primitive horses living around the marshes of the Guadalquivir River in Southern Spain. Throughout their evolution, they have experienced crosses with other breeds, first with horses from North Africa and thereafter with other horses. However, they have not lost their ability to adapt to the demanding marsh environment. Recently, a studbook of the breed was established, and the Breeders Association started a conservation programme. To study the relationship of the Marismeño with other breeds, a microsatellite analysis was developed, which included other ancient Southern Iberian horse populations, such as the Sorraia and Retuertas breeds. Candidates of recent crossbreeding with Marismeño horses, such as the Hispano-Arabian and the Spanish Purebred, were studied, and the Thoroughbred and the Arabian breed were used as international references. The results indicated that the Marismeño horse population maintains a great genetic diversity. Despite recent crossbreeding, the fixation index and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis disclosed a certain homogeneity degree. A dendrogram was built using the obtained genetic distances, and clustering was performed with the software STRUCTURE, and the results reflected the genetic differentiation of the Marismeño horse from the other autochthonous Iberian breeds, although the Marismeño population has maintained a tight relationship with the Spanish Purebred. Remarkably, some relatedness between the Marismeño and the Barb horse breeds could be observed and was most likely derived from an ancient gene flow between the horses of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa

Social Network Analysis of the Stakeholders Involved in the Dromedary Sector in the Mediterranean Region

International audienceMarginal arid zones in the south Mediterranean are faced with the dramatic departure of their labor forces through migration. Interest in the capacity of the dromedary species to enhance desert ecosystems and to be a potential lever of economic development of these marginal zones only started to grow in the last two decades. Based on an empirical survey of 179 stakeholders in four Mediterranean countries, we explored the links of the stakeholders in the dromedary sector in two dimensions: horizontal links with peers and vertical links along the value chain and in resource management. Both descriptive statistics and social network analysis highlight the original organization of the dromedary sector around herders and their social and cultural organization at the territorial level. Therefore, even if milk production and processing start to constitute an opportunity for the young generation who do not necessarily have the financial capacity to invest in a large dromedary herd, this change towards milk valorization can only happen if it is linked with the traditional system based on mobility. Using a systemic approach and working toward multiple valorizations of dromedary products instead of only targeting milk productivity should be explored