Estimación del grado básico de calidad en canales bovinas conforme a madurez ósea, marmoleo y predominancia fenotípica Bos indicus

In order to estimate the Basic Quality Grade of beef carcasses according to bone maturity, marbling and Bos indicus racial predominance, data from 1,417 carcasses processed in four Federal Inspection Type establishments were analyzed. The following variables were recorded: cavitary fat, rib eye area, dorsal fat thickness, hump length and height, marbling, and bone maturity. Using the variables marbling and bone maturity, the Basic Grade of Quality was estimated in accordance with the norm NOM-004-SAGARPA-2018. The hump height was used as a criterion to determine racial predominance, and four groups were generated from this information. Based on the recorded values, descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, comparison of means, and Tukey's test were determined. The hump height in each group was 7.19, 10.54, 14.38, and 20.11 cm (P<0.01), respectively. 82 % of the carcasses were predominantly Bos indicus. The hot carcass weight was 310.05 kg for group 1 vs 326.99 kg for group 4 (P<0.01). The rib eye area was 85.59 cm2 for group 1 vs 89.14 cm2 for group 2 (P<0.05). Of the total number of carcasses evaluated, 60 were classified as Supreme quality  (4.23 %),  655 as Select  quality  (46.22 %),  621 as  Standard  quality (43.82 %), and 81 as Commercial quality (5.72 %). The beef carcasses in this study have mainly a Bos indicus breed component, and their Basic Quality Grade corresponded primarily to a greater number of carcasses with grade A bone maturity, but with less marbling.Para estimar el Grado Básico de Calidad de canales bovinas conforme a madurez ósea, marmoleo y predominancia racial Bos indicus, se analizaron los datos de 1,417 canales procesadas en cuatro establecimientos Tipo Inspección Federal. Se registraron las variables: grasa cavitaria, área del ojo de costilla, espesor de la grasa dorsal, largo y altura de la giba, marmoleo y madurez ósea. Mediante las variables marmoleo y madurez ósea se estimó el Grado Básico de Calidad con base en la NOM-004-SAGARPA-2018. La altura de la giba se utilizó como criterio para determinar la predominancia racial y mediante esta información se generaron cuatro grupos. Con base en los valores registrados, se determinaron las estadísticas descriptivas, análisis de la varianza comparación de medias, análisis de frecuencias y prueba de Tukey. La altura de la giba en cada grupo fue de 7.19, 10.54, 14.38 y 20.11 cm (P<0.01), respectivamente. El 82 % de las canales mostraron predominancia racial Bos indicus. El peso de la canal caliente fue 310.05 kg para el grupo 1 vs 326.99 kg para el grupo 4 (P<0.01). El área del ojo de la costilla fue de 85.59 cm2 para el grupo 1 vs 89.14 cm2 para el 2 (P<0.05). Del total de canales evaluadas, 60 clasificaron de calidad Suprema (4.23 %), 655 de calidad Selecta (46.22 %), 621 de calidad Estándar (43.82 %) y 81 Comerciales (5.72 %). Las canales de bovino objeto del presente estudio, presentan mayormente un componente racial Bos indicus y su Grado Básico de Calidad primordialmente correspondió a la mayor cantidad de canales con madurez ósea grado A, pero con menor marmoleo

Factores que influyen en la emesis postaturdimiento en bovinos

To determine the effect of lairage duration, stunning effectiveness, type of commercial cattle, and ruminal content consistence on carcass contamination by emesis at slaughter between stunning and exsanguinations (stun-stick interval), data were analysed from 9,446 animals in Federal Inspection and Municipal slaughterhouses (P1, P2, P3, P4). Lairage duration was classified in three categories: T1) less than 3 h, T2) major than 3 h and lesser than 12 h, and T3) major than 12 h. Stunning was classified as effective and no effective. The consistence or ruminal content was identified and evaluated as watery, semi-watery and dense. Was recorded at P1, number of heads and lungs contaminated, data analysis by X2. On P2 y P3, the frequencies obtained were analyzed with logistic regression. In P4 data were disposed in frequency tables and analysed by X2. Long lairage time (T3) with ineffective stunning increased 1.73 times the risk to observe carcass contamination. At the long lairage time (T3), emesis increased (PPara determinar el efecto del tiempo de espera pre-sacrificio, la efectividad del aturdimiento, el tipo de categoría comercial y la consistencia del contenido ruminal en la emesis durante el intervalo entre aturdimiento y desangrado en ganado bovino, se seleccionaron 9,446 canales en cuatro plantas procesadoras (P1, P2, P3, P4). El tiempo de espera pre-sacrificio se clasificó en: 1) menor a 3 h (T1), 2) de 3 a 12 h (T2), 3) mayor a 12 h (T3). El aturdimiento se registró como efectivo y no efectivo. La consistencia del contenido ruminal, se clasificó en: acuosa, semi-acuosa y espesa. En P1, se registró el número de cabezas y pulmones contaminados por emesis, y el análisis se realizó mediante X2. Cuando la espera pre-sacrificio fue mayor a 10 h y el aturdimiento no fue efectivo, el riesgo fue 1.73 veces mayor para observar contaminación de la canal. Al aumentar el tiempo de espera pre-sacrificio se incrementó (

Comparación de la castración quirúrgica al nacimiento versus inmunocastración sobre el comportamiento conductual y parámetros sanguíneos (testosterona y cortisol) en machos Holstein en engorda

The behavioural response and blood parameters were compared in immunocastrated and surgically castrated bovine males. In total, 720 Holstein males, 7-8 months old and approximately 240 kg body weight were used. One group was immunocastrated by vaccination with Bopriva (commercial anti-GnRH vaccine) on days 1, 21, 101 and 181 days of the fattening and the other group was surgically castrated at birth. Blood samples were taken on vaccination days for testosterone determination and on days 181 and during slaughtering to analyse blood cortisol. Sexual behaviour (mounts and flehmen signs) and aggressive (threats and head butting) and social behaviour (sniffing, grooming, lowered head, and vocalization) were evaluated, finding no significant differences between treatments. Testosterone concentration in both treatments was below 1 ng/ml in all samples. Cortisol levels on day 181 of fattening were lower (p&lt;0.05) with respect to the day of slaughtering in both treatments. Slaughter weight (242 days fattening) was 595.0 kg in immunocastrated males and 620.74 kg in surgically castrated males.Se comparó el comportamiento conductual y parámetros sanguíneos en toros inmunocastrados y quirúrgicamente castrados. Se utilizaron 720 machos Holstein de 7-8 meses de edad y peso aproximado de 240 kg. Un grupo fue inmunocastrado mediante vacunación con Bopriva (vacuna comercial anti-GnRH) los días 1, 21, 101 y 181 días de engorda y el otro grupo fue castrado quirúrgicamente al nacimiento. Se tomaron muestras de sangre los días de las vacunaciones para la determinación de testosterona y los días 181 y durante el desangrado en el sacrificio para analizar cortisol sanguíneo. Se evaluó el comportamiento sexual (montas y signos de flehmen), agresivo (amenazas y topetazos) y social (olfateos, acicalamiento, cabeza baja y vocalizaciones) no encontrándose diferencias significativas entre tratamientos. La concentración de testosterona en ambos tratamientos fue por debajo de 1 ng/ml en todos los muestreos. Los niveles de cortisol en el día 181 de engorda fueron más bajos (p&lt;0.05) con respecto al día de sacrificio en ambos tratamientos. El peso al sacrificio (242 días de engorda) fue de 595.0 kg en machos inmunocastrados y 620.74 kg en castrados quirúrgicamente

Local hydrological conditions influence tree diversity and composition across the Amazon basin

Tree diversity and composition in Amazonia are known to be strongly determined by the water supplied by precipitation. Nevertheless, within the same climatic regime, water availability is modulated by local topography and soil characteristics (hereafter referred to as local hydrological conditions), varying from saturated and poorly drained to well-drained and potentially dry areas. While these conditions may be expected to influence species distribution, the impacts of local hydrological conditions on tree diversity and composition remain poorly understood at the whole Amazon basin scale. Using a dataset of 443 1-ha non-flooded forest plots distributed across the basin, we investigate how local hydrological conditions influence 1) tree alpha diversity, 2) the community-weighted wood density mean (CWM-wd) – a proxy for hydraulic resistance and 3) tree species composition. We find that the effect of local hydrological conditions on tree diversity depends on climate, being more evident in wetter forests, where diversity increases towards locations with well-drained soils. CWM-wd increased towards better drained soils in Southern and Western Amazonia. Tree species composition changed along local soil hydrological gradients in Central-Eastern, Western and Southern Amazonia, and those changes were correlated with changes in the mean wood density of plots. Our results suggest that local hydrological gradients filter species, influencing the diversity and composition of Amazonian forests. Overall, this study shows that the effect of local hydrological conditions is pervasive, extending over wide Amazonian regions, and reinforces the importance of accounting for local topography and hydrology to better understand the likely response and resilience of forests to increased frequency of extreme climate events and rising temperatures

Geographic patterns of tree dispersal modes in Amazonia and their ecological correlates

Aim: To investigate the geographic patterns and ecological correlates in the geographic distribution of the most common tree dispersal modes in Amazonia (endozoochory, synzoochory, anemochory and hydrochory). We examined if the proportional abundance of these dispersal modes could be explained by the availability of dispersal agents (disperser-availability hypothesis) and/or the availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits (resource-availability hypothesis). Time period: Tree-inventory plots established between 1934 and 2019. Major taxa studied: Trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 9.55 cm. Location: Amazonia, here defined as the lowland rain forests of the Amazon River basin and the Guiana Shield. Methods: We assigned dispersal modes to a total of 5433 species and morphospecies within 1877 tree-inventory plots across terra-firme, seasonally flooded, and permanently flooded forests. We investigated geographic patterns in the proportional abundance of dispersal modes. We performed an abundance-weighted mean pairwise distance (MPD) test and fit generalized linear models (GLMs) to explain the geographic distribution of dispersal modes. Results: Anemochory was significantly, positively associated with mean annual wind speed, and hydrochory was significantly higher in flooded forests. Dispersal modes did not consistently show significant associations with the availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits. A lower dissimilarity in dispersal modes, resulting from a higher dominance of endozoochory, occurred in terra-firme forests (excluding podzols) compared to flooded forests. Main conclusions: The disperser-availability hypothesis was well supported for abiotic dispersal modes (anemochory and hydrochory). The availability of resources for constructing zoochorous fruits seems an unlikely explanation for the distribution of dispersal modes in Amazonia. The association between frugivores and the proportional abundance of zoochory requires further research, as tree recruitment not only depends on dispersal vectors but also on conditions that favour or limit seedling recruitment across forest types

Geography and ecology shape the phylogenetic composition of Amazonian tree communities

AimAmazonia hosts more tree species from numerous evolutionary lineages, both young and ancient, than any other biogeographic region. Previous studies have shown that tree lineages colonized multiple edaphic environments and dispersed widely across Amazonia, leading to a hypothesis, which we test, that lineages should not be strongly associated with either geographic regions or edaphic forest types.LocationAmazonia.TaxonAngiosperms (Magnoliids; Monocots; Eudicots).MethodsData for the abundance of 5082 tree species in 1989 plots were combined with a mega-phylogeny. We applied evolutionary ordination to assess how phylogenetic composition varies across Amazonia. We used variation partitioning and Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM) to test and quantify the separate and joint contributions of spatial and environmental variables to explain the phylogenetic composition of plots. We tested the indicator value of lineages for geographic regions and edaphic forest types and mapped associations onto the phylogeny.ResultsIn the terra firme and várzea forest types, the phylogenetic composition varies by geographic region, but the igapó and white-sand forest types retain a unique evolutionary signature regardless of region. Overall, we find that soil chemistry, climate and topography explain 24% of the variation in phylogenetic composition, with 79% of that variation being spatially structured (R2 = 19% overall for combined spatial/environmental effects). The phylogenetic composition also shows substantial spatial patterns not related to the environmental variables we quantified (R2 = 28%). A greater number of lineages were significant indicators of geographic regions than forest types.Main ConclusionNumerous tree lineages, including some ancient ones (&gt;66 Ma), show strong associations with geographic regions and edaphic forest types of Amazonia. This shows that specialization in specific edaphic environments has played a long-standing role in the evolutionary assembly of Amazonian forests. Furthermore, many lineages, even those that have dispersed across Amazonia, dominate within a specific region, likely because of phylogenetically conserved niches for environmental conditions that are prevalent within regions

Geography and ecology shape the phylogenetic composition of Amazonian tree communities

Aim: Amazonia hosts more tree species from numerous evolutionary lineages, both young and ancient, than any other biogeographic region. Previous studies have shown that tree lineages colonized multiple edaphic environments and dispersed widely across Amazonia, leading to a hypothesis, which we test, that lineages should not be strongly associated with either geographic regions or edaphic forest types. Location: Amazonia. Taxon: Angiosperms (Magnoliids; Monocots; Eudicots). Methods: Data for the abundance of 5082 tree species in 1989 plots were combined with a mega-phylogeny. We applied evolutionary ordination to assess how phylogenetic composition varies across Amazonia. We used variation partitioning and Moran\u27s eigenvector maps (MEM) to test and quantify the separate and joint contributions of spatial and environmental variables to explain the phylogenetic composition of plots. We tested the indicator value of lineages for geographic regions and edaphic forest types and mapped associations onto the phylogeny. Results: In the terra firme and várzea forest types, the phylogenetic composition varies by geographic region, but the igapó and white-sand forest types retain a unique evolutionary signature regardless of region. Overall, we find that soil chemistry, climate and topography explain 24% of the variation in phylogenetic composition, with 79% of that variation being spatially structured (R$^{2}$ = 19% overall for combined spatial/environmental effects). The phylogenetic composition also shows substantial spatial patterns not related to the environmental variables we quantified (R$^{2}$ = 28%). A greater number of lineages were significant indicators of geographic regions than forest types. Main Conclusion: Numerous tree lineages, including some ancient ones (>66 Ma), show strong associations with geographic regions and edaphic forest types of Amazonia. This shows that specialization in specific edaphic environments has played a long-standing role in the evolutionary assembly of Amazonian forests. Furthermore, many lineages, even those that have dispersed across Amazonia, dominate within a specific region, likely because of phylogenetically conserved niches for environmental conditions that are prevalent within regions

Mapping density, diversity and species-richness of the Amazon tree flora

Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Trees structure the Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1,2,3,4,5,6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth’s 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world’s most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe