Nutritional value of forage species from the Central Highlands Region of Mexico at different stages of maturity

This paper has two objectives, the first is to determine the chemical composition, gas production parameters and the gas release kinetics, at different stages of maturity, of three grasses and a legume commonly found in long established pastures in Mexico central highland plateau. The second is to combine the gas release kinetics analysis and the GP fitted to a mathematical model in order to improve the biological understanding of the fermentation kinetics obtained from the GP technique. Representative samples of Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu grass), Sporobolus indicus (mouse tail), Eleocharis dombeyana (reed), Trifolium amabile (Aztec clover) plus a composite sample were collected in the growing season (July, September and November 2003) and analysed using an in vitro gas production (GP) technique. The accumulated GP was fitted to the model described in PALMER et al. (2005). Significant differences (P<0.001) were observed among species and periods for chemical composition, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre digestibility. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed regarding fermentation parameters and gas release kinetic, with T. amabile and P. clandestinum being the species with the highest fermentability, whereas S. indicus and E. dombeyana were poorly fermented. P. clandestinum and T. amabile showed higher nutritive value than S. indicus and E. dombeyana. Composite samples were influenced by the chemical and fermentation characteristics of all species. It was concluded that the use of gas release kinetics analysis was useful for differentiating the fermentation kinetic of the soluble and insoluble fraction in the grasses and legume. Therefore by performing both approaches, the gas release kinetics analysis and the GP fitted to a mathematical model, gave a better description of the fermentation kinetic of grasses and the legume was achieved when only one approach had been used

Understanding Factors Influencing Farmers’ Intention for Adopting Improved Grassland Using the Theory of Reasoned Action, in the Highlands of Central Mexico

Low adoption of improved grassland among small-scale dairy farmers has been attributed to different factors such as farmers and household characteristics, farm characteristics, institutional characteristics and capital constraints (Martínez-García et al., 2012). Several researchers illustrate the importance of farmers’ attitude, beliefs and social pressure from the salient referents in the adoption of innovations (Rehman et al., 2007; Rossi Borges et al., 2014). Regarding Mexico, there is a lack of information about understanding of attitudes, beliefs and social pressure underpinning farmers’ intentions to adopt agricultural innovations. In contrast to many adoption studies, it focuses on an innovation that has been successfully adopted. Therefore, the objective of this research was to understand factor influencing farmers’ intention for adopting improved grassland on their farms

Evaluación productiva y económica de un Sistema Silvopastoril Intensivo en bovinos doble propósito en Michoacán, México

Se evaluó el comportamiento productivo de bovinos doble propósito en un sistema silvopastoril intensivo (SSPi) en Apatzingán, Michoacán. La actividad se llevó a cabo mediante seguimientos técnico-económicos. Se monitorearon variables productivas y económicas (consumo de forraje, producción de leche, peso, ingresos y egresos) de 60 vacas de la raza Gyr, analizadas mediante estadística descriptiva y presupuestos por actividad. La carga animal fue de 2.06 UA ha-1, la producción de leche de 9.15 kg vaca-1 día-1, el ingreso de $1 495 225.15, el costo de producción de$406 042.43 y el margen bruto de $1 089 182.71 año-1. Se concluyó que el manejo de vacas Gyr en un SSPi favorece la producción de leche y carne y el ingreso en la unidad de producción (UP).UNIVERSIDAD AUTÓNOMA DEL ESTADO DE MÉXIC

Hauliers’ perceptions and attitudes towards farm animal welfare could influence the operational and logistics practices in sheep transport

survey of Mexico-based sheep hauliers was conducted in order to investigate perceptions and attitudes toward farm animal welfare (FAW) and their influence on operational and logistic practices (OLPs) in sheep transportation. The statistical analysis consisted in the application of 2-factor analyses (OLP and animal welfare attitudes), additionally a cluster analysis; the latter allowed a segmentation of hauliers according to their attitudes and OLP. The factor analysis gave 3 OLP factors: logistic issues, economic losses, and welfare losses. In the case of factor analyses about animal welfare attitudes, we obtained 4 factors: training and regulations, animal needs, welfare improvement, and sensibility. The cluster analysis of this study showed the existence of 3 haulier profiles; these were “efficient and concerned,” “efficient and not concerned,” and “not efficient and concerned.” Our results showed that hauliers’ perceptions had a clear influence on the performance of their operative and logistic activities during the sheep transportation. This study highlights the individual hauliers’ risk factors which can be considered to improve not only animal welfare but also indicates the need to consider the transportation as a whole because of potential factor combinations and confusions. The attitudes of sheep hauliers toward FAWare a strategic component that requires being considered when hauliers are trained. If it can be shown that modifying hauliers’ attitudes leads to improved OLP, then there is an opportunity to develop specific training programs to modify certain haulier’s animal welfare attitudes, with a subsequent improvement of sheep welfar

Evaluación productiva y económica de un sistema silvopastoril intensivo en bovinos doble propósito en Michoacán, México

Se evaluó el comportamiento productivo de bovinos doble propósito en un sistema silvopastoril intensivo (SSPi) en Apatzingán, Michoacán. La actividad se llevó a cabo mediante seguimientos técnico-económicos. Se monitorearon variables productivas y económicas (consumo de forraje, producción de leche, peso, ingresos y egresos) de 60 vacas de la raza Gyr, analizadas mediante estadística descriptiva y presupuestos por actividad. La carga animal fue de 2.06 UA ha-1, la producción de leche de 9.15 kg vaca-1 día-1, el ingreso de $1 495 225.15, el costo de producción de$406 042.43 y el margen bruto de $1 089 182.71 año-1. Se concluyó que el manejo de vacas Gyr en un SSPi favorece la producción de leche y carne y el ingreso en la unidad de producción (UP)

Physical-chemical properties and microstructural characterization of traditional mexican chili (Capsicum annuum L.) powders.

Es un artículo científico publicado en la revista Agro Productividad, la cual se encuentra indizada en CONACyT, LATINDEXThe chili (Capsicum annuum L.) (Solanaceae) is native of America, is consumed as vegetable, spice, and as source of vitamins A, C and E, carotenoids, and capsaicin which produce the characteristic pungency of Capsicum species. The chili in Mexico is usually processed in dried form to conserve its color and flavor. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the physical-chemical properties and characterize the microstructure of four varieties of traditional Mexican chili (Capsicum annuum L.) powders: “Arbol”, “Guajillo”, “Piquin” and “Mole ranchero” (Ancho chili). Physical-chemical properties of chili powders were evaluated by means of moisture content, particle size, aerated and tapped bulk density, Carr index, Hausner ratio, angle of repose (flow properties), capsaicin, and carotenoids content. Microstructure of samples was characterized by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. ANOVA analysis and Tukey test were performed to evaluate the significant statistical difference between samples at 95% of confidence level. “Arbol”, “Guajillo”, “Piquin” and “Mole Ranchero” chili powders presented a cohesive behavior respect to its flow properties related to aerated and tapped bulk density, angle of repose, Carr Index, and Hausner ratio values under moisture content between 6.59-14.48 g H2O/100g d.s. “Arbol” and “Piquin” chili powders presented the higher capsaicin content, while “Guajillo” and “Mole ranchero” showed the higher carotenoids content. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of secondary amide, phenolic groups, alkanes, and aliphatic chains that belong to capsaicin structure at specific absorption bands. Microstructure of chili powders presented particles with surface imperfections as cracks and dents, and smooth surface that influence physical- chemical and flowability properties. Moisture content between 6.59 and 14.48 g H2O/100g d.s. influences the physical- chemical properties, flowability and microstructure of traditional Mexican chili powders. To improve physical- chemical properties and flowability behavior of chili powders is required that moisture content be lower than 6.59 H2O/100g d.s

Effect of Increasing Supplementation Levels of Coffee Pulp on Milk Yield and Food Intake in Dual-Purpose Cows: An Alternative Feed Byproduct for Smallholder Dairy Systems of Tropical Climate Regions

Se presenta el artículo en texto completoCoffee is one of the main traded commodities worldwide, unfortunately, it generates massive amounts of by-products like coffee pulp (CoP), which could be utilized as an alternative feedstuff for cattle contributing to mitigate coffee production environmental damage. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of increasing levels of CoP supplementation on milk production, milk composition, and grass dry matter intake (GDMI) by dual-purpose tropical cows. A 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design was conducted, where four multiparous dual-purpose Holstein x Cebu cows with an average live weight of 477 ± 7 kg and milk yield of 12.1 ± 2.7 kg/d were used. The cows grazed 10 h/d on a Cynodon plectostachius sward with a stocking rate of three cows/ha. All cows received 6 kg/d DM of an experimental concentrate (EC), and the treatments consisted of four supplementation levels of CoP: T1 = 0, T2 = 0.6, T3 = 0.9, and T4 = 1.2 kg DM/d, which was provided on top of the concentrate and mixed with the EC. Grass intake was determined by the n-alkanes technique. A significant difference was observed for the average total daily DM intake (p 0.05) were observed for milk yield, milk composition, body weight, and GDMI for all the inclusion levels of CoP. It was concluded that CoP can be included at levels of 0.6 to 0.9 kg DM/d in the diets of cows without compromising milk yield or GDMI.This research was funded by the ICAMEX-Estado de México under grant number 15-2005- 0724 and the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México under grant number 1873/2009C