Utilization of Cooked Cassava and Taro as Alternative Feed in Enhancing Pig Production in Ecuadorian Backyard System

Pork production in Ecuador is of significant economic and nutritional importance. Many of these operations are family- or backyard-based and utilize alternative feed ingredients to reduce production costs. The current study aimed to determine the chemical composition of cooked cassava and taro, and to evaluate their inclusion in the feed of backyard pigs during the growth and fattening phases. A total of 42 castrated pigs from two geographic locations in Ecuador were studied over a period of 100 days, during which their weight and measurements were recorded at three-week intervals. At the end of the experiment, ileum samples were collected from the slaughtered pigs in order to calculate the apparent digestibility of the feed. The crude protein levels of cassava and taro were found to be 3.2% and 2.1%, respectively. The combination of cooked cassava and taro was found to be a suitable replacement for corn, with the best results observed in the group receiving a diet incorporating 21% each of cassava and taro. Analysis of the ileal content also revealed that this group exhibited the highest nitrogen assimilation from the diet

Effects of alternative cassava and taro feed on the carcass and meat quality of fattening pigs reared under Ecuadorian backyard systems

Ecuadorian small producers use crossbred animals with a low level of genetic improvement, which are fed with alternative feeds to decrease production costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of geographical location and three diets according to the amount of cassava and taro incorporated into the feed (T1 conventional feed; T2 and T3 with 32% and 42% of cassava and taro, respectively) in pigs reared under the backyard system. The results did not show many differences between the treatments for morphological traits; however, between geographical locations, significant differences were evidenced. The fat content from the first rib was higher in the T1 group. The intramuscular fat percentage was higher in the T1 group, contrary to the protein levels, which were higher in the T3 group in Esmeraldas and the T2 group in Ro Chico. In the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and its attached organs, differences were found in the empty stomach weight, full and empty small intestine weight, liver weight, and total GIT weight, with the T2 and T3 groups having the largest and heaviest. Cassava and taro did not affect the morphometric behavior and quality of the carcass but increased the amount of protein in the meat and the weight of the GIT. Geographical location was also observed to have a significant effect

Evaluación socio productiva y comercial de cabras en la parroquia Julcuy, Jipijapa, Ecuador

The main objective of this research was to assess the Julcuy parish's socio-productive and commercial goat system. This study used deductive-inductive, analysis-synthesis, and other theoretical approaches to conduct a correlational inquiry. A survey was conducted, and a questionnaire was developed for it based on the social, productive, and economic aspects. A total of 103 producers participated in the survey, with a split between the Parish head (32), Communities of Piñas (31), Peñas (20), and Mero Seco (20). Non-parametric statistical and mathematical techniques were used. Kruskal-Wallis was used to assess (p=0.05) of significance for the chi-square and quantitative qualitative variables (Data without normal distribution). It was demonstrated that the social dimension in the four study areas consists of 52% male producers and 48% female producers, with basic services like electricity and water, and that 95% of the producers are descended from goat breeders, while the productive dimension has a complex production system. 92% of the farmers lack competency certificates for best practices in goat production. They lack the resources needed to produce and reproduce goats. Goat growers do not host trade shows while selling their animals. According to the economic component, 93.20% of those producers prefer to sell live goats, 6.80% prefer to sell them both ways, and 100% of producers market their products for financial reasons.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el sistema socio productivo y comercial de las cabras en la parroquia Julcuy, la investigación fue de tipo correlacional, en la que se aplicaron métodos teóricos como deductivo-inductivo, análisis-síntesis, del método empírico se utilizó la encuesta por lo que se elaboró un cuestionario en fusión a las dimensiones social, productivo y económico, la aplicación de la formula población y muestra determinó 103 productores encuestados divididos entre la cabecera parroquial (32), las comunidades Piñas (31), Peñas (20), Mero Seco (20), los métodos matemáticos-estadísticos aplicados fueron no paramétricos, en las variables cualitativas chi cuadrado y en las cuantitativas se aplicó Kruskal-Wallis al (p=≤0,05)de significancia (Datos sin distribución normal), se evidenció que la dimensión social en las cuatro áreas de estudio está conformado por el 52% de productores hombres y 48% de productores mujeres, con servicios básicos como luz, agua y el 95% de los productores son descendientes de criadores de cabras, mientras que en la dimensión productiva, el sistemas de producción es extensivo, el 92% de los productores no cuentan con certificaciones de competencias en las prácticas de producción caprina y apenas el 8% cuenta con capacitaciones, carecen de insumos necesarios para la producción y reproducción caprina, en la comercialización de cabras los productores no realizan ferias comerciales, en la dimensión económica el 93,20% de los encuestados prefiere vender la cabra en pie y el 6,80% en ambas formas, y el 100% de los productores realiza la comercialización debido a necesidades económicas

Characterization and Typology of Backyard Small Pig Farms in Jipijapa, Ecuador

To characterize the traditional systems of small pig producers in Jipijapa (Manabí, Ecuador) and to classify farms into representative categories, we interviewed fifty-five farmers from seven communities considering four dimensions: social, organizational, production methods, and local food resources. Multiple correspondence analyses and hierarchical clusters were carried out using the Ward method. The analysis differentiated communities based on social, productive, and local resource variables, showing three factors that accounted for 85.3% of the total variance: the socioeconomic dimension, related to the welfare of families, explained 34.4% of the variation, the care provided to animals explained 30.9%, and the management practices for the supply of food explained 20%. We identified five clusters that shared common characteristics: Group 1 included farmers from Albajacal, wage workers, and Creole pig breeders, Group 2 included farmers raising pigs under lockdown conditions, Group 3 typified traditional farms from the La Cuesta community, Group 4 included landowners, and Group 5 included professionalized farmers in Colón Alfaro. We also studied the supplied alternative food formulations made up of crop surpluses. The role of small pig farmers is a social activity linked to the location, the crops of each area, and the specific practices for the care of animals

Efecto del uso de cuatro tipos de sustratos para la producción de plántulas de papaya (Carica papaya L.) en condiciones de vivero. (Original)

The research was carried out from October 2019 to February 2020 with the objective of comparing the effect of the use of four types of substrates for the production of papaya seedlings (Carica papaya L) in nursery conditions, using the explanatory or experimental method. The methodology used allowed to carry out a completely randomized experimental design, the variables evaluated was: stem diameter, number of leaves and plant height. The evaluation period was seven days. The results allowed to conclude that the dynamics by content and quality texture within the five treatments favored the treatment T3 = 50% black earth, 25% sand and 25% compost with 94%, providing good germination and excellent morphological behavior of the seedlings ( stem diameter) at treatment T4 = 50% black earth, 20% sand and 30% humus with an average of 2.89 mm and number of leaves was T5 = 50% black earth, 20% sand and 30% compost with 8, 03 and plant height) T5 = 50% black earth, 20% sand and 30% compost, with 11.41 cm and with a low tendency of the T1 control treatment with 100% black earth content due to its low porosity capacity and because of the rains that the plants of this treatment were affected by parasitic phitoptera.La investigación se realizó de octubre 2019 a febrero 2020. Tuvo como objetivo comparar el efecto del uso de cuatro tipos de sustratos para la producción de plántulas de papaya (Carica papaya L.) en condiciones de vivero, utilizando el método explicativo o experimental. La metodología utilizada permitió realizar un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado; las variables evaluadas fueron: diámetro de tallo, número de hojas y altura de la planta. El periodo de evaluación fue de 7 días. Los resultados permitieron concluir que la dinámica por contenido y textura de calidad dentro de los cinco tratamientos favoreció al tratamiento T3= 50% tierra negra, 25% arena y 25% compost con 94 %, brindando buena germinación y excelente comportamiento morfológico de las plántulas (diámetro del tallo), al tratamiento T4= 50% tierra negra, 20% arena y 30% humus con promedio de 2,89 mm  y número de hojas fue el T5=50% tierra negra, 20% arena y 30% compost con 8,03 y altura de la planta,T5=50% tierra negra, 20% arena y 30% compost, con 11,41 cm y con tendencia  baja del tratamiento T1 control con el contenido del 100% de tierra negra por su poca capacidad de porosidad y a causa de las lluvias que afectaron las plantas de este tratamiento por phitoptera parasítica

Evaluación de tres métodos de injertación en cacao en el Cantón Jipijapa Provincia de Manabí. (Original)

The research was carried out at the State University of the South of Manabí in the career of Agricultural Engineering in the Canton Jipijapa, 216 plants were grafted with the objective of evaluating three grafting methods in cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in time of stay in the nursery and quality of the seedlings. The research was carried out in six months, developing three months of field work, which consisted in the preparation of the nursery, obtaining the patterns, preparing the rods, grafting and maintenance of the nursery. The completely randomized statistical design with three treatments and three repetitions was used, T1 terminal spike, T2 lateral spike and T3 patch, the statistical analysis was performed using the free software infostat. The results in percentage of seizure showed that the best treatment was T1 with 88%, followed by T2 with 0.71%; while T3 showed the lowest uptake with 0.13%. Regarding the diameter of the stem and the height of the pattern, the largest diameter used was the terminal spike graft, the intermediate diameter was the lateral spike and the smallest diameter was the patch graft, therefore, three methods were applied, so that the whole plant is grafted at once. Recommending Manabí farmers to use the terminal barb, which was shown with the analysis of variance to be highly significant with p <0.01.La investigación se llevó a cabo en la Universidad Estatal del Sur de Manabí en la carrera de Ingeniería Agropecuaria, en el Cantón Jipijapa. Se injertaron 216 plantas con el objetivo de evaluar tres métodos de injertación en cacao (Theobroma cacao) en tiempo de estancia en vivero y calidad de las plántulas. La investigación se realizó en seis meses, desarrollando tres meses de trabajo de campo que consistió en la preparación del vivero, obtención de los patrones, preparación de las varetas, injertación y mantenimiento del vivero. Se utilizó el diseño estadístico completamente al azar con tres tratamientos y tres repeticiones. T1 púa terminal, T2 púa lateral y T3 parche; el análisis estadístico se realizó aplicando el software libre infostat. Los resultados en porcentaje de prendimiento mostraron que el mejor tratamiento fue el T1 con 88%, seguido del T2 con un 0,71%; mientras que el T3 mostró el más bajo prendimiento con un 0,13%. En cuanto al diámetro de tallo y altura del patrón, el mayor diámetro que se utilizó fue el injerto de púa terminal, el diámetro intermedio fue de púa lateral y el de menor diámetro fue el injerto en parche, por lo tanto, se aplicaron tres métodos para que quede toda la planta injertada de una vez. Recomendando a los agricultores manabitas utilizar el de púa terminal que fue el que se demostró con el análisis de varianza que es altamente significativo con el valor p< 0,01

Comportamiento morfométrico del tracto gastrointestinal de pollos de engorde alimentados con harina de maíz en hidroponía (Original).

The purpose of this study was to determine the response of the gastrointestinal tract of broilers partially fed with hydroponic maize green forage meal, by comparing the increase in weight and length of organs that are part of the gastrointestinal tract. The digestive response of the broiler chicken was determined by analysis of variance applying the randomized complete block experimental design; For the comparison of the means, the Tukey test at 0.05% was carried out by means of the Infostat statistical software and for the correlation of the data obtained, the Pearson correlation was used, taking the data from the control, comparing them with T2, T3, T4. ; The sample consisted of 48 broiler chickens, females and males of the Cobb 500 line, which were fed with four treatments with levels 0-10-15 and 20% of green hydroponic corn forage meal (twelve chickens/treatment) these were partially provided until day 42. It is concluded that the green hydroponic corn forage meal had no morphometric alterations in the TGI of the broiler, both in weight and length and its use is recommended in percentages of 10, 15 and 20%, since these percentages do not affect the organs studied.El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la respuesta del tracto gastrointestinal (TGI) del pollo de engorde alimentado parcialmente con harina de forraje verde hidropónico de maíz, mediante la comparación del aumento en el peso y la longitud de los órganos que forman parte del TGI. Se determinó la respuesta digestiva del pollo de engorde mediante análisis de varianza aplicando el diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar; para la comparación de las medias se realizó la prueba de Tukey al 0,05% por medio del software estadístico Infostat y para la correlación de los datos obtenidos se usó la correlación de Pearson, tomando los datos del testigo comparándolos con T2, T3, T4; la muestra estuvo conformada por 48 pollos de engorde, hembras y machos de la línea Cobb 500, que fueron alimentados con cuatro tratamientos con niveles 0-10-15 y 20 % de harina de forraje verde hidropónico de maíz (doce pollos/ tratamiento), estos se les proporcionó parcialmente hasta el día 42. Se concluye que la harina de forraje verde hidropónico de maíz no tuvo alteraciones morfométricas en el TGI del pollo de engorde, tanto en peso como longitud y se recomienda su utilización en porcentaje de 10, 15 y 20 %, ya que en estos porcentajes no afectan los órganos estudiados

Suplementación alimenticia con promotores de crecimiento en pollos de engorde Cobb 500

The present investigation was carried out in the Andil enclosure belonging to the Jipijapa canton in Ecuador, with the objective of evaluating food supplementation with growth promoters in Cobb broilers 500 males and females. The exper-iment was implemented in a conditioned shed, under an experimental design of Fully Randomized Blocks (DBCA) with three repetitions, with 18 birds per treatment, where sex was considered independently. 216 chickens / 1-day-old sex (432 chickens) were used, distributed in four treatments: T1: oxytetracycline (control, 1mL / L), T2: probiotics plus enzymes (2.0 g / kg), T3: organic acid (1.0 mL / L) and T4: acetic acid (banana vinegar) (1.0 mL / L). The response variables were body weight (BW), food consumption (FC), weight gain (WG), feed conversion (FConv) and bird mortal-ity. For the analysis of variance, the GLM SAS proc was used. The results showed differentiated responses between males and females for BW, FC, WG and FConv. Acetic Acid had a better response to Organic Acid. In males, the antibi-otic, acetic acid and probiotic are the best treatments for weight gain compared to organic acid. The analysis of partial budgets, of the treatments evaluated, for males showed that the best profitability was for oxytetracycline (T1) in males. The use of the probiotic + enzymes (T4), had a benefit of USD 0.45, less USD 0.03 than oxytetracycline. The profitabil-ity of oxytetracycline was 45.18% at a production cost per lb of USD 0.59. Unlike the treatments with acetic acid (T3) and probiotic + enzyme (T4) that showed a margin of profitability of less than 21%. In contrast in females, the best economic income was treatment with probiotic + enzyme (T4), with 309 lb and a gross income of USD 265.74 and a net profit of USD $62.60, which gave a USD / B ratio$ 1.31.La presente investigación fue realizada en el recinto Andil perteneciente al cantón Jipijapa en Ecuador, con el objetivo de evaluar la suplementación alimenticia con promotores de crecimiento en pollos de engorde Cobb 500 machos y hembras. El experimento fue implementado en un galpón acondicionado, bajo un diseño experimental de Bloques Completamente Aleatorizados (DBCA) con tres repeticiones, con 18 aves por tratamiento, donde se consideró el sexo independientemen-te. Se utilizaron 216 pollos/sexo de 1 día de edad (432 pollos), distribuidos en cuatro tratamientos: T1: oxitetraciclina (testigo, 1mL/L), T2: probióticos más enzimas (2.0 g/kg), T3: ácido orgánico (1.0 mL/L) y T4: ácido acético (vinagre de banana) (1.0 mL/L). Las variables de respuesta fueron el peso corporal (PCor), el consumo de alimento (CA), la ganancia de peso (GP), la conversión alimenticia (ConAli) y la mortalidad de las aves. Para los análisis de varianza se utilizó el proc GLM del SAS. Los resultados mostraron respuestas diferenciadas entre machos y hembras para PCor, CA, GP y ConAli. El Ácido Acético tuvo mejor respuesta respecto al Acido Orgánico. En machos el antibiótico, el ácido acético y el probiótico son los mejores tratamientos para ganancia de peso respecto del ácido orgánico. El análisis de presupuestos parciales, de los tratamientos evaluados, para machos mostró que la mejor rentabilidad fue para la oxitetraciclina (T1) en machos. El uso del probiótico + enzimas (T4), tuvo un beneficio de USD 0.45, menos USD 0.03 que la oxitetraciclina. La rentabilidad de la oxitetraciclina fue de 45.18% a un costo de producción por lb de USD 0.59. A diferencia de los tratamientos con ácido acético (T3) y probiótico + enzima (T4) que mostraron un margen de rentabilidad inferior al 21%. En cambio en hembras, el mejor ingreso económico fue el tratamiento con probiótico + enzima (T4), con 309 lb y un ingreso bruto de USD 265.74 y una utilidad neta de USD $62.60, lo que dio una relación de B/C de USD$ 1.31

Los bioestimulantes: Una innovación en la agricultura para el cultivo del café (Coffea arábiga L)

The research was carried out in Jipijapa in the town of Andil, the objective was to evaluate the physiological and mor-phological behavior of Arabic coffee in the nursery stage to the application of biostimulants: Starlite, Humega, Micorri-za and Evergreen, compared to Urea. The experimental design was applied completely at random, factorial arrangement of repetitions over time in the morphological variables was used, the Tukey test was applied based on the statistical differences found. The results obtained at the physiological level, established a significant difference p <0.05 in the variables dry matter, humidity and nitrogen (N), with the biostimulants Starlite and Evergreen being the best in MS, and to the Humega and Evergreen in content of N. There was a better response to the assimilation of chlorophyll by all biostimulants, generally exceeding urea, being the best Micorriza and Starlite, establishing a high positive correlation between N and Chlorophyll. Regarding morphological development, a better urea response was found, and at the level of biostimulants, Humega and Mycorrhiza expressed better results, all between 90 and 120 days.La investigación se realizó en Jipijapa en la localidad de Andil, el objetivo fue evaluar el comportamiento fisiológico y morfológico del café arábigo en la etapa de vivero a la aplicación de los bioestimulantes: Starlite, Humega, Micorriza y Evergreen, en comparación con la Urea. Se aplicó el diseño experimental completamente al azar, se empleó arreglo factorial de repeticiones en el tiempo en las variables morfológicas, la prueba de Tukey se aplicó a partir de las diferen-cias estadísticas encontradas. Los resultados obtenidos a nivel fisiológico, establecieron diferencia significativa p<0.05 en las variables materia seca, humedad y nitrógeno (N), siendo los bioestimulantes Starlite y Evergreen los mejores en MS, y al Humega y Evergreen en contenido de N. Hubo mejor respuesta a la asimilación de clorofila (Cl) por parte de todos los bioestimulantes, superando de manera general a la urea, siendo los mejores Micorriza y starlite, estableciendo una correlación positiva alta entre el N y la Clorofila. En lo referente al desarrollo morfológico se encontró mejor res-puesta de la urea, y a nivel de bioestimulantes, el Humega y la Micorriza expresaron mejores resultados, todos entre los 90 y 120 días

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research