Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Background. Carcass yield varies depending on the relative proportions of muscle, fat and bone, therefore, the possibility of predicting its value would produce valuable information that will promote the viability and sustainability of rabbit meat production. Methodology. Thirty-eight male growing rabbits (New Zealand White × Californian) with body weights (BW) of 1329 ± 291 g and from 60 to 100 days of age were used. Real time ultrasonography (RTU) measurements were taken 12 h before slaughtering. For that, rabbits were shaved between the 6th and 7th lumbar vertebrae. The longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle (LM) area (LDA) and also the maximum LM width (LDW) and the maximum depth LM (LDD) were measured. Data recorded at slaughtering included carcass and non-carcass components. After chilling at 4° C for 24 hours, carcasses were split longitudinally to obtain left and right halves that were later weighed. Thereafter, the right half carcass was weighed and manually deboned for recording weights of muscle (TCM), and bone (TCB). Results. The highest correlation (r = 0.84, P <0.001) was observed between TCM and LDD, while the lower correlation (r = 0.4, P <0.001) was observed between TCB and LDW. The BW were highly related to carcass characteristics (r>0.77≤0.97). In vivo RTU measurements explained a low to moderate amount of variation in TCB and TCM with an r2 of 0.36 to 0.77 (P < 0.001) respectively. BW explained from 49 to 92% of variation in TCB and TCM, respectively. Implications. The in vivo ultrasound measurements it is a viable tool that allows predicting carcass value of rabbits. Conclusion. Our results indicated that the use of RTU measurements could accurately predict muscle from growing rabbit's carcass.

Background. Gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus is tolerant to habitat disturbance, but the biotic and abiotic factors that determine the selection of space in the subperennial medium forest (SMF) with different degrees of anthropization are not known, which is relevant to explain a fraction of an animal’s niche. Objective. We described the use of habitat by the gray fox, in four habitat units in the SMF, with different degrees of anthropization. Methodology. We classified four habitat units with vegetation structure criteria: Sugar cane-coffee plantation, Coffee plantation-forest, forest and Coffee plantation, where we evaluated parameters such as number of carnivores and potential prey and plant cover. In addition, we evaluated the altitude, temperature, precipitation and evaporation. Using indirect techniques, we obtained gray fox records in each habitat unit, which we related to biotic and abiotic parameters through a χ2 test and a partial least squares analysis; we applied a dendrogram to estimate the similarity of use of the habitats; and a response surface-based model to describe habitat use. Results. We associated fourteen independent records of gray fox and six of them with the Coffee plantation-SMF habitat, where it was correlated with temperature. Implications. Shrub coverage, the number of competitors and evaporation in SMF and Coffee plantation-SMF are factors correlated with a low number of gray fox records. Conclusion. In this ecosystem anthropized by the production of coffee and sugarcane, the gray fox may be using open habitats for hunting and closed habitats to seek refuge while it is not active.

Background. Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the capital required to meet their needs. Whereas, social capital has been described as a vital asset for poverty alleviation since it can provide access to that which is lacking; capital. This study suggests evidences that the poor farmers could benefit more from social capital. Objective. This study was conducted to assess the impact of social capital on poverty alleviation among cocoa producing households in Southwestern, Nigeria. Methodology. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 300 cocoa-producing households for the study. Data were analyzed using social capital indices, FGT index, the Probit model and two-stage least square model. Results. The results revealed that cash contribution (0.478), labour contribution (0.556), decision-making (0.882), meeting attendance (0.920), heterogeneity (0.659) and density of membership (0.661) are the major dimensions of social capital available to cocoa-producing households. The results of the Probit model revealed that age of household head, gender, household size, years of experience, farm income, and farm size were the main determining factors of participating in SCNs. The Foster, Greer and Thorbecke index revealed that 65% of the sample households are poor. Out of the poor households, 42% are moderately poor and 23% are core poor. The results further revealed that factors including age, square of age, household size, years of education, farm income, farm size, cash contribution, labour contribution, decision making, meeting attendance, aggregate social capital and instrumented social capital significantly influenced cocoa-producing households’ expenditure. Implications. The paper adds evidence for a better understanding of nexus between social capital networks and poverty alleviations. Conclusions. The study concluded that social capital alleviates poverty among cocoa-producing households. This means that policy strategy aimed toward alleviating poverty among cocoa-producing households must consider their social capital.

Background: Sheep production in central Mexico is an important livestock activity that requires the evaluation of feeding strategies to increase or sustain production in times of feed scarcity. Objective: To evaluate the performance of ewes fed diets with different levels of inclusion of Typha latifolia. Methodology: Fifteen criollo adult ewes were randomly grouped to receive different levels of tule (Typha latifolia) in their feeding as a complement to grazing. An incomplete randomized block design was employed. Daily live weight gain, intake, and body condition score were evaluated, as well as grassland parameters and the chemical composition of feeds. The experiment lasted 60 days divided in four measurement periods. All ewes were supplemented with a commercial pelleted concentrate. The control group (T1) had 0g DM of tule, 461.75 g DM commercial concentrate, and 8 h grazing; T2 had 116.5g DM of tule, 461.75 g DM commercial concentrate, and 8 h grazing; and T3 had 174.75 g DM of tule, 461.75 g DM commercial concentrate, and 8 h grazing. Results: There were significant differences (P<0.05) in DM intake of pasture and Typha latifolia. There were no significant differences among treatments (P>0.05) for initial and final live weight, daily weight gain and body condition score. Implications: Typha latifolia is an available non-conventional forage source for adult sheep maintenance in the dry season for small-scale systems. Conclusion: The inclusion of Typha latifolia in diets for sheep may be a good option for feeding adult ewes in maintenance.

Background: Crop production in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) is constrained by erratic rainfall and poor soil fertility. Therefore, climate smart agriculture mechanisms such as in-situ rainwater harvesting technologies and recommended fertilizer rates would be vital for ensuring food security. Objective: To evaluate selected in-situ water harvesting technologies and fertilizer rates on soil water content and yield of maize and beans at KALRO Katumani Research Center in Machakos County, Kenya during the 2019 and 2020 short and long rain seasons, respectively. Methodology: The experiment was established in a randomized complete block design with a split-split plot arrangement, replicated three times, with in-situ water harvesting technologies comprising of zai pits, ngolo pits, contour furrows and conventional tillage, as the main plots, whereas the split plots were varying rates of fertilizer inputs: Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), goat manure and control. The split-split plots comprised of maize and beans cropping systems. Soil moisture content was assessed at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after emergence, whilst nutrient uptake, use efficiency and crop yields at physiological maturity. Data was subjected to analysis of variance. Results: Soil moisture, maize and beans yields, nutrient uptake and use efficiency were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased by in-situ water harvesting technologies and fertilizer inputs. Highest soil moisture content was recorded under zai and ngolo pits and lowest in conventional tillage treatments. Ngolo pits recorded higher maize and beans grain yield. Application of DAP fertilizer increased maize and beans grain yield compared to control. Intercropping maize and beans increased grain yield significantly (p ≤ 0.05) compared to sole maize and sole beans. Implications. There is need for promoting a combination of in-situ rainwater harvesting technologies especially ngolo and zai pits with application of DAP+ manure in semi-arid areas where water is scarce coupled with poor soil fertility. Conclusion: Ngolo and zai pits increased soil water retention capacity while application of DAP fertilizer led to increased crop yield and the study therefore recommends their adoption within the study area and extrapolation to areas of similar conditions. 

Background. The empty body weight (EBW) represents exactly the animal mass and is used as a base to calculate most of the nutrient requirements in most feeding systems. Objective. To evaluate models for estimating EBW in growing hair sheep in a feedlot system under tropical conditions. Methodology. One hundred fifteen male growing hair sheep lambs (Pelibuey, Black Belly, and Katahdin) between four to ten months of age with a mean shrunk body weight (SBW) of 34.50 ± 7.40 kg (± SD) were used. The relationship between SBW and EBW was assessed by means of three models: Eq. 1. Linear with intercept; Eq. 2.- Linear without intercept and Eq. 3.- Allometric. The predictive ability of models was evaluated by cross-validation. Results. The correlation coefficient among SBW and EBW was high (r = 0.98). The regression equations had high determination coefficients (r2) of 0.97. Based on the evaluations Eq.1 had the performance compared with other models. The following final model was fitted to estimate the EBW as a function of SBW of growing castrated male hair sheep: EBW (kg): -2.39 (± 0.53***) + 0.95(± 0.02***) × SBW (kg). Implications. These results contribute to the development of mathematical models for more accurate weight adjustments in growing hair sheep in a feedlot system under tropical conditions. Conclusion. The equation developed and evaluated in the present study revealed that the linear relationship between SBW and EBW can be used to predict EBW in hair sheep, for that the use of this model can be safely applied to male hair sheep. In addition, it was found that the relation BW/EBW was on average 1.18 for males. 

Background: the agricultural production system, its operation, monitoring and execution, requires formulating new evaluation schemes. Integrating the vast majority of social, cultural, ecological, economic, geopolitical characteristics and factors related to the technology applied in production systems. Through the use of associated indicators in each of its dimensions and attributes, to analyze its sustainability. The objective: This research is the evaluation of the sustainability of the production systems of family farming in the Penipe canton. That demands the selection, transformation and aggregation of economic, environmental, geopolitical, cultural and social indicators, which allow determining trends of the system, using a systemic, participatory, interdisciplinary and flexible approach called the MESMIS framework. Methodology: MESMIS was applied to nine representative farms of diversified, specialized and subsistence family farming production system. By determining the critical points, the indicators were applied once standardized and weighted. Results: Specialized family farming production system is sustainable with a score of (1.56), diversified family farming is moderately sustainable with a score of (1.32) and subsistence family farming, with a value of (0.77) is considered an unsustainable system within the locality. Implications: It was found that there are some aspects that limit the farms to be considered as sustainable systems, identifying the attributes to improve. In order to improve subsistence family farming, it is necessary to work on the following parameters: productivity, stability, resilience, reliability, adaptability, equity and self-management; diversified family farming expresses the following attributes to improve: productivity, stability, resilience, reliability, equity and self-management and specialized family farming has to improve in: Productivity, resilience, stability, equity. Conclusions: This evaluation responds to a cyclical process that, by effectively integrating the evaluation in the decision-making process, improves the probability of success in the design of alternatives to improve the productive systems in the Penipe canton.

Background: Gedeo agroforestry is characterized as the integration of trees, crops and livestock on the same unit of land. Land scarcity is a common characteristic in the Gedeo agroforestry system.  Hence integrating forage crops with the agroforestry system is one of the options to alleviate feed scarcity in the area. Objectives: To evaluate the biomass yield and nutritional value of Guatemala grass harvested at three stages of maturity: Early (120days), Mid (150days) and Late (180 days) cultivated at three different altitudes (high, medium and low). Methodology: A randomized complete block design with three replications was employed. Morphological parameters and chemical composition were measured at each stage of maturity and altitude. Result:  The results showed that the number of leaves per plant (NL), plant height (PH), leaf length (LL) and dry matter yield (DMY) exhibited (p<0.05) an increasing trend as harvesting days were delayed. Contrarily the number of tillers (NT) showed (p<0.05) decreasing trend as harvesting dates advanced. The highest (p<0.05) CP (12.6±0.25%DM) was recorded at 120 days. The highest (p<0.05) NDF (61.27±0.07%DM) and ADF (42.3±0.91%DM) were recorded at 180 days of harvesting. The highest (p<0.05) IVDMD (56.7±1.97%) was recorded at 120 days of harvesting, whereas the least (p<0.05) (48.0±2.06) was at 180 days of harvesting. Generally, as the harvesting date advanced, CP and IVDMD showed a decreasing trend, whereas the fiber content (ADF, NDF and ADL) showed an increasing trend. Implication: Based on the morphological characteristics and dry matter yield, the best harvesting stage of Guatemala grass was at the late (180days) stage of maturity. On the other hand, considering the chemical composition and IVDMD, the best harvest stage was at the early (120days) stage of maturity. Conclusion: Cutting Guatemala grass at the proper growth stage is crucial for forage management.  However, to fully utilize the potential of Guatemala grass, further studies on live animal experiments should be carried out.

Background. Fall Armyworm (FAW) is one of the most damaging agricultural pests found in Western Hemisphere, and it is now one of the key pests on several crops on America, Africa, Oceania, and Asia; becoming a major threat to food safety in many countries, due to losses caused to farmers. Objective. Review current knowledge of FAW resistance to active ingredients in the world. Methodology. A systematic study was carried out by collecting information from scientific writings, from first reports of resistance of fall armyworm to the more current ones, which included different national and international databases. Main finding. FAW control for decades has been based on the use of chemical insecticides; this has generated applications increase without control and therefore, resistance of the pest. FAW resistance has been reported since 1965; today, FAW has been reported to be resistant to 33 active ingredients in different parts of the world. Implications. The knowledge generated is essential to plan control strategies. Conclusion. The development of new chemical insecticide molecules and the emergence of Bt technology have not achieved good control of FAW. Management strategies for FAW need to be implemented not only in Mexico, but in all places where FAW is present, to avoid further increase FAW resistance to of insecticides and Bt crops; otherwise, the FAW will be present in more places in the world, putting the food safety in more countries at risk.

 Background: The quality of fibre in kenaf is variety and soil fertility dependent. Objective: The study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons to determine the effects of poultry manure and NPK fertilizer on soil properties and fibre quality of four varieties of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.). Methodology: The experiment was laid out as a split-split plot design and replicated four times. The main plot was the years, and the subplots were the four varieties of kenaf (Cuba-108, Ifeken-100, Ifeken-400, and Tainuug 2), and the sub-sub plot was the four rates of poultry manure (0, 5, 10, 15 t/ha) and NPK fertilizer (300 kg/ha). Data were collected on plant height, the number of leaves, stalk girth, stalk weight per net plot and per hectare, fibre weight per hectare and fibre quality (ultimate strength, fibre elongation, and fibre strain). Data were analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) Genstat software package, and significant means were separated using the New Duncan Multiple Range test at a 5% probability level. Result: The 2018 sowing showed no superior growth, yield and fibre attributes compared to the 2019 sowing. Cuba-108 had the best growth, fibre yield, and quality with poultry manure at 15t/ha compared to NPK fertilizer at 300kg/ha. Implications: The variability in climatic elements during the study period was of no concern compared to soil factors which was the primary determinant of fibre quality irrespective of variety. Conclusion: The use of Cuba-108 cultivar and poultry manure at the rate of 15t/ha improved the growth and fibre quality of kenaf in this locality, thus saving foreign exchange, which could have been used in the importation of fibre.