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

In order to analyze the structures of commercial networks of beekeepers in central and southern Jalisco, Mexico, a survey was conducted in six municipalities of the state. Social Network Analysis (SNA) was used and the following indicators were calculated: density, centralization index, and diffusion coverage. The results showed that beekeepers are 56 yr old on average and have junior high school education; they have a diverse and well-connected network of suppliers articulated by an equipment supplier. Nevertheless, their customer network is more diffuse and limited, with few buyers, which generates a dispersed network and reduces the possibilities of integration of producers for the benefit of common objectives. The structural characteristics of these networks suggest that it would be possible to design an improvement strategy focused on the communication and articulation of key actors (with a central position and high diffusion coverage). This strategy must also consider the experience of beekeepers and the importance of beekeeping as a source of income.

The response to the addition of α-amylase, serine protease, β-glucanase, pectinase, and hemicellulase (EXE) to the piglet diet and two soybean use schemes (SOY) was evaluated. With 552 pigs, in 92 experimental units (EU, pen with 6 pigs), with an initial weight and age of 6.14 ± 1.358 kg and 20 ± 0.83 d. There were 4 blocks (monthly production groups) in a randomized complete block design, and the treatments were the factorial arrangement of two levels of EXE (yes or no) and two levels of soybean meal (SOY), low or high, per feeding phase: P1, 12 or 24 % (7 d); P2, 16 or 32 % (14 d), and P3, 20 or 32 % (21 d). Feed intake, weight gain, and feed efficiency were estimated weekly. The consistency of the feces was evaluated daily (from 1 to 5: 1= dry to 5= liquid). Piglets with EXE diets gained more weight (P<0.02), were more efficient (P<0.07), and had better fecal consistency (P<0.04) in the first week. At the end of the assessment, no differences were found (P>0.16) in any of the criteria evaluated. Likewise, no response to SOY (P>0.19) or SOY×EXE interactions (P>0.26) was observed. When exploring whether piglet weight at weaning influenced the response, two categories (CATs) were established for the initial weight of the EUs: Lightweight, (4.44 ± 0.600 kg, 20 EU) and Heavy (6.73 ± 0.738 kg, 72 EU). The lightweight piglets gained more in the first week and were more efficient throughout the experimental period (P<0.03). Regardless of weaning weight, SOY did not affect productivity, and EXE only provided a temporary advantage.

The items incurred in pig production determine about 50 % of the productive cost of the activity. Craft brewing produces solid waste, which, when treated, can be considered to be used as food; therefore, the objective of this research is to characterize the chemical components of the waste from the production of craft beer, where the following values were obtained: dry matter 84.77 %, ash 2.54 %, fat 1.98 %, crude fiber 4.85 %, protein 10.86 %, nitrogen-free extract 64.54 %, and total digestible nutrients 73.21 %. Next, a group of backyard pigs were adapted to feed on waste from craft beer production in a substitution of 40 % and 60 %, and the remaining was commercial balanced feed; where weight gains of 1.09 kg d-1, feed conversions of 3.95, carcass yields of more than 80 %, and back fat thickness of 25.61 mm were achieved. Regarding apparent digestibility of nutrients, the following was found: dry matter 77.09 %, crude ash 63.87 %, crude protein 69.20 %, crude fiber 46 %, fat 54.08 %, and gross energy 78.7 %; this determines the prospects of the partial use of this waste in feed and energy requirements within the backyard pig production.

The objective was to evaluate the forage yield and nutritional value of alternative and traditional forage silages. It was assessed the effect of the species on dry matter (DM) yield, fermentation (pH and N-ammoniacal [NH3-NT]) and nutritional value (crude protein [CP], neutral detergent fiber [NDF], non-fibrous carbohydrates [NFC]), nutritional quality (total digestible nutrients [TDN]), nutritional value (net energy for lactation [NEL], in situ digestibility of DM [DMD], and NDF [NDFD]) of silages. Oats had the highest DM yield (9,784 kg ha-1) and safflower, the lowest (6,998 kg ha-1), but there were no differences between rapeseed (8,937 kg ha-1), beetroot (8,828 kg ha-1), barley (9,784 kg ha-1), and triticale (9,355 kg ha-1). Fermentation indicated a similar pH among the silages evaluated, but NH3-NT was higher in beetroot and safflower silages than in the other silages. CP was higher in rapeseed, beetroot, and safflower silages (17.8 to 19.5 %) than in oats, barley, and triticale silages (13.7 to 15.0 %; P<0.0001), but the NDF was higher in the latter (49.7 to 53.4 %; P<0.0001). Rapeseed silage had more NFC, TDN, and NEL and only beetroot silage could match it. The DMD was higher in rapeseed (80.52 %) and beetroot (84.55 %) silages than in oats (62.24 %), barley (58.90 %), and triticale silages (62.79 %; P<0.0001). However, NDFD was similar among all silages.

This study aimed to evaluate the hematological profile of guinea pigs supplemented with Erythrina edulis leaf meal. Erythrina edulis leaves were collected at the regrowth ages of 4, 8, and 12 mo (A4, A8, A12), ground into meal, and included in the diets for guinea pigs at 10, 20 and 30 % (P10, P20, P30). A total of 80 improved and weaned male guinea pigs were randomly distributed for each diet. After 56 d, blood was collected directly from the jugular vein in EDTA tubes to analyze erythrocytes, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, and mean platelet volume. Erythrocytes and hemoglobin were similar between diets. The factors of age and meal inclusion did not affect the values found in erythrocytes, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. The age factor (A4:8.55; A8:11.92; A12:10.14 x103/ul) and meal inclusion (P20:11.11; P30:12.08; P10:7.43 x 103/uL) caused differences in leukocytes. Platelets were affected by the age factor (A4:391.98; A12:400.67; A8:467.08 x 103/uL) and meal inclusion factor (P10:444.22; P20:443.05; P30:372.45 x 103/uL). The mean platelet volume showed variations due to the age factor (A8:11.39; A12:11.31; A4:11.90 fL). Erythrina edulis leaf meal in guinea pig diets has potential as a feed input without altering the hematological profile, which would indicate that age and inclusion factors would not cause toxicity.