RESUMO
The economic contribution of draught animals to smallholder Mazahua campesino systems in two mountain villages of San Felipe del Progreso, in the central highlands of Mexico, was assessed. Campesinos rely on draught animals for cultivation tasks, as pack animals, and as transport for agricultural and domestic activities. The villages were San Pablo Tlalchichilpa (SPT) and La Concepción Mayorazgo (LCM). Twelve households that possessed draught animals were monitored from July 1999 to June 2000, nine in SPT and three in LCM, in terms of animal inventories and income from their draught animals, in cash and opportunity values. Equines in SPT have substituted bulls, and are recognized for their multipurpose contribution, while in LCM bulls are still used for ploughing the land. Overall total mean gross income was US dollar 490.78 per farm per year, plus US dollar 56 as opportunity value of the fertilizer value of manure for both villages. Deducting estimated costs, owning draught animals leaves a mean net margin of US dollar 412.50/year in SPT and of US dollar 285.64/year in LCM. There is a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between ownership of draught animals and incomes, with a regression coefficient of US dollar 279.16 per year per draught animal. Besides positive economic returns, having work animals alleviates drudgery for the campesino families.
Assuntos
Criação de Animais Domésticos/economia , Criação de Animais Domésticos/métodos , Animais Domésticos , Agricultura/economia , Agricultura/métodos , Animais , Bovinos , Países em Desenvolvimento , Equidae , Feminino , Cavalos , Humanos , Masculino , Esterco , México , PobrezaRESUMO
The objetive of this work was to elaborate cotija type cheese prepared with whole milk and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), inoculated with S. Thermophilus and to compare its physicochemical, microbiological and sensorial characteristics with a commercial cheese. Two mixture were selected 70:30 and 80:20 (whole milk:chickpea paste). Both mixture were ground, pasteurized and inoculated with. S. Thermophilus, to develop taste and aroma. Two rennet concentrations (1:10,000 and 2:10,000), lactic acid and 50 per cent CaCl2 solution were used in both products. Results showed that cheese made with 70:30 mixture and 1:10,000 rennet concentration gave a weak curde and 12 per cent of total solids were lost; in the same way as 70:30 mixture and 2:10,000 rennet concentration. Nevertheless, cheese made with 80:20 mixture and 10,000 or 2:10,000 rennet concentration showed hard consistency of its curd. Addition of 10 per cent sodium chloride solution to he 80:20 mixture cheese, made better whey drain, and a cotija type cheese with similar sensory characteristics as a whole milk cheese, was obtained. Chemical and physical analysis of the extended cotija type cheese showed 14.3 +/- 0.42 and 15.5 +/- 0.21 g/100 g of protein and lipid content respectively. Microbiologically, the extended cotija type cheese is pathogenic microorganisms free for human consumption. Sensory evaluation of the chickpea extended cheese showed a 80 per cent acceptance while the acceptance of the whole milk commercial cheese was 90 per cent.
Assuntos
Queijo , Cicer , Leite , Manipulação de Alimentos/métodos , Bovinos , Cicer/química , Cicer/microbiologia , Leite/química , Leite/microbiologia , Queijo/microbiologiaRESUMO
Campesino systems on hill slopes in Central Mexico rely on equids for multiple activities and have a problem in adequately feeding them. A participatory trial was conducted to evaluate the inclusion of common vetch in the traditional forage oat crop to improve its feeding value. An agronomic evaluation was undertaken by intersowing common vetch at 40 kg seed/ha with oats at 80-100 kg/ha in small plots, recording the yield and the chemical composition of the fresh forage in ten plots at harvest. The data were analysed as a completely random design, taking each farmer/plot as a treatment. A feeding trial compared the live weight of 7 donkeys fed oats and vetch against 17 donkeys fed traditional forage. There were differences between farmers in forage yields (p < 0.01) that could not be explained as due to soil types or management. The mean yield of 31.0 t/ha of fresh forage of oats-vetch was 20.5% higher than that from monoculture, and had a higher crude protein content. Donkeys fed the oats-vetch were heavier (p < 0.001). The farmers evaluated the oats-vetch association positively, appreciating the higher yields and good condition of their equids. The combination is an appropriate technology for these campesino farming systems.
Assuntos
Fenômenos Fisiológicos da Nutrição Animal , Equidae/fisiologia , Fabaceae , Animais , Avena , Dieta/veterinária , Cavalos/fisiologia , MéxicoRESUMO
From 1982 to 1993, 10703 Salmonella strains from The National Network of Diarroheal Laboratories of Mexico were sent to the Enteric Bacteriology Laboratory of INDRE. The strains were confirmed by serology and 119 different Salmonella serotypes were found. The most frequent serotypes were as follows: S. typhimurium, S, enteritidis, S. agona & S. typhi. The strains were classified according to the source of isolation as follows: 6671 strains (62.33%) from clinical samples, mainly of faecal origin; 2903 (27.1%) from food for human consumption; 425 from food for animal consumption, 665 (6.21%) from environment or fomites and 39 (0.36%) from animals. The most frequent serotype in clinical samples was S. typhimurium among 96 different serotypes. The main serotype from blood cultures was S. typhi although 27 other serotypes were found. Of thirteen serotypes related to diarrhoeal outbreaks the higher frequency of S. typhimurium was observed but S. typhi caused more outbreaks. A frequency of 119/> 2000 serotypes was observed, that means less than 5% of Salmonella known serotypes. A yearly variability on serotype predominance was observed as well as changes on source of isolation. This results suggest that epidemiological surveillance of salmonellosis should be continued and improved, looking for cases, asymptomatic carriers and contaminated food for human consumption.