Jairo Mora-Delgado

This text is the critical review presented at the launch of the book Lo rural: reflexiones analíticas en un mundo de cambio, compiled by Sandra Milena Franco. However, the discussion goes beyond the work itself. In this review, each chapter—written by different authors—is analyzed in light of the specialized literature, yet together they form a coherent unit around peasantry; in particular, the book highlights the rural world and underscores its continuing relevance.

Raw milk is milk that has not undergone any sanitization process and should not be subject to any addition or extraction. Raw milk with poor hygienic and sanitary quality is considered a global public health concern, yet its commercialization remains widespread in Colombia. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbiological and pathogenic flora of raw bovine milk and assess the applicability index of Good Livestock Practices (GLP) in the Anaime River basin, Tolima. A total of 108 samples were collected from 27 farms, categorized into three types: C1 – mixed agriculture-livestock farms; C2 – dairy farms; and C3 – large-scale cattle ranches. Statistically significant results were found in C3 for RBAM (P≤0.05), RCT (P≤0.05), and Staphylococcus counts (P≤0.05), while RCS differences were not significant (P>0.05). Prevalence of E. coli was observed across all clusters: 80% in C1, 78% in C2, and 100% in C3. Staphylococcus aureus was present in 75% of C1, 60% of C2, and 60% of C3 samples. No Salmonella spp. was detected. For the GLP applicability index, a checklist of eight thematic axes was used. C3 farms showed the best overall performance; however, only 44% of all farms implemented biosecurity measures, and 67% had access to running water for animals and operations. In conclusion, raw milk from Anaime does not meet the required hygienic and sanitary quality standards, and farms show shortcomings in the implementation of GLP.

The dry matter (DM) degradation kinetics and microbial dynamics of Sorghum saccharatum (SS) enriched with additives based on Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri were determined in vitro. Three treatments were evaluated: T1: SS silage without inoculation; T2: SS silage inoculated with Lactobacillus buchneri (concentration of 6x105 CFU/g); T3: SS silage inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (concentration of 1x105 CFU/g), with 5 replicates each. Microbiological quality was evaluated at two fermentation times: the first day and at 21 days. Gas production was measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19, 24, 30, 36, 48, and 72 hours. Likewise, DM degradation kinetics were monitored at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The parameters of the fermentation kinetics and degradation curves were adjusted to the models proposed by Ørskov and McDonald, using the PROC NLIN procedure of SAS. To determine the effect of treatments on DM degradation, a repeated measures analysis over time was performed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. The results showed 92.9 ± 0.6 mg CO2/g dry substrate at the peak of the curve, which indicated a 37.85% decrease in the microbial population, following a logarithmic inverse trend. It is concluded that sweet sorghum has epiphytic bacteria that allow adequate fermentation performance and a good capacity to acidify the medium. Commercial additives did not affect the degradation and fermentation kinetics of the silage.

The different agricultural practices on the soil affect its capacity to capture and store organic carbon (CO), causing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that influence climate change. The aim of this research was to evaluate carbon storage in soils of 16 livestock systems in the municipality of Guatavita, department of Cundinamarca, Colombia. Four groups were defined: 1. Systems with Modern Technology (ES: SPTM), 2. Medium Productivity Systems (ES: SPMP), 3. Traditional Systems (ES: SPT), and 4. Eco-friendly systems (ES: SPEA), according to the type of environmental supply and technologies used in the above-mentioned systems. We determined the carbon storage by calculating the percentage of organic carbon (% CO) using the Walkley & Black method; by evaluating the bulk density (ES: DA) through a paraffinized clod and the depth of the soil sample taken with a helicoidal auger. The results showed statistical differences (P > 0.05) for the variables % CO and DA between some groups, but not for carbon storage. We found that group 4 presented a storage of 179.18 tons of carbon/hectare (tC/ha), followed by group 2 with 170.48 tC/ha, group 1 with 137 tC/ha, and group 3 with 135.07 tC/ha. The DA values of all the systems ranged from medium to high despite this condition and its relationship with the CO content; it is concluded that Guatavita livestock systems are ample fixers of atmospheric carbon in soils and contribute to mitigating the harmful effects of global climate change.

Small ruminant production is currently booming due to its ease of management and contribution to strengthening the food security of rural communities. In this experiment, it was evaluated the effect of feeding with Cenchrus purpureus silages in a mixture with Tithonia diversifolia on the carcass yield and bromatological quality of lambs, with an average weight of 23 kg, fed with silages (treatments): T1 C. purpureus in 100 % and T2 C. purpureus/T. diversifolia in proportion of 67/33 %, respectively. The silages were supplied for 61 days, with an energy supplement of rice flour (277 g/animal), mineralized salt, and water ad libitum. Carcass yield and food consumption were evaluated. The data was analyzed in a totally randomized design with five repetitions; an ANOVA was made and for the comparison of means, the Fisher LSD test was used. The average daily consumption of dry matter was better for T2 showing statistical differences (p <0.0001), the characteristics of the carcass in this treatment were also better; significant differences were found in the nutritional value of the meat, showing better values in T2, for protein, humidity and for the colorimetric variables, because T1, exhibited darker meat, coinciding with the highest pH values (6.15). It is concluded that the C. purpureus silage diet in mixture with T. diversifolia, contributes to the improvement of the quality of the carcass.

The relative palatability of woody perennials´ fodder has been proposed as the selection criteria for species to be integrated in livestock systems. For that purpose, 20 species with different nutritional characteristics, that grow in the tropical dry forest of Colombia, were evaluated. The woody perennials were managed under pruning, in plots established at the Agrosavia´s Nataima Research Center. Fodder of those species was offered to five mature Blanco Orejinegro (BON) cattle for a total of 19 days, using a cafeteria method with each species exposed to animals for only 3 minutes. The assignment of species was in pairs, with a total of 190 pairs, resulting from the combinations of 20 species taking two at the same time, without replication. The results of the palatability trials identified nine species with very high and high palatability, which ordered in a descending manner were: Albizia niopoides, Leucaena leucocephala, Erythrina fusca, Guazuma ulmifolia, Gliricidia sepium, Tithonia diversifolia, Clitoria fairchildiana, Spondias purpurea and Spondias mombin. The pair of species that showed the highest palatability was A. niopoides-L. leucocephala; and the species frequently present in combinations with high intake was A. niopoides. It is concluded that there are several native species with high relative palatability, whose forage potential is unknown by technicians and ranchers, and the high palatability of some species already known was confirmed.

La caracterización de sistemas de fincas y hogares en la cuenca del río Anaime en el municipio de Cajamarca – Tolima fue el objetivo de este estudio. Se aplicaron 53 encuestas al azar. La encuesta abarcó aspectos humanos, sociales, físicos, financieros y naturales. La tipificación evidenció tres grupos de fincas: el grupo 1 poseía una baja proporción de tierra con una importante actividad económica dedicada los cultivos (51.5%), el grupo 2 con actividad económica equitativa entre componente pecuario y agrícola (50%) y el grupo 3 con una gran cantidad de tierra dedicada a la actividad ganadera (60%). El grupo 2 y 3 al tener pocas hectáreas de tierra tiene poco terreno dedicado a la conservación, por el contrario el grupo 3 tiene una alta significancia en este uso del suelo. La producción láctea genera un importante ingreso monetario a las familias además de servir como producto proteico base de la alimentación de las mismas.

La educación en Colombia, en el sector urbano y rural, se ha convertido en una prioridad para el Ministerio de Educación Nacional (MEN). No obstante, para que esta sea efectiva es necesario revisar desde dónde se hace la construcción de currículos pertinentes con el territorio. Este es el punto de partida de nuestra investigación: describir las perspectivas implícitas y explícitas de la ruralidad en los currículos de las instituciones que se encuentran allí ubicadas. La metodología utilizada se da desde la investigación cualitativa apoyada en la técnica del análisis de contenido descriptivo. Los resultados revelan que los componentes curriculares son comunes para seis escuelas rurales, pues en las mallas prevalece el interés en el aprendizaje para evaluar la calidad de acuerdo con los desempeños y los estándares básicos de aprendizaje, pero se omite todo lo relacionado con el estudio de las dinámicas del medio rural. Se concluye que se encuentra un currículo oficial en la ruralidad con intereses externos al contexto de los estudiantes, centrado en la eficiencia y el control de aprendizajes académicos donde se excluye el territorio.

The diversity of fungi in different terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems has made it possible to explore their use as important tools in promoting plant growth and in managing plant diseases given their high potential to replace the use of synthetic chemical products (fertilizers and pesticides). Therefore, this review compiles information on the use of filamentous fungi in promoting plant growth, highlighting the most studied fungal genera for this purpose, such as Trichoderma, Penicillum, and Aspergillus. In addition, information is compiled on the promotion of forage grass growth using filamentous fungi, which could be a sustainable and lower-cost alternative in producing pastures to help raise animals.