José Luis Zepeda-Batista

As part of a population health assessment of goats, a cross-sectional study with 356 goats (n=178 Alpine and 178 Saanen) was performed. A comparison was made between biochemical markers, hematological profile, composition of milk, somatic cell count, and milk fatty acid profile in Alpine and Saanen goats. The highest concentration of non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, urea, and alkaline phosphatase was found in Alpine goats. The lowest concentration of sodium ion and chloride ion was observed in Saanen goats. The concentration of glucose, total cholesterol, β-hydroxybutyrate, albumin, globulin, total protein, calcium ion, inorganic phosphate, potassium ion, magnesium ion, and γ-glutamyl transferase showed no breed difference. The red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, platelet count, and mean platelet volume showed no breed difference. Milk yield indicated that Saanen goats produced more milk. However, their milk fat and milk protein were lower compared to Alpine goats. Non-fat solids, density, cryometry, and pH showed no breed difference. The somatic cell count was higher in Alpine goats. The highest concentration of fatty acids was for palmitic and oleic. The highest concentration of butyric was observed in Saanen goats. However, their caprylic, capric, lauric, and myristic content was lower compared to those shown by Alpine goats. The concentration of caproic, myristoleic, palmitic, palmitelaidic, palmitoleic, stearic, elaidic, oleic, linolelaidic, linoleic, arachidonic, and behenic acids showed no breed difference. The results obtained can be used as reference values and influence the price paid by the Mexican goat dairy industry.

The objective of this project was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of essential oil (EO) emulsions in different types of meat challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE). Concentrations of 0.0%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% of EO emulsions from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), lemon (Citrus limon), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), and oregano (Origanum vulgare) were prepared in chicken meat, beef, and pork inoculated with SE at 1-hour and 24 hours. The effectiveness of EO against SE in different types of meat showed the greatest bacterial reduction in beef and with the exposure time of 24 hours. The effectiveness of eucalyptus EO against bacterial growth was shown to be inferior compared to oregano, clove, and lemon EO. Therefore, the terpenoid carvacrol, the phenylpropene eugenol, and the terpene limonene demonstrated a greater reduction in SE survival than the 1.8-cineole in eucalyptus. In the interactions, oregano EO showed no differences in chicken meat but did show differences in beef at 1.0% and 1-hour exposure, compared to any concentration in chicken or pork at 1-hour and 24 hours exposure. Eucalyptus EO at 2.0%, 1-hour exposure, and in beef showed differences compared to any concentration in chicken for both exposure times. Increasing the concentration of lemon EO in chicken meat appeared to reduce its effectiveness against SE. Finally, clove EO showed its best results in beef at 1.5% and after 24 hours of exposure. It is recommended to conduct an experiment testing mixed oregano and clove EOs to enhance their bactericidal effect.

The biochemical profile and milk fats/proteins in Saanen and Nubian goats from Los Asmoles, Colima was carried out. Milk fat, milk protein, fat/protein ratio, glucose (GLU), cholesterol (COL), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triacylglycerol (TAG), β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HBA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB), total protein (PROT-T), calcium ion (Ca2+), inorganic phosphate (Pi), sodium ion (Na+), potassium ion (K+), magnesium ion (Mg2+), and chloride ion (Cl-) was calculated. The biochemical profile results were consistent with the international literature for goats. All analytes except ALB and β-HBA showed racial differences. The three milk variables registered a higher concentration in Nubian. The comparison between groups (high-yield vs. low-yield vs. dry period) showed differences in COL and β-HBA in both breeds. A negative correlation between GLU and NEFA was quantified. Positive correlations between NEFA with COL, TAG and β-HBA, between Ca2+ with Na+ and between K+ with Na+ and Mg2+ were quantified. Milk fat was correlated with COL, NEFA and β-HBA. Milk protein was correlated with BUN. The fat/protein ratio was correlated with COL and β-HBA. Results provide insight into metabolic adaptations in lactation and identify links between key analytes and milk fat/protein in goats.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of spring and autumn seasons on the reproductive activity of Merino Socorro Island ewes and their crosses with Pelibuey under heat stress (HS) conditions in the tropics. All ewes (n = 80) were randomly assigned to one of two breeds during the first and second periods, respectively: (1) Twenty Socorro Island Merino ewes (SIM) and (2) 20 Pelibuey Crossbred ewes (PBC). Animals were fed the same diet and given water ad libitum. All statistical analyses were performed using SAS statistical software 9.12 procedures. In both seasons, a mean of more than 80 U of maximum THI was obtained, while in spring and autumn, the minimum THI exceeded 30 and 40 U, respectively. All animals were in oestrus and ovulated in both seasons. The frequency of animals in spring during the first 48 h of oestrus expression was greater (p < 0.05) than 48–55 h but similar (p > 0.05) than 55–65 h; in autumn during the first 48 h and 48–55 h were similar (p > 0.05), but different (p < 0.05) than 55–65 h. The duration of oestrus expression was longer in the spring than in the autumn (p < 0.05). The frequency of animals was higher (p < 0.05) in SIM than in PBC ewes during the first oestrus cycle (1–17 d) and was also higher (p < 0.05) in PBC than in SIM ewes during the second oestrus cycle (18–35 d). The SIM ewes produced more (p < 0.05) progesterone (P₄) than the PBC ewes. During the sampling days of the oestrus cycle, more P₄ was created in autumn than in spring (p < 0.05). Both breeds showed severe HS. In the future, ewes treated under assisted reproductive programs in the tropics may improve reproductive efficiency.

The aim of this study was to describe the morphology and estimate live weight from body measurements of Socorro Island Merino lambs. A group of Socorro Island Merino lambs was recorded from birth to year for live weight, rump width, rump length, withers height, body length, cannon bone perimeter, and chest girth, width, and depth. The effect of the lamb type on body measurements and live weight was analyzed using ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation analysis was performed to estimate the relationship between body measurements and live weight, multiple linear regressions were fitted to obtain prediction equations of live weight from the body measurements and finally, chest girth was used to generate prediction equations using linear and exponential models. At birth and at year, differences were observed in body measurements, especially those related to the thoracic region, with crossbred males showing the highest values. Live weight was correlated with almost all the body measurements, with the highest coefficients observed with chest girth, chest width, and chest depth. Live weight can be accurately predicted from multiple regression equations using several body measurements, but using only chest girth (CG) as a predictor, the exponential equation W_0–365 = 0.9142 exp^{(0.0462 CG)} showed the best accuracy.

The objective of this chapter is to characterize the goat farming system for the production and marketing of milk through the comprehensive management of the national and international market, including an analysis of its main indicators of genetic improvement, to understand how they affect the permanence of goat farming in Mexico, particularly in the livestock subsector. In this sense, an updated bibliographic synthesis on the production and commercialization of goat's milk was conducted, in order to understand the commercial context in which companies compete with each other. This paper also provides information on the bases of heritability, the obtaining and use of genotypes associated with productive and reproductive traits in goat farming, and molecular technologies in goat genetic improvement. This information will serve as support to any person dedicated to, or related to, the sustainable production of dairy goats.

The present review examines the factors and variables that should be considered to obtain, design, and evaluate EFEs that might enhance ruminal NDF degradability. Different combinations of words were introduced in Google Scholar, then scientific articles were examined and included if the reported factors and variables addressed the objective of this review. One-hundred-and-sixteen articles were included. The fungal strains and culture media used to grow white-rot fungi induced the production of specific isoforms of cellulases and xylanases; therefore, EFE products for ruminant feed applications should be obtained in cultures that include the high-fibrous forages used in the diets of those animals. Additionally, the temperature, pH, osmolarity conditions, and EFE synergisms and interactions with ruminal microbiota and endogenous fibrolytic enzymes should be considered. More consistent results have been observed in studies that correlate the cellulase-to-xylanase ratio with ruminant productive behavior. EFE protection (immobilization) allows researchers to obtain enzymatic products that may act under ruminal pH and temperature conditions. It is possible to generate multi-enzyme cocktails that act at different times, re-associate enzymes, and simulate natural protective structures such as cellulosomes. Some EFEs could consistently improve ruminal NDF degradability if we consider fungal cultures and ruminal environmental conditions variables, and include biotechnological tools that might be useful to design novel enzymatic products.

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to elucidate genetic architecture of growth traits in Braunvieh cattle. Methods: The study included 300 genotyped animals by the GeneSeek^® Genomic Profiler Bovine LDv.4 panel; after quality control, 22,734 SNP and 276 animals were maintained in the analysis. The examined phenotypic data considered birth (BW), weaning (WW), and yearling weights. The association analysis was performed using the principal components method via the egscore function of the GenABEL version 1.8-0 package in the R environment. The marker rs133262280 located in BTA 22 was associated with BW, and two SNPs were associated with WW, rs43668789 (BTA 11) and rs136155567 (BTA 27). New QTL associated with these liveweight traits and four positional and functional candidate genes potentially involved in variations of the analyzed traits were identified. The most important genes in these genomic regions were MCM2 (minichromosome maintenance complex component 2), TPRA1 (transmembrane protein adipocyte associated 1), GALM (galactose mutarotase), and NRG1 (neuregulin 1), related to embryonic cleavage, bone and tissue growth, cell adhesion, and organic development. This study is the first to present a GWAS conducted in Braunvieh cattle in Mexico providing evidence for genetic architecture of assessed growth traits. Further specific analysis of found associated genes and regions will clarify its contribution to the genetic basis of growth-related traits.

To establish reference values for biochemical analytes related to freshwater shortage adaptation, a total of 376 blood samples were collected from feral sheep at Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago. Year-round variation was assessed by sampling at the beginning of each season defined by the March equinox, June solstice, September equinox, and December solstice. The resulting data set was analyzed using Gaussian distribution and descriptive statistics. Confidence intervals of 95% were established. Analysis of variance was used to compare the mean values of each season. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, albumin, total protein, sodium ion, anion gap, creatine kinase, arginine vasopressin, and aldosterone showed concentrations above the reference range for domestic sheep. Triglycerides, urea, albumin, sodium ion, and aldosterone showed concentrations within the reference range for domestic goats. Most biochemical analytes showed differences (P<0.05) between seasons, with the highest values occurring during winter, and the lowest during spring. Results could help improve the accuracy of metabolic profiles used as a tool for evaluating dehydration indicators, and to describe the physiological mechanisms employed by feral sheep to cope with seasonal availability of freshwater.

Sources of bias in genetic association studies of cattle: A review