Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
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Short communication: Feed conversion efficiency of male and female Awassi lambs fed on dried olive (Olea europaea) leaves
No full textAim of study: To estimate the changes in daily feed intake (DFI), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE; DFI/DWG) of male and female Awassi lambs fed on dried olive leaves for six months growing period.
Area of study: Deir-Al-Hajar area, Syria.
Materials and methods: Twenty Awassi lambs (10 males and 10 females) were randomly allocated to four equal groups (n=5 animals/group, average weight 23.7 ± 2.4 kg). The control groups were fed 250 g/kg wheat straw and 750 g/kg concentrate mixture. For the two other experimental groups, the total amount of wheat straw was replaced by dried olive leaves, i.e. the rations contained 250 g/kg dried olive leaves, 520 g/kg concentrate mixture and 230 g/kg barley. The rations of control and experimental groups were isocaloric and isonitrogenous.
Main results: DWG values varied (p<0.05) according to the sex of lambs, reaching 161 g/d for male lambs as compared to 136 g/d for female lambs. Ration type had no effect (p>0.05) on DWG, with a mean value of 148 g/d. FCE value was better in male (7.21) compared to female (9.09) lambs. However, there were no differences (p>0.05) in the FCE values due to the effect of ration type (8.08 on average).
Research highlights: Replacement of wheat straw by dried olive leaves in the rations of male and female Awassi lambs had no effect on FCE and could be used as alternative forage for Awassi lambs nutrition
Bean meal and cactus pear in Santa Inês lamb rations for meat production: Intake, digestibility, performance, carcass yield, and meat quality
No full textAim of study: The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, performance, carcass yield, and meat quality parameters in Santa Inês lambs fed cactus pear and bean meal.
Area of study: NW Brazil
Material and methods: 32 intact Santa Inês male lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments (diets): control diet (concentrated feed containing corn and soybean meal as energy and protein ingredients); diet containing bean meal as a protein source; diet containing cactus pear as an energy source and; diet containing bean meal and/or cactus pear), using 8 animals per treatment. At the end of the experimental period, lambs were slaughtered with an average body weight of 32.78 kg.
Main results: Animal fed cactus pear and bean meal/cactus pear had a higher intake and digestibility for non-fibrous carbohydrates (p<0.05). Lambs fed cactus pear diet had greater water intake via diet and lower neutral detergent fibre digestibility compared to other evaluated diets (p<0.05). Cactus pear and bean meal/cactus pear diets promoted lower water intake concerning to control and bean meal diets (p<0.05). The lower feed conversion was observed for animals that received control diet (p<0.05). Carcass characteristics and meat quality were not affected for the diets (p>0.05). Bean meal can be used as a source of protein concentrate in combination with cactus pear promoting a reduction in the use of corn and soybean in diets for small ruminants. The use of cactus pear in the diets promoted a water supply to the animals.
Research highlights: Diets containing cactus pear and bean meal/cactus pear provided higher non-fibrous carbohydrates intake
Use of two relative depths of the soil apparent electrical conductivity to define experimental blocks with spatial regression models
No full textAim of study: Our main objective was to take advantage of the ECa information that the EM38-MK2 sensor records simultaneously at two relative depths for modeling using spatial regression and the subsequent blocking of the conductivity estimate values, incorporating elevation.
Area of study: A 23.1-ha field located in the municipality of Puerto López (Meta, Colombia).
Material and methods: A series of georeferenced data (15438) was collected from the EM38-MK2 sensor, through which the ECa was obtained at two depths, a spatial aggregation was performed using a grid of 40 m ´ 40 m (167 grid cells), to provide data in Lattice form, the centroid of the cells was determined as the new representative spatial coordinates, to adjust a Spatial Autoregression Model (SAC), and then define the blocks from the predictions of the adjusted model.
Main results: The adjusted model has a comparative purpose with the usual proposals for delimiting management zones separately, so it was convenient to incorporate in the model a 3D weighting matrix relating the two relative depths recorded by the EM38MK2 sensor. By mapping the surface layer with the predictions of the SAC model, two distinguishable blocks were delimited in its ECa and management zone analyst (MZA), which can be suitable for experimentation or agricultural management.
Research highlights: These results can be adopted to define the shape and dimension of the blocks in the context of experimental design so that with adequate blocking, the effect of spatial dependence associated with the physicochemical properties of soils related to ECa can be mitigated or suppressed
Systemin modulates defense responses in roots of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) during the pre-colonization stage of the mycorrhizal symbiosis
No full textAim of study: The symbiotic association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) enhances the uptake of soil minerals by the plant, predominantly phosphorus, in return for plant photosynthates. This study was performed to support the premise that the suppression of root defense responses during the pre-colonization stage is required for the subsequent colonization of tomato roots by AMF.
Area of study: This study was performed in the Plant Defense Laboratory of Cinvestav, at Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Material and methods: Systemin (SYS) was added, together with spore suspensions of three different AMF species, to young tomato plantlets. The roots were subsequently sampled, 0.5 to 12 h post-application, in order to quantify degree of mycorrhizal colonization, in vitro β-glucanase (GLN) and chitinase (CHI) enzyme activity and wound-responsive gene expression levels.
Main results: The sole application of exogenous SYS induced the rapid expression of a battery of early wound-responsive genes, together with a swift and transient activation of CHI, but not GLN. However, when added together with AMF spores, SYS differentially modulated the activity of these enzymes in an AMF species-dependent manner. Modified lytic activity was preceded or accompanied by the rapid and sustained induction of the RbohD, LOXD and PLA2 genes shortly after contact with AMF spores.
Research highlights: The findings of this study suggest a role for oxylipins and reactive oxygen species in the initial AMF recognition process. They also indicate that exogenous SYS is perceived by the roots, where it modulates the local root defense response to facilitate AMF colonization
Replacing soybean meal with micronized soybeans in starter piglet diets and their residual effects during growing and finishing phases
No full textAim of study: To assess the effects of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with micronized soybean (MS) on the digestibility (Experiment I) and performance (Experiment II) of piglets in the starter phase and its residual effects on the growing/finishing phases and carcass and meat quality traits
Area of study: São Paulo, Brazil.
Materials and methods: The treatments consisted of different levels of dietary replacement of SBM with MS at intervals of 25%, totaling five inclusions (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%).
Main results: In Exp. I, the administration of the pre-starter I diet resulted in a positive linear effect (p<0.05) on the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of crude protein and a quadratic effect (p<0.01) on the ADCs of dry matter and crude fat. For the pre-starter II diet, there was a quadratic effect on the ADCs of dry matter and crude fat (p<0.05). For the starter diet, a negative linear effect on the ADC of dry matter was observed (p<0.01). In Exp. II, the feed intake and weight gain decreased linearly throughout the starter phase (p<0.01), while no significant difference (p>0.05) in feed conversion was observed with increasing inclusion level of MS.
Research highlights: Replacing SBM with MS in the starter diet did not influence performance during the growing and finishing phases. Meat quality was not affected but a lower retail cut weight were observed in animals fed a starter diet with higher levels of MS
The frequency of spring harvest and row distance affect the seed and forage production of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under irrigated Mediterranean conditions
No full textAim of study: The effect of the number of spring harvests (1 or 2) for forage before letting alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grow for seed, combined with three different row distances, on seed production was evaluated over a three-year period.
Area of study: Irrigated Mediterranean environment (NE Spain).
Material and methods: Seed yield, forage production and seed weight were evaluated, as well as final plant stands and the economic implications of different decisions.
Main results: The study revealed significant differences (p < 0.01) in seed yield between the number of forage harvests prior to letting the crop grow for seed in two of the three years of the study, with an overall average of 500 kg ha-1 for one spring harvest and 450 kg ha-1 for two spring harvests, but with significant differences associated with row distance in two of the three years. The average annual production of forage was 8.08 Mg of dry matter (DM) ha-1 for the case of two spring harvests and 7.57 Mg for one, with significant differences in one of the three years. Row distances of 20, 40 and 60 cm did not significantly affect forage DM production although, on average, higher forage yields were achieved with narrow row distances. From an economic point of view, our results suggest that the 1-harvest treatment before letting alfalfa grow for seed is slightly more profitable than the 2-harvest treatment (higher gross margin of about 54.5 € ha-1).
Research highlights: Under irrigated Mediterranean conditions, alfalfa harvested only once in spring before letting the crop grow for seed production maximizes the gross margin
Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research Editorial Policy Update: Pre-registration of submissions based on primary data
No full textAs of January 2022, the Agricultural Economics Section of the Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research encourages authors using primary data on their submissions to pre-register their analysis. This article explains the reasons that have led the Editorial Board to include this requirement
Phenotypic diversity of horse breeds used in sports activities, employing multivariate analysis
No full textAim of study: Sports involving horses have notable financial importance. Breeds are evaluated to find the best-suited ones for a specific sport category. Phenotypic diversity using biometric markers was evaluated for Quarter Horse (QH), Arabic (AR), English Thoroughbred (ET), and Brazilian Equestrian (BE) horse breeds.Area of study: Mato Grosso do Sul-Brazil.Material and methods: Lengths, widths, and circumference measures of 268 horses were collected. These measures were used to estimate conformation indexes. The size-free canonical discriminant analysis was used to remove the size effect on the animal's shape. The similarity among breeds (by sex) was evaluated employing multivariate analysis (canonical analysis, MANOVA, principal components, Euclidean distances, and grouping through complete linkage), considering all linear measures and conformation indexes (included in the analysis of principal components).Main results: Four canonical variables (CANs), each one representing an equation to interpret the morpho-functionality of breeds “sustentation”, “structure”, “frame”, and “equilibrium”, were retained. The breeds presented differences when the CANs were simultaneously considered. Differences mainly were the size and the thickness of the body as well as the ability of the animal to move. ET, QH, and BE demonstrate a well-defined biometric profile. These three breeds clustered separately from AR breed.Research highlights: Canonical variables allow to verify the functional aptitudes since the responses were close to conformation indices commonly used as horse skill estimators. The implementation of these variables as selection criteria in horse breeding programs require further studies in larger populations of horses for a confirmation of the present results
Production systems and methods affect the quality and the quantity of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)
No full textAim of study: Comparison of saffron flowering between open field and controlled environment. Possibility of saffron transplanting.Area of study: University of Birjand (Iran)Material and methods: In a first experiment, saffron yield and quality produced by traditional production system (TPS) and by soilless one (SPS) were compared. In a second experiment, the effects of the production method, by direct planting (DP) or by transplanting plant (TP) in open field were studied.Main results: Percentage of flowering corms grown by SPS was 39% and 65%, while by TPS was 6% and 56% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Flower and stigma yields were significantly higher by SPS than by TPS. Stigma obtained from SPS had higher L (lightness) and crocin. Safranal content was higher in stigma produced by TPS. Leaf and root numbers and corm weight were higher for SPS, but after transplanting there was better status for DP than for TP. At the end of the first growing season (2018-19), mean replacement corms weight (4.4 vs 3.0 g), replacement corms yield (21.3 vs 12.8 g per plant), weight of main replacement corm (11.7 vs 6.0 g) and number of large replacement corms (0.6 vs 0.1 corms per plant) for DP were significantly higher than for TP. However, during the second growing season (2019-20), the plants in TP plots improved their performances.Research highlights: Saffron production was more favorable under controlled environment. Transplanting is possible, but there is a need to improve methods to gain more favorable results
Short communication: A potential role of tannins in the control of American foulbrood
No full textAim of study: To evaluate the use of tannins extracts in the control of the American foulbrood pathology and to investigate if these extracts present levels of toxicity on Apis mellifera.Area of study: Paenibacillus larvae strains C1 and C2 were from Balcarce, province of Buenos Aires, strain C6 from Rio Cuarto, in Cordoba province and strain C9 from Concordia in Entre Rios province. Bees larvae used for toxicological assays were collected in Santa Paula experimental apiary, Mar del Plata (belonging to the Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS-IIPROSAM) from UNMdP.Material and methods: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of five different tannin extracts were obtained by agar diffusion method on four P. larvae strains; using the MIC value, the toxicity test on A. mellifera larvae was performed afterwards.Main results: The MIC value was in the range of 6.9 to 898.6 µg/mL. Three tannin extracts did not show toxicity against bee larvae; however, those that were fed with the latter showed a significant increase in weight.Research highlights: Three tanninS extracts showed a good antimicrobial activity against P. larvae and they did not show toxicity against bee larvae