The objective of this study was to compare the chemical composition and ruminal degradation of whole pod, exomesocarp, endocarp and seed fractions of red and white mesquite pods. The pods contained on average 220 g free sugars, 78 g crude protein, 21 g fat per kg dry matter (DM), and a potential DM degradation of 163 g/kg. Contaminant fungi (mostly Aspegillus spp.) count was low. Unsaturated fatty acids, mainly linoleic acid, were the predominant (~50%) fatty acids in whole pods and seeds. Sucrose was the largest free sugar proportion. The highest fibre content was found in the endocarp, the highest free sugar was found in the exomesocarp, and the highest crude protein content was found in the seeds. Tannins were more abundant in red pods (0.4 mg/100 g DM) than in white ones. Some differences in nutritional values were found between red and white pods and their components (exomesocarp, endocarp and seeds), although both have a potentially high nutritive value. Whole pods and the endocarp can be used by ruminants; seeds can be used by simple stomach animals; and the exomesocarp can be used in human nutrition because of its low glycaemic index properties.

Twenty-one non-castrated male Rambouillet lambs (21±1.44 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary levels of Prosopis laevigata pods (PLP) in a 72 d growth performance trial. Three dietary treatments defined as PLP0 (control, 0 g PLP/kg DM), PLP250 (250 g PLP/kg DM), and PLP500 (500 g PLP/kg DM) were evaluated. Animals fed PLP250 and PLP500 had higher daily weight gain (P<0.05) and feed intake (P<0.01) than lambs fed PLP0. Feed conversion was improved by PLP addition in the diets. Feeding cost decreased linearly as the level of PLP in the diet increased. Blood urea-N concentration increased linearly as PLP increased in the diet. Lambs fed PLP500 had higher (P<0.05) blood uric acid concentrations than lambs fed PLP0 and PLP250. Ruminal total volatile fatty acid (VFA) increased linearly with increasing dietary PLP. Lambs fed PLP250 and PLP500 had higher ruminal ammonia N concentrations (P<0.05) than lambs fed PLP0. Dietary inclusion of PLP did not affect health status of lambs. Prosopis laevigata pods can be used safely in finishing lambs' diets at 500 g/kg.

Background: Bovine lactoferrin (bLf) has been reported as antimicrobial, antiviral, immunomodulatory and anticancer protein. Escherichia coli and Listeria spp. are food-borne bacteria that can produce illness in human being and mammals, the emergent antimicrobial drug resistance has been reported in these pathogens. <P> Objective: The aim for this study was to evaluate the bLf effect on in vitro biofilm production and the synergic effect of antibiotics on E. coli and Listeria isolates. <P> Methods: E. coli and Listeria specimens were isolated from bovine carcasses and slaughterhouses surfaces, respectively. Biofilm formation was analyzed with or without bLf, incubated for 48 h and spectrophotometry, cell viability was analyzed by colony-forming unit (CFU) and the synergistic effect of bLf with ampicillin, oxytetracycline, and streptomycin was evaluated through the fractional concentration index (FCI). <P> Results: Our results show that a low bLf concentration (0.8 μM) can diminish the in vitro biofilm production in Listeria isolates; also improves the in vitro oxytetracycline and streptomycin activity against E. coli, and ampicillin activity against Listeria isolates. <P> Conclusion: bLf can affect the biofilm production in Listeria isolates from slaughterhouses surfaces and shown synergic effect with ampicillin. Also has a synergic effect with oxytetracycline and streptomycin against E. coli isolates from bovine carcasses.

It was hypothesized that feeding mesquite pods to male Rambouillet lambs would have no negative effects on carcass characteristics, meat chemical composition and fatty acid composition of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL). Twenty-one male lambs (2.5 months old and 21 ± 1.44 kg bodyweight) were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets, two of which replaced maize grain and stover with mesquite pods (Prosopis laevigata) (PL): 0 g PL/kg feed (PL0), 250 g PL/kg feed (PL250) and 500 g PL/kg feed (dry matter basis). The feeding trial lasted 72 days. Carcass traits, chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and sensory characteristics of meat were measured. Carcass linear dimensions, non-carcass components, digestive tract and offal, compression value, and chemical composition of meat were similar in all treatments. Dietary inclusion of PL decreased carcass shrinkage loss. Lambs fed PL500 had better muscle conformation and degree of fat. Meat produced by PL-fed lambs was well accepted by panellists who judged meat appearance, colour, flavour, juiciness, toughness, and stringiness. In lambs fed PL0, the LTL muscle was lighter and yellower than that of animals fed PL250 and PL500 diets. Fatty acid composition was altered. The PL0 diet resulted in lower percentages of total trans fatty acids (TFA) and saturated fatty acids (SFA) and higher percentages of most unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) n-6 compared with PL250 and PL500 diets. Mesquite diets of up to 500 g/kg dry matter (DM) for growing lambs improved carcass quality and nutritional parameters of the meat.

Introducción: Para prevenir enfermedades relacionadas con desórdenes alimenticios, se deben implementar intervenciones que aborden educación, nutrición y actividad física en escuelas primarias de tiempo completo (EPTC) en México. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de una intervención educativa sobre el estado nutricional, nivel de conocimientos, hábitos de alimentación, actividad física e implementación de menús saludables en escolares de entre 6 y 12 años. Materiales y métodos: Estudio cuasiexperimental, descriptivo longitudinal, con una muestra de 262 alumnos de 2 EPTC, (grupo intervenido y grupo control) de Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, México. Se realizó una encuesta de conocimiento, frecuencia alimenticia y actividad física, además de la evaluación antropométrica al inicio y al final de la intervención. En el grupo intervenido se cambiaron los menús escolares, se impartieron pláticas sobre los hábitos de alimentación y se implementó actividad física durante cuatro meses. Resultados: El sobrepeso y obesidad general al inicio y final de la intervención fue del 46% y 28% respectivamente. La intervención educativa logró disminuir el bajo peso, la obesidad y el sobrepeso. Se incrementó el tiempo de actividad física en los participantes. Conclusiones: La intervención educativa sí es funcional en EPTC con alimentación correcta, hábitos saludables y actividad física puede mejorar el estado nutricional en los escolares.