The effect of plant extracts (PE; artichoke, celery, beet, onion, garlic, spinach, avocado, oats, and parsley) in the diet of growing pigs under heat stress was investigated. Parameters included growth performance, blood constituents, carcass characteristics, organ percentage, quality and sensory appraisal of the pork. The study was performed during the Mexican summer, using 60 pigs. Treatments included the control, to which 0.1% PE, and 0.15% PE were added. The use of PE (0.1 and 0.15%) generated an increase in the average daily gain (ADG, by 10.0% for both treatments), and final live weight (LW, by 6.3% and 6.8%) (p < 0.05). The level of blood albumin at 95 kg was higher when supplementing with 0.1% PE (p < 0.05). At 120 kg LW, creatine kinase values showed a tendency to be different (p = 0.07). Carcass weight increased (p < 0.05) when adding PE. Supplementation with 0.1% PE decreased (p < 0.05) the red/green (a *) hue of the meat, whereas supplementation with 0.1% and 0.15% PE increased the yellow/blue (b *) hue (p < 0.05). The addition of PE improves pig growth performance, and carcass weight by reducing the negative effects of heat stress, without markedly modifying blood constituents, meat quality, and sensory attributes of the pork.

No abstract

ABSTRACT. Leucine (Leu) participates in the activity of cationic amino acid (aa) transporters. Also, branched-chain aa [Leu, isoleucine (Ile), and valine (Val)] share intestinal transporters for absorption. We conducted an experiment with 16 young pigs (body weight of about 16 kg) to determine whether Leu and Ile affect expression of aa transporters b 0,+ and CAT-1 in the jejunum and expression of myosin in muscle, as well as serum concentration of essential aa, and growth performance in pigs. Dietary treatments were: wheat-based diets fortified with Lys, Thr, and Met; basal diet plus 0.50% Leu; basal diet plus 0.50% Ile, and basal diet plus 0.50% Leu and 0.50% Ile. After 28 days, the pigs were sacrificed to collect blood, jejunum, and semitendinosus and longissimus muscle samples. The effects of single and combined addition of Leu and Ile were analyzed. Leu alone or combined with Ile significantly decreased daily weight gain and reduced feed conversion. Leu and Ile, alone or in combination, significantly decreased expression of b 0,+ and significantly increased CAT-1. Ile alone or combined with Leu significantly decreased myosin expression in semitendinosus and significantly decreased it in M. Cervantes-Ramírez et al. 116©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 12 (1): 115-126 (2013) longissimus muscle. Leu alone significantly decreased Lys, Ile and Thr serum concentrations; Ile significantly decreased Thr serum concentration; combined Leu and Ile significantly decreased Thr and significantly increased Val serum concentration. We conclude that dietary levels of Leu and Ile affect growth performance, expression of aa transporters and myosin, and aa serum concentrations in pigs.

The food needs by the human population is increasing; In that sense, having a new crop can contribute to ameliorate the demand for food. The zaya (Amoreuxia palmatifida DC.) has been used as food both before and after the arrival of the European settlers in several states of northwest Mexico and southwestern United States. Over a hundred years ago there are authors recommending the zaya as a native plant with potential to be cultivated, being one of the problems to overcome the difficulty of its seeds to germinate. The study objectives were to evaluate germination treatments of zaya seeds and measure plantula grow under two systems. It was found that seeds physically scarified by sanding were those that germinated (73%; p <0.0001), compared to treatments control, of soaking for 24 hours and addition, of boiling water, were does not germinate any seed. The results of zaya growth were greater (p <0.0001), for plants in open field under drip irrigation, compared to the plants planted in pots under shadehouse, for all variables evaluated. The results obtained in this work, about the germination and growing of zaya, can be used to multiply their propagules and restore natural populations affected in northwest of Mexico. It is necessary to continue research on agronomic aspects of the zaya cultivation, a plant with great potential for both human and animal feeding, ornamental, and possibly medicinal use.

En la industria pecuaria es importante mantener al ganado en buen estado de salud para alcanzar niveles adecuados de producción. En la actualidad, el uso de antibióticos para el control de infecciones es limitado, debido a la resistencia de los microorganismos a estos fármacos. Por otro lado, los insecticidas y repelentes de origen sintéticos contienen químicos tóxicos para los animales, el humano y el medio ambiente. Una alternativa es utilizar compuestos químicos naturales derivados de plantas. El objetivo fue evaluar la actividad antimicrobiana, insecticida y repelente de extractos hidro-etanólicos de plantas. En este estudio, se utilizaron 12 extractos de plantas contra 5 diferentes bacterias y 8 especies de insectos. Los resultados mostraron que el extracto de Eucalyptus globulus y la mezcla de extractos presentaron actividad antimicrobiana contra Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio cholerae y Staphylococcus aureus (P<0.05). Por otro lado, los extractos de E. globulus y Azadirachta indica mostraron actividad insecticida contra todos los insectos (P<0.05); mientras que, la mezcla de los extractos mostró actividad repelente contra todos los insectos utilizados (P<0.05). Por lo anterior, los extractos hidro-etanólicos de plantas mostraron potencial para controlar bacterias patógenas e insectos indeseables en la industria pecuaria.