The effect of spineless cactus intake (Opuntia ficus-indica) on blood glucose (BG) levels in lactating sows and its impact on daily and total feed intake (dFI−1 and TFI, respectively), body weight loss (BWL), and weaning-estrus interval length (WEI) were evaluated. Thirty-four hybrid (Yorkshire × Landrace × Pietrain) sows in lactation phase were used. Sows were divided into two groups: G1 (n = 17) where they received commercial feed and G2 (n = 17) provided with commercial feed plus an average of 2.0 ± 0.5 kg spineless cactus, based on a sow’s body weight. The variables evaluated were BG, dFI−1, TFI, BWL, and WEI. Statistical analysis was performed by using a fixed and mixed model methodology, under a repeated measurements experiment. Group effects were found on all analyzed variables (P < 0.05). The BG was lower in G2 (55.2 and 64.5 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively), compared to that in G1 (70.9 and 80.1 mg/dL pre- and post-prandial, respectively) (P < 0.05). G2 showed better performance than G1 for dFI−1, BWL, and WEI (P < 0.05) whose averages were 5.5 ± 1.8 kg, 7.4 ± 4.5%, and 5.3 ± 1.2 days, respectively. Averages for these variables in G1 were 4.7 ± 1.5 kg, 16.8 ± 4.6%, and 6.1 ± 1.6 days, respectively. Intake of spineless cactus reduced BG levels in lactating sows, generating greater dFI−1, lower BWL at the end of lactation, and a lower WEI.

El Cuy o Cobayo es un roedor nativo de los Andes sudamericanos de gran importancia para la identidad y seguridad alimentaria de la población, muy cotizado actualmente por las características únicas de su carne. La caracterización morfométrica y faneróptica de las especies animales nativas es el inicio de todo proceso racional de conservación de los recursos zoogenéticos y uso sostenible de las mismas para preservar su variabilidad genética y capacidad de resiliencia. Esta investigación se realizó en el altiplano sur de Ecuador. El objetivo consistió en realizar la caracterización morfométrica y faneróptica de dos subpoblaciones de cobayos (Cavia porcellus) nativos: Cañar (G1EcC), Azuay (G2EcA) y una línea mejorada Perú (G3LP); se registraron datos de 509 animales al nacimiento, 391 al destete y 370 a los 90 días. Para el análisis estadístico se aplicó estadística descriptiva, análisis de varianza con test de Duncan al 5 % para datos con normalidad y Kruskal-Wallis y Mann-Whitney para datos sin normalidad. Las subpoblaciones nativas son animales corporalmente más pequeños comparados con los animales mejorados, con presencia de polidactilia, ojos de color negro, con una capa de tipo lacio corto y colores overo – agouti predominantes.

Meat yield and growth was evaluated in crossbred F1 chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) (Full Plumage and Naked Neck × Rhode Island Red) in backyard production systems under dry tropic conditions. Seventeen naked neck (MCD) and seventeen full plumage males (MPN) were used at the locality of San Nicolás Arroyo Hondo, Municipality of Huetamo, Michoacan, Mexico, fed with a traditional scheme (commercial concentrate plus corn). The variables analyzed were body weight (PC); food consumption (CA); feed conversion (CaI); weight gain (GP) phenotype-1; as well as: total feed intake (CAt); slaughter and carcass weight and weight of higher commercial value pieces (PPMVC). The experimental design used for PC using a split plot over time with repeated measurements and the data was analyzed with a mixed model. The other variables were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with phenotypes as the source of variation. In both cases, the differences between phenotypes were obtained by “t” tests between the least square means. The results showed that a significant genetic interaction group*time interaction (P<0.001); The Gompertz equation was used for modelling PC, the estimated parameters of the model were: at start (88.2 and 78.5 g); increase growth rate (0.061 and 0.068 g) and decrease growth rate (0.0193 and 0.0235 g), for the MCD and MPN groups, respectively. Likewise, a phenotypic effect (P<0.01) was found on: CA, CAt, GP, and Cal, in favor of MCD (P<0.05). The most relevant results were slaughter weight (1806.1 ± 28.3 vs. 1306.1 ± 28.3 g) and carcass weight (1040.0 ± 35.5 vs. 804.1 ± 35.5 g) for MCD and MPN, respectively. PPMVC were legs 174.2 ± 5.4 g vs. 130.8 ± 5.4 g, thigh 151.8 ± 4.7 g vs. 114.2 ± 4.7 g and breast 228.2 ± 11.2 g vs. 176.6 ± 11.2 g for MCD and MPN, respectively. These results suggest that bare neck F1 birds are a suitable alternative for backyard poultry farms in the dry tropics.