This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of Agave tequilana inulin and Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) on growth performace, hematological variables, serum metabolites, and total coliforms in nursing lambs. The experimental design was completely randomized; treatments were T1, control (pre-starter concentrate, PC), T2: T1+2% inulin, and T3: T1+2% inulin+L. casei; treatments were compared with Tukey test (p≤0.05); and 45 new born Kathadin×Dorset lambs (4.8±0.8 kg birth weight) were the experimental units (15 per treatment). The variables were daily weight gain (DWG), dry matter intake and diarrheas incidence (%) during 56 d. Twenty-four hours after birth and at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to evaluate hematological variables and serum metabolites. Besides, the populations of total coliforms and lactobacilli were estimated in fecal samples. Addition of agave inulin and L. casei increased (p≤0.05) DWG 356, 384, and 415 g/d, weaning weight 24.92, 26.18, and 28.07 kg, as well as lactobacilli population 5.79, 6.32, and 6.48 Log10 cfu/g, for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Lambs fed L. casei had decreased (p≤0.05) populations of total coliforms (T1 = 6.18, T2 = 5.77, and T3 = 5.07 Log10 cfu/g), diarrheas incidence (T1 = 11.67%, T2 = 8.33%, and T3 = 5.0%), and serum cholesterol concentration (11% in T2 and 13% in T3, compared to control). The combination of Agave tequilana inulin and L. casei increases weight gain and improves intestinal health by reducing coliforms and diarrheas incidence in Katahdin× Dorset lambs during the pre-weaning period.

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of an herbal choline feed plant additive on the productive parameters and blood metabolites of finishing lambs. Forty male Hampshire × Suffolk lambs (initial body weight of 30.36±3.75 kg) were assigned according to a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of dietary inclusion of the herbal additive BioCholine at 0, 3, 6, and 9 g/kg dry matter for 56 days. A linear response for herbal choline dose was observed for daily gain, final body weight, feed conversion, blood glucose, and blood phosphatidylcholine as herbal choline level was increased in the diet. Total protein, globulins, and low-density lipoproteins showed a quadratic effect, and there were no effects on intake, Longissimus dorsi area, back fat, blood cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, or albumins. The inclusion of the herbal choline feed plant additive improved daily gain and feed efficiency of finishing lambs. The choline feed plant additive is a source that can be used to meet choline requirements in small ruminants, as demonstrated by blood phosphatidylcholine and lamb performance.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, apparent digestibility, and carcass and longissimus dorsi muscle characteristics of lambs fed diets supplemented with four levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Thirty-two male Hampshire lambs (25.82±1.95 kg body weight) were distributed in four treatments: basal diet (20:80, forage:concentrate), and the inclusion of 0, 3, 5, and 10 g animal−1 d−1Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The variables evaluated were dry matter intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion, apparent digestibility, dorsal fat thickness, longissimus [...] ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, apparent digestibility, and carcass and longissimus dorsi muscle characteristics of lambs fed diets supplemented with four levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Thirty-two male Hampshire lambs (25.82±1.95 kg body weight) were distributed in four treatments: basal diet (20:80, forage:concentrate), and the inclusion of 0, 3, 5, and 10 g animal−1 d−1Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The variables evaluated were dry matter intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion, apparent digestibility, dorsal fat thickness, longissimus

Background and Aim: Mexico is the fifth largest producer of mangoes in the world. For the conservation of agro-industrial waste and crop residues, the ensiling technique has shown good results. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing the level of mango silage (86% waste mango and 14% pangola grass hay) in calf diets on in vitro gas production, in situ digestibility, intake, apparent digestibility, and ruminal characteristics. Materials and Methods: The diets contained 0 (T0), 30 (T1), 45 (T2), and 60% (T3) mango silage. The partial (24, 48, and 72 h) and cumulative (72 h) biogas, CH4 production, and degradation were determined in the in vitro evaluation. In situ digestibility and estimators of fermentation kinetics of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) were determined. Intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, and rumen parameters of calves (200 kg) were evaluated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Response to increased mango silage was calculated by linear and quadratic orthogonal contrasts. Results: In vitro partial and cumulative biogas production decreased linearly (p < 0.05), and the partial and cumulative CH4 production did not show linear or quadratic contrast (p > 0.05); in vitro DM degradation, in vitro neutral detergent fiber degradation, and in vitro acid detergent fiber degradation showed a linear increase (p < 0.05). In situ dry matter digestibility (DMDis), in situ organic matter digestibility (OMDis), b, a + b, c, and effective digestibility (ED) of DMDis, a, a + b, c, and ED of OMDis increased linearly (p < 0.05). Dry matter intake, OM intake, and crude protein intake showed a linear increase (p < 0.05); NDF intake and ADF intake presented a quadratic behavior (p < 0.05). Apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, and hemicellulose, pH, N-NH3, total bacterial count, acetate, propionate, butyrate, volatile fatty acids, acetate: propionate ratio, cellulolytic bacteria, and protozoa did not present a linear or quadratic orthogonal effect (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The in vitro, in situ, and in vivo variables demonstrated that up to 60% mango silage can be used for the intensive fattening of calves in confinement. Keywords: alternative feed, alternative feeding, cattle, silage, tropics.

Requirements of lambs for choline and methionine have not been clearly established, but because of their metabolic relationship, the availability of these two nutrients may affect protein synthesis and energy balance. Therefore, a trial was carried out to evaluate the effect on productive performance and blood metabolites of including methionine and choline from polyherbal mixtures in finishing lamb diets. Forty Hampshire x Suffolk lambs weighing 26.9 ± 2.8 kg were used for a 45-day experiment. The treatments were arranged as a 2x2 factorial, in which the factors were dietary supplementation with herbal methionine and choline at two levels (0% and 0.4% of dry matter (DM)). The treatments had no effects on the lambs’ productive variables (daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed to gain ratio), carcass characteristics and lipid metabolites (P >0.05). The results indicated that the inclusion of polyherbal mixtures containing methionine, choline and their combination at 0.4% of DM in finishing lamb diets showed no benefits in productive response or in blood metabolites related to lipid metabolism. Keywords: amino acid, lipid metabolites, productive performance, ruminally protected, vitamin

The nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus, is one of only two species of armadillo found in Mexico. Among the ectoparasites reported on this mammal are ticks of the genus Amblyomma. Between December 2022 and April 2024, 52 ticks of different developmental stages (females, males, and nymphs) were collected from five D. novemcinctus. All ticks were morphologically identified as A. auricularium. This study reports for the first time the presence of this tick species in the Municipality of Santiago Llano Grande, Oaxaca.