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Livestock systems can contribute to food security by making use of available resources not suitable for human consumption such as Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber residue (CR). The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate preference and physicochemical characteristics of CR silages and their effect on milk production and milk composition from cows in a dual-purpose system in Campeche, Mexico. Three completely randomized experiments were performed. In experiment 1, physicochemical characteristics of four CR plus hay grass silages were evaluated: CR-77, CR-71, CR-65 and CR-59, containing 77%, 71%, 65% and 59% of CR, with 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% of estimated dry matter (DM), respectively. In experiment 2, silages intake preferences were determined in cattle. In experiment 3, the effect of CR silage or corn silage on milk production and milk composition of grazing cows in a dual-purpose system was evaluated. The results in experiment 1 showed that DM content differed between treatments (p < 0.05), ranging from 27.35% (CR-77) to 41.81% (CR-59) and estimated DM was similar to the actual values. pH and temperature were also different (p < 0.05). pH was different between CR-71 (4.01) and CR-59 (4.43), and temperature between CR-77 (28.87 °C) and CR-65 (29.5 °C). Crude protein (CP) was very low in all silages (p < 0.05), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher with CR-65 and CR-59 (average: 79.6%) than CR-77 and CR-71 (average 75.1%). There were no differences in intake preference (experiment 2), milk production (average 3.7 L) or milk composition (average protein: 3.27%, fat: 2.26%, lactose: 5.23%, solids non-fat: 9.17%) (experiment 3) (p > 0.05), but differences in DM intake of silages in experiment 3 were observed (p < 0.05). Even with the limitations of this pilot study, it is feasible to produce silages with CR with a good fermentation process as a feeding alternative for cows in a dual-purpose system in Campeche, Mexico.
Laura Valdez-Arjona; María Ortega-Cerrilla; Silvia Fraire-Cordero; Jesús Arreola-Enríquez; María Crosby-Galván; Alvar Cruz-Tamayo; Mónica Ramírez-Mella. Physicochemical and Preference Evaluation of Silages from Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber Residues and Its Effect on the Production and Composition of Milk from Dual-purpose Cows in Campeche, Mexico: Pilot Study. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7757 .
AMA StyleLaura Valdez-Arjona, María Ortega-Cerrilla, Silvia Fraire-Cordero, Jesús Arreola-Enríquez, María Crosby-Galván, Alvar Cruz-Tamayo, Mónica Ramírez-Mella. Physicochemical and Preference Evaluation of Silages from Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber Residues and Its Effect on the Production and Composition of Milk from Dual-purpose Cows in Campeche, Mexico: Pilot Study. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (18):7757.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Valdez-Arjona; María Ortega-Cerrilla; Silvia Fraire-Cordero; Jesús Arreola-Enríquez; María Crosby-Galván; Alvar Cruz-Tamayo; Mónica Ramírez-Mella. 2020. "Physicochemical and Preference Evaluation of Silages from Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber Residues and Its Effect on the Production and Composition of Milk from Dual-purpose Cows in Campeche, Mexico: Pilot Study." Sustainability 12, no. 18: 7757.
Meat, milk, and egg contribute positively to the nutrition and health of humans; however, livestock requires a large number of resources, including land for fodder and grains. Worldwide millions of tons of vegetable waste are produced without any further processing, causing pollution and health risks. Properly managed vegetable waste could provide a source of feed for livestock, thus reducing feeding costs. In this regard, pumpkin waste (Cucurbita sp.) is an alternative. Research on pumpkin waste on animal nutrition is scarce, however, it has potential as animal feed not only for its nutritional value but also for its antioxidants, pigments, and polysaccharides content that could enhance quality of meat, milk, and egg, as well animal health. In this review, we describe the environmental impact of livestock as a result of greater demand for food of animal origin, including the importance of the consumption of animal foods in human nutrition and health. Moreover, we emphasize the potential of plant residues and, particularly, on the characteristics of pumpkins and how their use as feedstuff for livestock could improve productivity and modify the composition of meat, milk, and egg.
Laura Patricia Valdez-Arjona; Mónica Ramírez-Mella. Pumpkin Waste as Livestock Feed: Impact on Nutrition and Animal Health and on Quality of Meat, Milk, and Egg. Animals 2019, 9, 769 .
AMA StyleLaura Patricia Valdez-Arjona, Mónica Ramírez-Mella. Pumpkin Waste as Livestock Feed: Impact on Nutrition and Animal Health and on Quality of Meat, Milk, and Egg. Animals. 2019; 9 (10):769.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLaura Patricia Valdez-Arjona; Mónica Ramírez-Mella. 2019. "Pumpkin Waste as Livestock Feed: Impact on Nutrition and Animal Health and on Quality of Meat, Milk, and Egg." Animals 9, no. 10: 769.
Digestion of cell wall fractions of forage in the rumen is incomplete due to the complex links which limit their degradation. It is therefore necessary to find options to optimize the use of forages in ruminant production systems. One alternative is to use exogenous enzymes. Exogenous fibrolytic enzymes are of fungal or bacterial origin and increase nutrient availability from the cell wall, which consists of three fractions in different proportions depending on the species of forage: digestible, potentially digestible, and indigestible. The response to addition of exogenous enzymes varies with the type of forage; many researchers infer that there are enzyme-forage interactions but fail to explain the biological mechanism. We hypothesize that the response is related to the proportion of the potentially digestible fraction. The exogenous enzyme activity depends on several factors but if the general conditions for enzyme action are available, the potentially digestible fraction may determine the magnitude of the response. Results of experiments with exogenous fibrolytic enzymes in domestic ruminants are inconsistent. This, coupled with their high cost, has made their use unattractive to farmers. Development of cheaper products exploring other microorganisms with fibrolytic activity, such asFomes fomentariusorCellulomonas flavigena, is required.
German David Mendoza; Octavio Loera-Corral; Fernando X. Plata-Pérez; Pedro A. Hernández-García; Mónica Ramírez-Mella. Considerations on the Use of Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes to Improve Forage Utilization. The Scientific World Journal 2014, 2014, 1 -9.
AMA StyleGerman David Mendoza, Octavio Loera-Corral, Fernando X. Plata-Pérez, Pedro A. Hernández-García, Mónica Ramírez-Mella. Considerations on the Use of Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes to Improve Forage Utilization. The Scientific World Journal. 2014; 2014 (2):1-9.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGerman David Mendoza; Octavio Loera-Corral; Fernando X. Plata-Pérez; Pedro A. Hernández-García; Mónica Ramírez-Mella. 2014. "Considerations on the Use of Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes to Improve Forage Utilization." The Scientific World Journal 2014, no. 2: 1-9.