Territorial development is a broad and multidimensional approach that can be applied in the empirical field to transform the economic, social and environmental dynamics of the territory conceived as a social construction, whose main objective is to improve the well-being of rural societies. It is based on structural changes in the productive and institutional dynamics, highlighting the role of rural women in the performance of entrepreneurial activities that contribute to poverty reduction, employment and income generation, among other fundamental aspects to promote the improvement of the quality of life of the population and the competitiveness of rural territories. The objective of this study was to analyze the role of rural women in the promotion of enterprises that contribute to sustainable territorial development. For this purpose, an empiricist-inductivist epistemological approach was used, whose postulates underpinned the use of the quantitative method. The information was collected from 73 rural women entrepreneurs of the popular market (68 people) and 5 representatives of the ShunGo Foundation of the city of Latacunga, province of Cotopaxi, through the application of a questionnaire submitted to expert validation. Among the main findings of the research, the role of the entrepreneurial woman for the sustainable development of the locality from the economic, social and environmental approach through business activities mainly oriented to the agricultural and livestock sector stands out

Holstein-Friesian cattle are the most important dairy breed worldwide. The main objective was to carry out a detailed pedigree evaluation of the Ecuadorian Holstein-Friesian cattle to investigate the demographic structure, inbreeding evolution, and genetic diversity of the official paternal lineages to determine the potential GD loss after the inclusion of modern Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs). Official pedigree information from 28,893 Holstein-Friesian sires born between 1950 and 2021 and enrolled with the Ecuadorian Holstein-Friesian Association (AHFE, Ecuador) were recorded and evaluated from USA and Canada genetic official databases. After multiple-trait across-country genetic analyses the total population was divided into four subpopulations; i) 1950–1969: natural mating (NM) period; ii) 1970–1989: NM + artificial insemination (AI) period; iii) 1990–2009: AI + embryo transfer (ET) period; and iv) 2010–2021: AI + ET + genomic selection (GS) period. Demographic parameters [number of males, pedigree integrity (PI), and generation interval (GI)] were analysed. PI was analysed using known ancestors up to 4 generations considering the number of complete (GCom), maximum (GMax) and equivalent (GEqu) generations. Moreover, Inbreeding parameters [inbreeding coefficient (F), average relatedness (AR), coancestry (C), effective size (Ne), genetic conservation index (GCI)] and parameters related to the gene origin probability (number of founders (f), effective number of founders (fe), genetic conservation index (GCI), among others] were also analysed, together with the fe/f ratio, fge/fe ratio, genetic contributions, and genetic diversity loss (GD-loss) derived parameters. The results indicated that nearly all imported sires used in Ecuador born in the beginning of 1990s could be traced to just three countries, who together account for > 90% of paternal lineages. This fact indicates that GD has undergone a dramatic decrease during the past 30 years. The PCI for the three last periods were > 55%, and the trend was enhanced in the fourth chronological period till > 92%. The estimated proportion of random genetic drift in GD loss increased over time as well as the Ne that decreased by the time. In conclusion, the occurrence of AI + ET + GS period led to the major GD loss. Therefore, due to the extremely limited number of paternal lineages the strategy for recovering the minimal GD on the current and future Ecuadorian Holstein-Friesian cattle should reduce the inbreeding values by increasing the Ne using alternately the foreign genetic material and the national breeding stock.

The objective was to evaluate the evolution of the population structure, reproductive performance, inbreeding, and genetic diversity in Charolais cattle. Official genealogical information from the Ecuadorian Charolais Association was divided into five populations: (a) historical (total), (b) 2008–2012 (natural mating period), (c) 2013–2017 (natural mating + artificial insemination period), (d) 2018–2022 (artificial insemination + embryo transfer period), and (e) the reference (known sires and dams) from which the population structure was evaluated using pedigree completeness and the generation interval (GI). Meanwhile, for genetic diversity (GD), inbreeding (F), average relatedness (AR), and the effective population size (Ne) were estimated. The gene origin probability (number of founders, effective number of founders/ancestors, and number of founder genomes) explaining genetic variability, reproductive efficiency, the number of offspring per sire and dam, and the average ages of parents at the birth of their offspring were determined. The database was analyzed using the ENDOG, POPREP, and CFC software programs. The results indicate that pedigree completeness and the GI decreased over time among populations, although the first generation showed higher values. The sire gametic pathway was greater in all populations. F increased over time, although not markedly. Although Ne variations were observed, the levels remained above the recommended limit value. The GD loss increased progressively over time although the most recent population was not significantly affected. Finally, the female reproductive efficiency increased over time as well. In conclusion, the Charolais cattle GI should be reduced. After 2012, the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and breeding schemes raised the GD loss. Finally, the F increased over time although it could be reduced using foreign genetic resources in the current Ecuadorian Charolais population.

Montbeliarde dairy cattle were introduced in Ecuador with the aim of ameliorating the production performance of other cattle breeds. The aim was to analyze the reproductive performance, demographic structure, inbreeding, and genetic diversity of Montbeliarde cattle obtained by absorption crossing. Official pedigree records from the Ecuadorian Montbeliarde Association were used. The total population was divided into seven populations: (i) historical (all individuals), (ii) 1999–2003, (iii) 2004–2008, (iv) 2009–2013, (v) 2014–2018, (vi) 2019–2023 (current), and (vii) reference (individuals with known parents). Demographic structure variables analyzed: pedigree completeness index (PCI), number of equivalents (GEqu), complete (GCom) and maximum (GMax) generations, and generation interval (GI). Inbreeding-derived variables analyzed: inbreeding (F), inbreeding increment (ΔF), average relatedness (AR), co-ancestry (C), non-random mating (α), effective population size (Ne), and genetic conservation index (GCI). Gene origin probability/genetic diversity variables analyzed: number of founders (f), effective number of founders (fe) and ancestors (fa), number of equivalent genomes (fg), fe/fa and fg/fa ratio, and DG losses. The databases were analyzed by ENDOG, POPREP, and CPC software. PCI in the historical population compared to the current population decreased from 72.95 to 65.87% (sire/dam pathway), while the GI decreased from 7.17 to 3.08 years when the historical and current populations were compared. Dam reproductive efficiency increased over time. Moreover, F = ~1%, AR = 2.06%, ΔF = 0.22%, C = 1.03%, α = −0.0077, GCI = 3.12, and Ne = 58 values were obtained. Gene origin probability in the reference population was f = 439, fa = 37, fe = 71.64, fg = 23.43, and fg/fe = 0.33, showing a GD loss due to unequal contribution of founders (0.55%) and bottleneck and genetic drift (4.25%). In conclusion, the Ecuadorian Montbeliarde cattle population displayed a relatively low diversity and high genetic relationship. Inbreeding levels increased while Ne values decreased over time. The introduction of new purebred bloodlines could be important to minimize the inbreeding levels ensuring the long-term conservation of this breed and minimizing GD loss.

Nematodes constitute an important public health problem. Therefore, identifying Toxocara canis from isolates in canines from Salcedo canton, Cotopaxi province (Ecuador), by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), is the objective of this study. Adult parasites of the genus T. canis were sampled. The Phenol-Chloroform method allowed DNA extraction. PCR amplification was performed using specific primers and the product sequenced by capillary electrophoresis. 383 bp of the ITS-2 gene from ribosomal DNA were sequenced. The identity of each isolate was confirmed by the NCBI BLAST algorithm. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the MEGA X program. The 20 canine isolates were identified as Toxocara canis, when they were compared with sequences previously deposited in GenBank. The phylogenetic tree confirmed the identity of the isolates studied, as belonging to the genus Toxocara, particularly Toxocara canis.

Genetic diversity guarantees the evolution and adaptation of animal populations. Therefore, to evaluate the genetic diversity of the population of Holstein Friesian bulls imported into Ecuador between the years 2000-2021 through their genealogical information, constitutes the objective of the research. 273 bulls were evaluated, the genetic analysis was carried out through the estimation of the consanguinity coefficient and the mean relationship with the ENDOG v4.8 program. The Holstein Friesian breed from the United States and Canada is responsible for 89% of the gene flow to Ecuador. The average age of the bulls was 8.50 years, assuming a generation interval between 6-8 years. Within the Ecuadorian market there is a great demand for straws from proven bulls with high reliability, evidencing the use of bulls of advanced age and bulls in proof, affecting the generation interval and genetic progress compared to the use of genomic bulls.