Preliminary Feasibility of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to Authenticate Grazing in Dairy Goats through Milk and Faeces Analysis.

Consumers are increasingly prone to request information about the production systems of the food they buy. For this purpose, certification and authentication methodologies are necessary not only to protect the choices of consumers, but also to protect producers and production systems. The objective of this preliminary work was to authenticate the grazing system of dairy goats using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analyses of milk and faeces of the animals. Spectral information and several mathematical pre-treatments were used for the development of six discriminant models based on different algorithms for milk and faeces samples. Results showed that the NIRS spectra of both types of samples had some differences when the two feeding regimes were compared. Therefore, good discrimination rates were obtained with both strategies (faeces and milk samples), with classification percentages of up to 100% effectiveness. Discrimination of feeding regime and grazing authentication based on NIRS analysis of milk samples and an alternative sample such as faeces is considered as a potential approach for dairy goats and small ruminant production.

The Role of Women on Dairy Goat Farms in Southern Spain.

One of the factors involved in goat milk production is the role of women as farmers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of women on dairy goat farms, considering: (1) the profile of women occupationally involved, (2) the organization of the women's work, (3) the degree of involvement by women in the decision-making on these farms, and (4) the influence of women's work on productive results. This study was conducted on 52 dairy goat farms in southern Spain. A descriptive analysis and means comparisons were performed to describe the farms where any women were involved or not. In 61.5% of the farms, at least one woman was involved, with an age of 42.2 ± 8.8 years. Very few women were farm owners, although women took binding decisions in 81.25% of these farms. Their work is dedicated to milking and caring for the kids. Women had a positive influence on the productive variables analysed, and for mastitis in herds, the incidence was lower in herds where women participated (p < 0.01). In conclusion, it is recommended to include women's work as a factor when characterizing dairy goats farms' systems to evaluate their positive effect on a farm's performance.

Effect of Non-Genetic Factors on Reproduction of Extensive versus Intensive Florida Dairy Goats.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the production system and other environmental/phenotype factors on age at first kidding (AFK), kidding interval (KI) and prolificacy of 19,772 Florida goats reared between 2000 and 2019 on 49 dairy farms (38 farms intensively managed and 11 extensively managed with grazing). AFK was lower on intensive (490.2 ± 0.9 days; n = 13,345) than on extensive farms (511.7 ± 2.5 days; n = 2357; p < 0.001), and highest during the spring season (533.9 ± 2.7 days; n = 1932; p < 0.001) in both production systems. The average KI was 355.7 ± 0.4 days, mainly varying according to dry period, kidding season and lactation number and kidding type (p < 0.01). A significant interaction between production system, kidding season and dry period was observed with the highest AFK on intensive farms during spring and summer for goats presenting a dry period of up to six months. The overall prolificacy (1.64 ± 0.01) increased in recent years in both systems, and it was affected by the production system, but with different patterns; so, the highest prolificacy of primiparous and multiparous goats was observed on extensive and intensive farms, respectively. Besides that, the prolificacy and other reproductive parameters, such as AFK, significantly increased in the last decade, which could be related to management improvements. Besides that, the existence of inter-annual variations should be considered to compare data between farms and years, and to establish the farms' objectives according to their production systems and production goals.

A genome-wide perspective about the diversity and demographic history of seven Spanish goat breeds.

BACKGROUND: The main goal of the current work was to infer the demographic history of seven Spanish goat breeds (Malagueña, Murciano-Granadina, Florida, Palmera, Mallorquina, Bermeya and Blanca de Rasquera) based on genome-wide diversity data generated with the Illumina Goat SNP50 BeadChip (population size, N = 176). Five additional populations from Europe (Saanen and Carpathian) and Africa (Tunisian, Djallonké and Sahel) were also included in this analysis (N = 80) for comparative purposes. RESULTS: Our results show that the genetic background of Spanish goats traces back mainly to European breeds although signs of North African admixture were detected in two Andalusian breeds (Malagueña and Murciano-Granadina). In general, observed and expected heterozygosities were quite similar across the seven Spanish goat breeds under analysis irrespective of their population size and conservation status. For the Mallorquina and Blanca de Rasquera breeds, which have suffered strong population declines during the past decades, we observed increased frequencies of large-sized (ROH), a finding that is consistent with recent inbreeding. In contrast, a substantial part of the genome of the Palmera goat breed comprised short ROH, which suggests a strong and ancient founder effect. CONCLUSIONS: Admixture with African goats, genetic drift and inbreeding have had different effects across the seven Spanish goat breeds analysed in the current work. This has generated distinct patterns of genome-wide diversity that provide new clues about the demographic history of these populations.

Differentiation of organic goat's milk based on its hippuric acid content as determined by capillary electrophoresis.

Organic foods have lately aroused interest by virtue of their quality and their essential, exclusive characteristics. In this study, we assessed the potential of CE to detect a marker that is able to identify the particular food given to the goats and develop an effective method to determine directly the most abundant organic acid in goat's milk (viz. hippuric acid). In addition, we examined the use of the hippuric acid content of goat's milk as a general marker for authenticating organic goat's milk. The feeding of these goats can be influenced by the time of the year. For this reason, we have collected samples from 20 conventionally fed goats and 20 organically fed goats over a period of 2 months. A threshold value dependent on the hippuric acid content was thus established for the first time with a view to discriminating between conventional and organic goat's milk. Organic acids in goat's milk were separated in a running buffer consisting of 120 mM sodium tetraborate decahydrate and 0.5 mM CTAB set to pH 8. The precision of the ensuing method is acceptable for hippuric acid; thus, the RSD for peak area and migration time was less than 10 and 4%, respectively. Also, calibration curves were linear throughout the studied concentration range.

Comportamiento sexual, embarazo, aborto y regulaciÓn menstrual en adolescentes de tecnológicos de Ciudad Habana / Sexual behavior, pregnancies, abortions and menstrual regulation in adolescents from polytechnic schools in Havana City

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con adolescentes de la enseñanza politécnica y profesional de Ciudad Habana, durante el curso escolar 1995-1996, con el objetivo de explorar comportamiento sexual y antecedentes de embarazo, aborto, y regulación menstrual. La información se obtuvo a través de una entrevista estructurada y elaborada para tales fines, aplicada previo adiestramiento. Se trabajó con una muestra equiprobabilística de 1 185 estudiantes de tecnológicos (15-19 años) de ellos, 466 eran femeninas y 719 masculinos. Se constató que el 83,9 porciento de los adolescentes estudiados mantenían vida sexual activa con predominio del sexo masculino, observándose que los mayores porcentajes estaban en las edades de 12 a 15 años. Fue referido el antecedente de abortos en mayores proporciones, seguido de regulaciones menstruales y embarazos (88,1; 83,7 y 72,1 porciento, respectivamente). Existió una frecuencia de 2 o más abortos en el 29,5 porciento de la muestra, similar a la frecuencia de los embarazos. Más de la mitad de los entrevistados consideraron que la calidad de la información recibida en temática sexual era regular y deficiente en sus centros educacionales (AU)

Comportamiento sexual, embarazo, aborto y regulación menstrual en adolescentes de tecnológicos de Ciudad Habana / Sexual behavior, pregnancies, abortions and menstrual regulation in adolescents from polytechnic schools in Havana City

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con adolescentes de la enseñanza politécnica y profesional de Ciudad Habana, durante el curso escolar 1995-1996, con el objetivo de explorar comportamiento sexual y antecedentes de embarazo, aborto, y regulación menstrual. La información se obtuvo a través de una entrevista estructurada y elaborada para tales fines, aplicada previo adiestramiento. Se trabajó con una muestra equiprobabilística de 1 185 estudiantes de tecnológicos 15-19 años( de ellos, 466 eran femeninas y 719 masculinos. Se constató que el 83,9 porciento de los adolescentes estudiados mantenían vida sexual activa con predominio del sexo masculino, observándose que los mayores porcentajes estaban en las edades de 12 a 15 años. Fue referido el antecedente de abortos en mayores proporciones, seguido de regulaciones menstruales y embarazos 88,1<83,7 y 72,1 porciento, respectivamente. Existió una frecuencia de 2 o más abortos en el 29,5 porciento de la muestra, similar a la frecuencia de los embarazos. Más de la mitad de los entrevistados consideraron que la calidad de la información recibida en temática sexual era regular y deficiente en sus centros educacionales

Comportamiento sexual, embarazo, aborto y regulación menstrual en adolescentes de tecnológicos de Ciudad Habana / Sexual behavior, pregnancies, abortions and menstrual regulation in adolescents from polytechnic schools in Havana City

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con adolescentes de la enseñanza politécnica y profesional de Ciudad Habana, durante el curso escolar 1995-1996, con el objetivo de explorar comportamiento sexual y antecedentes de embarazo, aborto, y regulación menstrual. La información se obtuvo a través de una entrevista estructurada y elaborada para tales fines, aplicada previo adiestramiento. Se trabajó con una muestra equiprobabilística de 1 185 estudiantes de tecnológicos 15-19 años( de ellos, 466 eran femeninas y 719 masculinos. Se constató que el 83,9 porciento de los adolescentes estudiados mantenían vida sexual activa con predominio del sexo masculino, observándose que los mayores porcentajes estaban en las edades de 12 a 15 años. Fue referido el antecedente de abortos en mayores proporciones, seguido de regulaciones menstruales y embarazos 88,1<83,7 y 72,1 porciento, respectivamente. Existió una frecuencia de 2 o más abortos en el 29,5 porciento de la muestra, similar a la frecuencia de los embarazos. Más de la mitad de los entrevistados consideraron que la calidad de la información recibida en temática sexual era regular y deficiente en sus centros educacionales (AU)

Bosquejo de la higiene escolar en Cuba / Sketch of School hygiene in Cuba

La Historia de la Higiene Escolar en Cuba data de 1882; luego se emprendieron algunas acciones de salud. En 1959, con el triunfo de la Revolución, se crean las bases de la especialidad. En 1973 se inaugura el actual Departamento Nacional de Higiene Escolar en el Ministerio de Salud Pública y en 1979 el Departamento de Higiene Escolar del Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología, el cual se encarga de las principales investigaciones. En 1981 se puso en ejecución un programa nacional, el cual rige todas las actividades de la especialidad y tiene como objetivo general, la protección de la salud del niño y del adolescente, así como lograr un armónico desarrollo biopsicosocial de nuestras jóvenes generaciones

Bosquejo de la higiene escolar en Cuba / Sketch of School hygiene in Cuba

La Historia de la Higiene Escolar en Cuba data de 1882; luego se emprendieron algunas acciones de salud. En 1959, con el triunfo de la Revolución, se crean las bases de la especialidad. En 1973 se inaugura el actual Departamento Nacional de Higiene Escolar en el Ministerio de Salud Pública y en 1979 el Departamento de Higiene Escolar del Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología, el cual se encarga de las principales investigaciones. En 1981 se puso en ejecución un programa nacional, el cual rige todas las actividades de la especialidad y tiene como objetivo general, la protección de la salud del niño y del adolescente, así como lograr un armónico desarrollo biopsicosocial de nuestras jóvenes generaciones

Bosquejo de la higiene escolar en Cuba / Sketch of school hygiene in Cuba

La Historia de la Higiene Escolar en Cuba data de 1882; luego se emprendieron algunas acciones de salud. En 1959, con el triunfo de la Revolución, se crean las bases de la especialidad. En 1973 se inaugura el actual Departamento Nacional de Higiene Escolar en el Ministerio de Salud Pública y en 1979 el Departamento de Higiene Escolar del Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología, el cual se encarga de las principales investigaciones. En 1981 se puso en ejecución un programa nacional, el cual rige todas las actividades de la especialidad y tiene como objetivo general, la protección de la salud del niño y del adolescente, así como lograr un armónico desarrollo biopsicosocial de nuestras jóvenes generaciones