A survey of Mexican retail chain stores for fresh U.S. pork.

An overview of fresh US pork in the Mexican market was achieved by surveying fresh US pork packages (n=342) for sale in five Mexican cities. Data on cut, primal/sub-primal from which the cut was sourced, subcutaneous and seam fat thicknesses, marbling scores, and presence of bone were collated. The most prevalent identifiable retail cuts were milanesa (thin slice of pork, breaded or non-breaded) and trozos (diced pork) derived primarily from the leg and accounting for 68% of the total US pork on sale. Over 90% of the retail cuts were trimmed to 3.2mm or less of external fat and the average marbling score was 2.26. Differences in distribution and fat measures were observed with chain, location and socio-economic status of clientele indicating potential for a targeted marketing approach in Mexico.

Genotype by feeding system interaction in the genetic evaluation of Jersey cattle for milk yield.

Results of studies in dairy cattle about the magnitude of the genotype-environment interaction (GEI) are variable, depending on the definitions of genotype and environment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of the interaction of genotype and feeding system (confinement and grazing) in the Mexican genetic evaluation of Jersey cattle for milk yield. The number of lactations and animals in the pedigree used were 5122 and 18 432. An animal model and the MTDFREML program were used to estimate genetic parameters and predict genetic values of the animals. Bivariate analysis was carried out considering the performance of confined and grazing cows as two different traits. Three indicator variables were used to assess GEI: (i) magnitude of the genetic correlation coefficients, (ii) correlation between predicted breeding values and (iii) frequency of coincidence in the ranking of top sires. The magnitude of GEI depended on the choice of the indicator variable. The estimate of genetic correlation coefficient less than unity (0.76; P < 0.05) suggested the presence of biologically important GEI. The differences in phenotypic averages and variances between confinement and grazing systems seem to be the main causes for the genotype by environment interaction detected. However, the correlation coefficient between breeding values from confined and grazing animals (0.96) and the frequency of coincidence between breeding values of common sires within the top 100 in confinement and grazing (0.86) indicated low-to-moderate re-ranking of animals or top sires. In addition, the high correlations between predicted breeding values of Mexican genetic evaluation and the two environments (0.99 and 0.93 for confinement and grazing) indicated that for the two feeding systems, breeding values from national analyses could be safely used.

Los criterios de Ottawa para tobillo: valoración en un servicio de urgencias en México / The Ottawa ankle rules: evaluation in a pediatric emergency setting in mexico

Introducción: Las lesiones de tobillo son una causa frecuente de consulta en el departamento de emergencias. El objetivo del presente estudio es valorar el uso de los criterios de Ottawa para tobillo en nuestro país, para así reducir costes y tiempo de espera en la sala de urgencias. Pacientes y métodos: Se aplicaron los criterios de Ottawa en pacientes de 0 a 18 años de edad con lesiones de tobillo. La medida principal fue la radiografía y/o la evolución clínica a través de contacto telefónico. La presencia de fractura significativa mediante uno de éstos, era el resultado adverso a evaluar. Resultados: Se incluyeron 111 pacientes con edades de 3 a 18 años, 15 por ciento de los cuales presentaron fracturas de tobillo. La sensibilidad y el valor predictivo negativo de los criterios de tobillo de Ottawa fueron del 100 por ciento. Aplicarlos hubiese disminuido un 5,4 por ciento la realización de radiografías. Conclusiones: Se ratifica la sensibilidad y aplicabilidad de los criterios de Ottawa para tobillo en niños en Hispanoamérica, aunque con menor ahorro en el uso de radiografías que en otros países (AU)

[The Ottawa ankle rules: evaluation in a pediatric emergency setting in Mexico]. / Los criterios de Ottawa para tobillo: valoración en un servicio de urgencias en México.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric ankle injuries are a common complaint in the emergency setting. The objective of this study was to prospectively validate the Ottawa ankle rules (OAR) in children in Mexico. This could reduce costs and waiting times in the emergency room. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors applied the OAR to all patients aged 0 to 18 years old with an acute ankle injury. The main outcome measure was radiograph and/or clinical outcome determined through telephone contact. The presence of fracture was considered an adverse outcome. RESULTS: One hundred and eleven patients, aged 3-18 years, were enrolled. The prevalence of fractures was 15 %. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of the OAR were 100 %. Use of the OAR would have reduced the radiography rate by 5.4 %. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and applicability of the OAR in children in Latin-America are confirmed, although reduction in the use of radiography is lower than in other countries.

Direct and correlated responses to two-stage selection for ovulation rate and number of fully formed pigs at birth in swine.

Our objectives were to estimate responses and genetic parameters for ovulation rate, number of fully formed pigs at birth, and other production traits following two-stage selection for increased ovulation rate and number of fully formed pigs. Eight generations of selection were practiced in each of two lines. One selection line was derived from a line that previously selected eight generations for an index to increase ovulation rate and embryonic survival (the IOL pigs). The other selection line was derived from the unselected control line of the index selection experiment (the COL pigs). The control line (C) was continued with random selection. Due to previous selection, Line IOL had greater ovulation rate (4.24 +/- 0.38 and 4.14 +/- 0.29 ova) and litter size (1.97 +/- 0.39 and 1.06 +/- 0.38 pigs) at Generation 0 of two-stage selection than did Lines COL and C. In Stage 1, all gilts from 50% of the largest litters were retained. Approximately 50% of them were selected for ovulation rate in Stage 2. Gilts selected for ovulation rate were mated to boars selected from the upper one-third of the litters for litter size. At Generations 7 and 8, differences in mean EBV for ovulation rate and litter size between Lines IOL and C were 6.20 +/- 0.29 ova and 4.66 +/- 0.38 pigs; differences between Lines COL and C were 2.26 +/- 0.29 ova and 2.79 +/- 0.39 pigs; and differences between Lines IOL and COL were 3.94 +/- 0.26 ova and 1.86 +/- 0.39 pigs. Regressions of line mean EBV on generation number were 0.27 +/- 0.07 ova and 0.35 +/- 0.06 pigs in Line IOL; 0.30 +/- 0.06 ova and 0.29 +/- 0.05 pigs in Line COL; and 0.01 +/- 0.07 ova and 0.02 +/- 0.05 pigs in Line C. Correlated responses were decreased age at puberty and increased number of pigs born alive, number of mummified pigs, prenatal loss, and individual and litter birth weight. Two-stage selection for ovulation rate and number of pigs per litter is a promising procedure to improve litter size in swine.