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The Romagnola is a breed of cattle from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It belongs to the Podolic group of grey cattle. Romagnola cattle were used principally as draught beasts in the past; since the mechanisation of agriculture in the middle of the twentieth century they have been bred primarily for beef production.

As with other European grey cattle, it has been suggested that the Romagnola breed derives from Podolian cattle from the steppes of eastern Europe, possibly brought to Italy by invading Goths in the fourth century AD or by the Lombard king Agilulf.[1] This hypothesis is based on the zoological theories of the nineteenth century, going back to the Bos taurus podolicus of Johann Andreas Wagner. It is not supported by modern genetic, zoological or archaeological research.[2]

There were in the past a number of local sub-types of Romagnola cattle, including the Bolognese in the area of Bologna, the Ferrarese in the area of Ferrara, a mountain type ("di monte") and a lowland type ("gentile di pianura"). Selective breeding towards the modern type began in about 1850, and the resulting stock won prizes both in Italy and abroad. In Paris in 1900 the Romagnola was judged jointly with the Hereford to be the "best beef breed".[1]

The Romagnola was however principally a draught breed, and was bred for that purpose, with massive and powerful foreparts and short strong legs. Following the progressive mechanisation of agriculture in the years after the Second World War the breeding strategy changed completely, and was directed towards beef production. To this end, cross-breeding with Chianina cattle was attempted, but did not give the desired results.[1] A herd book was established in 1963.[3]

More than 80% of the registered Italian population is in Emila-Romagna; there are small populations in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Lazio, Lombardy, Le Marche, Puglia, Tuscany and the Veneto.[4] Some animals were exported to Scotland in the early 1970s and the breed is present in small numbers in Great Britain, Ireland, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and Africa.[5][6]

Numbers in Italy have fallen sharply since the Second World War. In 1952 there were 450,000 head; this fell to 250,000 in 1965, to 120,000 in 1977 and to 45,000 in 1980.[1] At the end of 2013 the total number recorded for the breed in Italy was 13,054.[4]

Characteristics

Romagnola cattle are ivory-white, tending to grey on the foreparts, particularly in bulls; the skin and natural openings are black. The colour of the coat varies with the season, and is darker in winter. The horns are light, lyre-shaped in cows, half-moon-shaped in bulls; they are slate-grey in young animals, becoming pale at the base and dark at the tip with maturity. As with all Podolic cattle, the calves are born wheat-coloured but become white at about three months.

Fuente

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

Las cactáceas (Cactaceae) son una familia de plantas suculentas y, en gran mayoría, espinosas, conocidas en conjunto como cactos o cactus. Esta familia es originaria de América. Sin embargo, hay una excepción, Rhipsalis baccifera, que está extendida en África tropical, Madagascar y Ceilán. Se cree que la colonización del Viejo Mundo por esta especie es relativamente reciente (unos cuantos cientos de años), probablemente transportada en el tracto digestivo de pájaros migratorios en forma de semillas o, según otra teoría, en forma de plantas adheridas a troncos impulsados por corrientes marinas. Muchas otras especies de cactáceas se han naturalizado, en condiciones similares a las de su hábitat, en otras partes del mundo, tras ser introducidas por el hombre. El mejor ejemplo es quizás Opuntia ficus-indica, especie que se encuentra plenamente integrada en la zona mediterránea. Fue introducida allí por sus frutos comestibles.

Muchas plantas suculentas, tanto en el Viejo como en el Nuevo Mundo, tienen una notable semejanza con los cactus y, a menudo, son así llamadas en lenguaje corriente. Sin embargo, esto se debe a la evolución paralela, ya que ninguna de ellas está estrechamente emparentada con las cactáceas. La característica identificativa más clara de la familia de los cactus es la areola, una estructura especializada de donde surgen las espinas, los vástagos nuevos y, en muchas ocasiones, las flores.

Se considera que las cactáceas han evolucionado entre 30 y 40 millones de años atrás. El continente americano estaba unido a los demás, pero se fue separando progresivamente por la deriva continental. Las especies endémicas del Nuevo Mundo debieron desarrollarse después de esta separación; el distanciamiento significativo se alcanzó en los últimos 50 millones de años. Esto podría explicar la inexistencia de cactus endémicos en África: éstos evolucionaron en América cuando los continentes ya se habían separado.

Según el Apéndice I de CITES, más de 15 géneros de cactáceas (con 73 especies) se encuentran en grave peligro de extinción, por deterioro del hábitat o por depredación

Las plantas suculentas o crasas (del latín suculentus, 'muy jugoso') son aquellas en las que la raíz, el tallo o las hojas se han engrosado para permitir el almacenamiento de agua en cantidades mucho mayores que en el resto de las plantas. Esta adaptación les permite mantener reservas de agua durante períodos prolongados y sobrevivir en entornos áridos y secos que otras plantas encuentran inhabitables. El ejemplo más típico de suculencia es el de los cactus, en los que el tallo contiene una gruesa capa de tejido parenquimatoso, pero existen otras familias vegetales que presentan el mismo fenómeno. Las suculentas no están genéticamente relacionadas entre sí, sino que han desarrollado independientemente rasgos similares en un proceso de evolución convergente.

Euphorbia obesa.

La adaptación de las suculentas les permite colonizar entornos áridos o en los que la captación de agua es limitada, aquellos que reciben poca competencia por parte de otras especies vegetales y en los que los herbívoros son escasos. Para posibilitar la captación de la escasa humedad presente en el ambiente, muchas suculentas son pubescentes, es decir, presentan una superficie cubierta de pelillos que retienen el rocío matutino. Otras técnicas empleadas para maximizar la retención de la humedad son la reducción de la superficie en comparación con el volumen de la planta, con lo cual se limita el número de ramificaciones y la longitud de estas, así como el desarrollo de recubrimientos pruinosos en la superficie de hojas y tallos.

Los cactus presentan una adaptación en la mayor parte de las restantes suculentas, de manera que transforman las hojas en espinas, las cuales cumplen la doble función de retener el agua y defender la planta de posibles agresiones. La fotosíntesis es llevada a cabo en la propia superficie del tallo, que es también donde se almacena el líquido.

Hay miles de especies de plantas suculentas, clasificadas en varias familias. La mayoría pertenece a las Aizoáceas, a las Cactáceas,a las Crasuláceas y a las Euphorbiáceas, con más de mil especies cada una. Esta tabla detalla las especies más populosas:

Fuente https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suculenta

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

Cardamom (/ˈkɑrdəməm/), sometimes called cardamon (mostly in the UK)[citation needed], is a spice made from the seeds of several plants in the genera Elettaria and Amomum in the family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India, the largest producer until the late 20th century; Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, and Pakistan. They are recognised by their small seed pods, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin, papery outer shell and small black seeds.

The German coffee planter Oscar Majus Kloeffer introduced Indian cardamom to cultivation in Guatemala before World War I; by 2000 that country had become the biggest producer and exporter of cardamom in the world, followed by India.[1] Some other countries, such as Sri Lanka, have also begun to cultivate it. Elettaria pods are light green, while Amomum pods are larger and dark brown.

It is the world's third-most expensive spice, surpassed in price per weight only by vanilla and saffron.

The word "cardamom" is derived from the Latin cardamomum,[2] which is the Latinisation of the Greek καρδάμωμον (kardamomon),[3] a compound of κάρδαμον (kardamon), "cress"[4] + ἄμωμον (amomon), which was probably the name for a kind of Indian spice plant.[5] The earliest attested form of the word κάρδαμον signifying cress is the Mycenaean Greek ka-da-mi-ja, written in Linear B syllabic script,[6] in the list of flavourings on the "Spice" tablets found among palace archives in the House of the Sphinxes in Mycenae.[7]

The modern genus name Elettaria is derived from the local name. The root ēlam is attested in all Dravidian languages[8] viz. Kannada elakki [ಏಲಕ್ಕಿ], Telugu yelakulu [యేలకులు], Tamil elakkai [ஏலக்காய்] and Malayalam elakkay [ഏലക്കായ്]. The second element kai means "seed" or "fruit". The Malabar region had historical trade connections and was a prominent area of cardamom cultivation. A related root is also present in Hindi ilaychi [इलायची], Bengali ælachi [এলাচি] and Punjabi ilaichi [ਇਲੈਚੀ] "green cardamom". In Sanskrit it was known as ela [एला] or ellka [एल्ल्का]. In Marathi it is commonly known as Velchi [वेलची] or Veldoda [वेलदोडा

Fuente https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamom

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

The water buffalo or domestic Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a large bovid originating in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China. Today, it is also found in Europe, Australia, and some American countries.[1] The wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) native to Southeast Asia is considered a different species, but most likely represents the ancestor of the domestic water buffalo.[2]

Two extant types of water buffalo are recognized based on morphological and behavioural criteria – the river buffalo of South Asia and further west to the Balkans, Egypt, and Italy, and the swamp buffalo, found from Assam in the west through Southeast Asia to the Yangtze valley of China in the east.[1][3] The origins of the domestic water buffalo types are debated, although results of a phylogenetic study indicate that the swamp type may have originated in China and was domesticated about 4,000 years ago, while the river type may have originated from India and was domesticated about 5,000 years ago.[4] Water buffalo were traded from the Indus Valley Civilisation to Mesopotamia, in modern Iraq, 2500 BC by the Meluhhas.[5] The seal of a scribe employed by an Akkadian king shows the sacrifice of water buffalo.[6]

At least 130 million domestic water buffalo exist, and more human beings depend on them than on any other domestic animal.[7] They are especially suitable for tilling rice fields, and their milk is richer in fat and protein than that of dairy cattle. The large feral population of northern Australia became established in the late 19th century, and smaller feral herds are in New Guinea, Tunisia, and northeastern Argentina.[1] Feral herds are also present in New Britain, New Ireland, Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea, Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, and Uruguay

The skin of river buffalo is black, but some specimens may have dark, slate-coloured skin. Swamp buffalo have a grey skin at birth, but become slate blue later. Albinoids are present in some populations. River buffalo have comparatively longer faces, smaller girths, and bigger limbs than swamp buffalo. Their dorsal ridges extend further back and taper off more gradually. Their horns grow downward and backward, then curve upward in a spiral. Swamp buffalo are heavy-bodied and stockily built; the body is short and the belly large. The forehead is flat, the eyes prominent, the face short, and the muzzle wide. The neck is comparatively long, and the withers and croup are prominent. A dorsal ridge extends backward and ends abruptly just before the end of the chest. Their horns grow outward, and curve in a semicircle, but always remain more or less on the plane of the forehead. The tail is short, reaching only to the hocks. Height at withers is 129–133 cm (51–52 in) for males, and 120–127 cm (47–50 in) for females. They range in weight from 300–550 kg (660–1,210 lb), but weights of over 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) have also been observed.[1]

Tedong bonga is a black pied buffalo featuring a unique black and white colouration that is favoured by the Toraja of Sulawesi.[9]

The swamp buffalo has 48 chromosomes; the river buffalo has 50 chromosomes. The two types do not readily interbreed, but fertile offspring can occur. Buffalo-cattle hybrids have not been observed to occur, and the embryos of such hybrids do not reach maturity in laboratory experiments.[10]

The rumen of the water buffalo has important differences from that of other ruminants.[11] It contains a larger population of bacteria, particularly the cellulolytic bacteria, lower protozoa, and higher fungi zoospores. In addition, higher rumen ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and higher pH have been found as compared to those in cattle.[12]

Ecology and behavior

Water buffalo enjoy being in water.

Water buffalo wallowing in mud

River buffalo prefer deep water. Swamp buffalo prefer to wallow in mudholes which they make with their horns. During wallowing, they acquire a thick coating of mud.[1] Both are well adapted to a hot and humid climate with temperatures ranging from 0 °C (32 °F) in the winter to 30 °C (86 °F) and greater in the summer. Water availability is important in hot climates, since they need wallows, rivers, or splashing water to assist in thermoregulation. Some breeds are adapted to saline seaside shores and saline sandy terrain.

Fuente

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

A biosafety level is a level of the biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological agents in an enclosed laboratory facility. The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) to the highest at level 4 (BSL-4). In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have specified these levels. In the European Union, the same biosafety levels are defined in a directive.

The first prototype Class III (maximum containment) biosafety cabinet was fashioned in 1943 by Hubert Kaempf Jr., then a U.S. Army soldier, under the direction of Dr. Arnold G. Wedum, Director (1944–69) of Industrial Health and Safety at the United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories, Camp Detrick, Maryland. Kaempf was tired of his MP duties at Detrick and was able to transfer to the sheet metal department working with the contractor, the H.K. Ferguson Co.[4]

On 18 April 1955, fourteen representatives met at Camp Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. The meeting was to share knowledge and experiences regarding biosafety, chemical, radiological, and industrial safety issues that were common to the operations at the three principal biological warfare (BW) laboratories of the U.S. Army.[5][6] Because of the potential implication of the work conducted at biological warfare laboratories, the conferences were restricted to top level security clearances. Beginning in 1957, these conferences were planned to include non-classified sessions as well as classified sessions to enable broader sharing of biological safety information. It was not until 1964, however, that conferences were held in a government installation not associated with a biological warfare program.[7]

Over the next ten years, the biological safety conferences grew to include representatives from all federal agencies that sponsored or conducted research with pathogenic microorganisms. By 1966 it began to include representatives from universities, private laboratories, hospitals, and industrial complexes. Throughout the 1970s, participation in the conferences continued to expand and by 1983 discussions began regarding the creation of a formal organization.[7] The American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) was officially established in 1984 and a constitution and bylaws were drafted the same year. As of 2008, ABSA includes some 1,600 members in its professional association

Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosafe...

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

A genealogical DNA test looks at a person's genome at specific locations. Results give information about genealogy or personal ancestry. In general, these tests compare the results of an individual to others from the same lineage or to current and historic ethnic groups. The test results are not meant for medical use, where different types of genetic testing are needed. They do not determine specific genetic diseases or disorders (see possible exceptions in Medical information below). They are intended only to give genealogical information.

aking a genealogical DNA test requires the submission of a DNA sample. This is usually a painless process. The most common way to collect a DNA sample is by a cheek-scraping (also known as a buccal swab). Other methods include spit-cups, mouthwash, and chewing gum. After collection, the sample is mailed to a testing lab.

Some laboratories, such as the Human Origins Genotyping Laboratory (HOGL) at the University of Arizona, offer to store DNA samples for ease of future testing. All United States laboratories will destroy the DNA sample upon request by the customer guaranteeing that a sample is not available for further analysis.

Types of tests

There are three types of genealogical DNA tests, autosomal (atDNA), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and Y-Chromosome (Y-DNA). Autosomal tests for all ancestry. Y-DNA tests a male along his direct paternal line. mtDNA tests a man or woman along their direct maternal line.

Any of these tests can be used to some degree for recent genealogy or for ethnic ancestry.

source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealo...

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

Cattle is a word to describe animals which are mammals and belong to the genus Bos. Within the general term of cattle are cows, bulls, oxen, heifers, steers, bullocks and calves. Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated hoofed animals. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae.

Cattle are large grass-eating mammals with two-toed or cloven hooves and a four-chambered stomach. This stomach is an adaptation to help digest tough grasses. Cattle can be horned or polled (or hornless), depending on the breed. The horns come out on either side of the head above the ears and are a simple shape, usually curved upwards but sometimes down. Cattle usually stay together in groups called herds. One male, called a bull will usually have a number of cows in a herd as his harem. The cows usually give birth to one calf a year, though twins are also known to be born. The calves have long strong legs and can walk a few minutes after they are born, so they can follow the herd.

Cattle are native to many parts of the world except Australia and New Zealand. Cattle have been domesticated for about 7,000 years. They are used for milk, meat, transport, entertainment, and power.

Different cattle feeding production systems have separate advantages and disadvantages. Most cattle have a diet that is composed of at least some forage (grass, legumes, or silage). In fact, most beef cattle are raised on pasture from birth in the spring until autumn (7 to 9 months).[1] Then for pasture-fed animals, grass is the forage that composes all or at least the great majority of their diet. Cattle fattened in feedlots are fed small amounts of hay supplemented with grain, soy and other ingredients in order to increase the energy density of the diet. The debate is whether cattle should be raised on diets primarily composed of pasture (grass) or a concentrated diet of grain, soy, corn and other supplements. The issue is often complicated by the political interests and confusion between labels such as "free range", "organic", or "natural". Cattle raised on a primarily forage diet are termed grass-fed or pasture-raised; for example meat or milk may be called grass-fed beef or pasture-raised dairy. However, the term "pasture-raised" can lead to confusion with the term "free range", which does not describe exactly what the animals eat.

In grass-fed or pasture-fed cattle, grass and other forage compose most or the majority of the grass-fed diet. The debate is whether cattle should be raised on diets primarily composed of pasture (grass) or a concentrated diet of grain, soy, and other supplements.[5] The issue is often complicated by the political interests and confusion between labels such as "free range," "organic", or "natural." Cattle raised on a primarily forage diet are termed grass-fed or pasture-raised; meat or milk may be called grass-fed beef or pasture-raised dairy. However, the term "pasture-raised" can lead to confusion with the term "free range" which does not describe exactly what the animals eat. Another term is "grass-finished."

Corn-fed

Cattle called "corn-fed," "grain-fed", or "corn-finished" are typically fattened on maize, soy, and other types of feed for several months before slaughter. As a high-starch, high-energy food, corn decreases the time to fatten cattle and increases carcass yield. Some corn-fed cattle are fattened in concentrated animal feeding operations known as feed lots.

In the United States, most grass-fed cattle are raised for beef production. Dairy cattle may be supplemented with grain to increase the efficiency of production and reduce the area needed to support the energy requirements of the herd.

A growing number of health and environmental proponents in the United States such as the Union of Concerned Scientists advocate raising cattle on pasture and other forage. Complete adoption of farming practices like grass-fed beef production systems would increase the amount of forage land needed to raise cattle but reduce cropland used to feed them.

Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_...

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

Attention to hygiene will ensure high quality milk produced from healthy animals High quality raw milk for a satisfactory economical gain - is directly linked to healthy animals

Maintaining a high standard of hygiene is one of today’s most important milk production objectives. The hygiene level directly influences the production’s economical result and dairies are enforcing this by steadily raising their quality requirements for raw milk. More importantly though, consumers are concerned about the safety of dairy products and the conditions under which these are produced. It is therefore critically important to ensure high quality raw milk can be produced from healthy animals under good hygienic conditions and that control measures are applied to protect human health.

FROM COW TO CONSUMER

Legal requirements for safety, quality and production conditions are currently enforced in many countries. European (EU) directives (89/362/EEC and 92/46/EEC) specify that raw milk must come from healthy animals and infectious diseases or foreign substances that are communicable to human beings through milk, should not endanger human health. Furthermore the equipment, tools and conditions under which milk is produced must fulfil certain minimum requirements. Milk’s content must also meet specified hygienic standards in terms of bacterial and somatic cell numbers present.

New EU regulations are in preparation to replace the aforementioned and to cover foodstuffs in general through the whole chain, from primary production to the consumer. Another reason for such regulations is to facilitate trade of milk and dairy products.

In accordance with legislation and driven by demands for efficient production of high quality products with trace-ability - dairies are now increasingly placing stronger demands on the quality of raw milk. New schemes are being successively introduced with stronger demands for differential payment of milk according to its quality. High somatic cell counts and residuals are strongly emphasised within these schemes. Additionally, the frequency of collecting bulk milk samples for analyses is increasing to meet rising safety, quality and trace-ability demands.

Consequently, it is extremely important for the milk producer to assure the best hygiene within production. Producing consistently high quality raw milk for a satisfactory economical gain - is directly linked to healthy animals and low veterinary treatment costs.

FROM FEED TO BULK MILK TANK

The final quality of dairy products offered to the consumer, is determined by characteristics of the whole process - from the animal’s feed production to the consumer’s table.

Barn environments

Cotton towels were found to be superior to paper towels for reducing bacterial and spore counts in milk. Cleaning for 20 seconds was shown to be 50 per cent more efficient than cleaning for six seconds. One towel should be used per cow per milking. Cotton towels should be cleaned between milking sessions - preferably in a washing machine. Results from studies with the DeLaval Voluntary Milking System (VMS ) - show that automatic teat cleaning using the system’s specific teat-cleaning device, removes almost all spores from the teats.

Source http://www.milkproduction.com/Library...

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv

Twitter @juangangel

El apelativo de "búfalo acuático" o "búfalo de agua" procede de su preferencia por las áreas encharcadas o pantanosas, donde se sumerge parcialmente y camina sobre el lodo del fondo sin dificultad, gracias a sus anchas pezuñas que le impiden hundirse en exceso. Puede ser peligroso en estado salvaje, pero es un animal muy dócil cuando ha sido domesticado.

Domesticación

Desde tiempos antiguos se le ha usado en el sudeste asiático preferentemente para tirar del arado, sobre todo en los arrozales, donde su capacidad para moverse en zonas encharcadas resulta muy útil y por ello es preferido a otros bovinos domésticos, como el cebú, el gayal o el banteng. En Europa (y especialmente en Italia) también cumple esta función, además de producir la leche para el queso mozzarella usado en las pizzas. También se aprovechan su carne y piel (últimamente, usada con bastante frecuencia para forrar los cascos de motociclista).

Conservación

Un recipiente de barro con el famoso yogur de bufala de Silivri, Estambul.

La especie no se considera en peligro (se estima que debe haber unos 141 millones de búfalos domésticos solo en el continente asiático), pero su existencia como animal salvaje peligra cada día más debido a la desaparición del bosque tropical. En libertad, los búfalos se mueven en manadas de escaso tamaño y solo cuentan con el tigre como depredador frecuente. Más raramente, los búfalos caen víctimas del cocodrilo marino y las manadas de cuones que siempre están molestando a las crías.

fuente https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubalus...

Juan Gonzalo Angel

www.tvagro.tv