ABSTRACT: The objectives were to analyze the genealogical information of Gyr (GY) and Nelore (NL) cattle from Costa Rica. Analyzed: pedigree integrity (GY, 13272; NL, 18153); number of complete, maximum traced and equivalent complete generations; inbreeding (FI); generation interval (GI) through four selection routes; average additive genetic ratio (AGR); effective number of founders (fe); effective number of ancestors (fa); effective population size (Ne). The analysis was performed with the ENDOG software. The maximum proportion of unknown parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents was 18.6%, 39.9%, and 59.3%, respectively. The average FI for NL was 8.87% and 2.85% in GY. The average consanguineous population (%) and FI was 53.9 and 16.5% in NL, 28.9 and 9.9% in GY. The average and maximum values of AGR for NL were 3.5 and 12.8, 1.4 and 5.6 in GY. The fe and fa for NL were 65.0 and 38.0, in GY 145.7 and 59.0. The Ne indicated increases in FI in the range of 1 to 2% in GY, for NL greater than 2%, with a status of care to monitor the evolution of F and AGR and their possible implications in genetic improvement. The GI ranged from 6.3 to 7.9 years with a general average of 6.9 years. These results show a summary of the genetic and reproductive management those breeders have carried out.

RESUMO: Os objetivos foram analisar as informações genealógicas de bovinos Gir (GY) e Nelore (NL) da Costa Rica. Foram considerados: integridade do pedigree (GY, 13272; NL, 18153); número de gerações completas, máximas traçadas e equivalentes completas; endogamia (FI); intervalo de geração (GI) por meio de quatro rotas de seleção; razão genética aditiva média (AGR); número efetivo de fundadores (fe); número efetivo de ancestrais (fa); tamanho efetivo da população (Ne). A análise foi realizada com o software ENDOG. A proporção máxima de pais, avós e bisavós desconhecidos foi de 18,6%, 39,9% e 59,3%, respectivamente. O FI médio para NL foi de 8,87% e 2,85% no GY. A média da população consanguínea (%) e FI foi de 53,9 e 16,5% em NL, 28,9 e 9,9% em GY. Os valores médios e máximos de AGR para NL foram 3,5 e 12,8, 1,4 e 5,6 no GY. Os fe e fa para NL foram 65,0 e 38,0, no GY 145,7 e 59,0. O Ne indicou aumentos de FI na faixa de 1 a 2% no GY, para NL superiores a 2%, com status de cuidado para acompanhar a evolução de F e AGR e suas possíveis implicações no melhoramento genético. O IG variou de 6,3 a 7,9 anos com média geral de 6,9 anos. Esses resultados mostram um resumo do manejo genético e reprodutivo realizado por esses criadores.

RESUMEN. Introducción: Medir el bienestar de las aves bajo condiciones comerciales intensivas es complejo. El tipo de alojamiento, la naturaleza del estímulo, el tipo y tiempo de exposición, la edad, el sexo, el tiempo que tarda la evaluación y las diferencias individuales afectan los resultados. Objetivo: Evaluar el bienestar animal bajo condiciones intensivas, en galeras con ventilación natural y con ambiente controlado mediante el protocolo Welfare Quality Project (2009). Métodos: Evaluamos 22 granjas comerciales diferentes, 11 galeras con ambiente controlado y 11 galeras con ventilación natural durante el 2018 y 2019. Se aplicó el protocolo Welfare Quality Project con modificación en el principio de buena salud, por el método de transectos. Para cada criterio, aplicamos diferentes pruebas que transformamos en calificaciones mediante fórmulas proporcionadas por el instrumento denominado Spline funtions Welfare Quality. Resultados: El 54% de las granjas obtuvo calificaciones excelentes y el 46% se calificaron como buenas. Las puntuaciones más bajas las obtuvimos en las pruebas de calidad de la cama, porcentaje de cojeras, porcentaje de pododermatitis y en la prueba cualitativa de comportamiento. Encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas p≤0,05 entre galeras abiertas con ventilación natural y de ambiente controlado, en la calidad de la cama, porcentaje de cojeras, densidad y ausencia prolongada de hambre. Conclusiones: Todas las granjas evaluadas, en ambos sistemas de alojamiento, propiciaron el bienestar de los pollos de acuerdo con el protocolo Welfare Quality Project.

ABSTRACT. ''Commercial Level Chicken Welfare Evaluation with the Welfare Quality Project Protocol''Introduction: Measuring bird welfare under intensive commercial conditions is something complex. The type of housing, nature of the stimulus, exposure type and time, age, sex, assessment duration, and individual differences affect the results. Objective: Evaluating animal welfare under intensive conditions, in naturally ventilated and environmentally controlled sheds with the Welfare Quality Project (2009) protocol. Methods: We evaluated 22 different commercial farms, 11 environmentally controlled sheds, and 11 naturally ventilated sheds during 2018 and 2019. The Welfare Quality Project was implemented, modifying the principle of good health through the transect method. For each criterion, we applied different tests, which we transformed into scores using formulas provided by the spline function Welfare Quality instrument. Results: 54% of the farms were rated as excellent and 46% of them were rated as good. We obtained the lowest scores in the bedding quality control tests, the lameness percentage, the pododermatitis percentage, and the Qualitative Behavior Assessment (QBA). We found statistically significant differences p≤0,05 between naturally ventilated open sheds and environmentally controlled sheds in bedding quality, lameness percentage, density, and absence of prolonged hunger. Conclusion: We recommend more research on fisheries management, conservation and environmental education; and greater integration of local and international research.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the population of Brahman cattle from Costa Rica. Pedigree analysis of 98,749 animals was used to estimate the following parameters: pedigree integrity, as a proportion of known ancestors; the number of complete generations, maximum generations traced, and equivalent complete generations; inbreeding coefficient (F); generation interval (GI) across four selection paths; additive genetic relationship (AGR); effective number of founders (fe) and ancestors (fa); and effective population size (Ne). The analysis was carried out using the ENDOG software. The maximum proportions of unknown parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were 14.1%, 38.9%, and 61.2%, respectively. Average F for the whole population was 0.86, while 27.4% of the population was inbred, with an average F of 3.1%. The inbred population increased through the time, while F decreased. The average AGR was 0.64, with maximum values of 4.1 and positive trends. The fe and fa were 617.8 and 172.0, respectively. The Ne indicated increases of F, with values lower than 1%. The GI fluctuated from 6.4 to 7.4, with an average of 6.85 years. These results summarize previous breeding practices and represent useful information for designing breeding programs by anticipating the relationship between the selection response and increases of inbreeding.

Resumen Introducción: Isla del Coco es la única isla en el Pacífico oriental con bosques tropicales húmedos, albergando 296 especies de plantas, de las cuales un 22% son endémicas. De su ecología se conoce muy poco. El bosque fue degradado con la introducción de cerdos y venados cola blanca y por deforestación. Las áreas deforestadas hace más de 120 años nunca recuperaron el bosque nativo. Objetivo: Para analizar si el área deforestada mantiene su capacidad de recuperación, se evaluó la regeneración natural y los procesos ecológicos asociados. Metodología: Desde agosto de 2016 hasta junio de 2018, se monitoreó un ensayo de restauración, establecido como un diseño de bloques completos al azar. Los tratamientos incluyeron corte de vegetación, arranque de vegetación y controles. Se utilizó una cerca de exclusión para evitar los herbívoros. Resultados: No hubo diferencias en los tratamientos de corte y arranque de la vegetación para estimular la regeneración natural. Se registró la regeneración de dos especies de árboles: 35 individuos de Cecropia pittieri y tres de Sacoglottis holdridgei, ambas endémicas. La regeneración se estableció principalmente en los primeros 15 meses. Luego de aplicados los tratamientos, la estructura y composición de la vegetación cambió de arbustos dominados por Entada gigas (28%) y Clidemia strigillosa (12%), a pastos dominados por Paspalum conjugatum (39%). Entada gigas tiene el mayor potencial de recolonización por su tasa de crecimiento de 1.6±0.2m/mes. Conclusiones: Los filtros determinados asociados con la regeneración del bosque son los herbívoros; el banco de semillas de las especies arbóreas agotado y la dispersión de semillas escasa o nula, según la especie.

Abstract Introduction: Isla del Coco is the only island in the Eastern Tropical Pacific with humid tropical forests; 296 plant species are reported, of them, 22% are endemic. Their ecology is poorly understood. Deforestation and the introduction of rats, feral pigs and white-tailed deer are the primary agents of forest degradation. After more than 120 years, the deforested areas have never recovered the native forest. Objective: To analyse if the deforested area keeps its resilience, we evaluated the natural regeneration and ecological processes associated. Methods: From August 2016 to June 2018, we conducted a restoration experiment consisting of a randomized complete blocks design including vegetation cutting, vegetation uprooting and controls as treatments. Plots were protected with an exclusion fence to avoid herbivores. Results: There were no differences between plant cutting and uprooting in stimulating natural regeneration. We only recorded the seedlings of two tree species, 35 individuals of Cecropia pittieri and three of Sacoglottis holdridgei, both endemic. Their regeneration established during the first 15 months mainly. At the end of the experiment, the structure and composition of the vegetation changed from bushes dominated by Entada gigas (28%) and Clidemia strigillosa (12%) to grasses dominated by Paspalum conjugatum (39%). Entada gigas has a high recolonizing potential with a growing rate of 1.6±0.2m/month. Conclusions: As filters for restoration we determined herbivores, which pose a strong negative impact in the development of the forest; the exhausted seed bank of tree species and scarce or null seed dispersion.

Resumen Introducción. Las investigaciones sobre el efecto del cruzamiento entre Bos indicus * Bos indicus son escasos, no obstante, el cruzamiento es una herramienta de optimización importante para el productor pecuario. Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en determinar el comportamiento de las características de crecimiento con base en diferentes proporciones de cruzamientos raciales Bos indicus. Materiales y métodos. El análisis se realizó con base en registros productivos de una ganadería con bovinos seleccionados Brahman y Nelore, y ganado comercial, ubicada en la región Pacífico Norte, Costa Rica. Se utilizaron los registros de 4294 animales, recopilados durante el periodo 2002-2012. Los grupos raciales incluidos en el estudio fueron: Brahman, Nelore, Gucerá, ½ Brahman ½ Nelore, ½ Brahman ½ Gucerá, ¼ Brahman ¾ Nelore y ¼ Nelore ¾ Brahman. Se evaluaron las características de peso al nacimiento, peso al destete, ganancia diaria de peso al destete, peso al año de edad, ganancia diaria de peso al año de edad, peso a los 18 meses, ganancia diaria de peso a los 18 meses, según grupo racial de la cría y de los progenitores. Adicionalmente, se analizaron los efectos no aditivos (sexo, época y año de nacimiento) y su influencia sobre las características. Resultados. Los grupos Brahman, Nelore y ¼ Nelore ¾ Brahman tuvieron los mayores pesos en todas las edades, los animales machos presentaron pesos superiores para la mayor parte de las características analizadas (P<0,05); los animales nacidos en época lluviosa presentaron los mayores pesos para todas las características, respecto a la época seca, mientras que el año de nacimiento no presentó tendencias. La raza de la madre influyó en edades tempranas de la cría y el grupo racial del padre en las diferencias posteriores al año de edad. Además, las variables sexo y época de nacimiento presentaron comportamientos definidos, mientras el año de nacimiento mostró resultados fluctuantes. Conclusión. En cruzamientos raciales Bos indicus, el grupo racial de los progenitores influencia las características de crecimiento de la progenie.

Abstract Introduction. There is little research about the effect of crossbred between Bos indicus * Bos indicus breeding, however, crossbreeding is an important optimization’s tool used by the livestock producers. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the behavior of growth characteristics on different proportions of Bos indicus breed crosses. Materials and methods. The analysis was made based on production records of a selected cattle farm with Brahman, Nelore and commercial stock located in the North Pacific region, Costa Rica. The records of 4.294 animals, collected during the 2002-2012 period in the farm, were used; the breed groups included in the study were: Brahman, Nelore, Guzerat, ½ Brahman ½ Nelore, ½ Brahman ½ Guzerat, ¼ Brahman ¾ Nelore, and ¼ Nelore ¾ Brahman. Birth weight, weaning weight, weaning daily weight gain, year old weight, year old daily weight gain, 18 months weight, and 18 months daily weight gain were analyzed according to the breed group of the offspring and the parents. In addition, the non-additive effects (sex, season of birth and year of birth) and their influence on the characteristics were analyzed. Results. It was found that the Brahman, Nelore and ¼ Nelore ¾ Brahman breed groups had the highest weights at all ages, male animals presented higher weights for most of the analyzed characteristics (P <0.05); the animals born in the rainy season presented the highest weights for all the characteristics, in relation to the dry season, while the year of birth did not present trends. The study concluded that the breed group of the mother influenced the early ages of the offspring and the breed group of the father caused differences after one year of age. Likewise, the study concluded that the variables sex and season of birth presented defined behaviors, while the year of birth have fluctuating results. Conclusion. In crossbreds Bos indicus, the breed group of the progenitors have influences in the growth characteristics of progeny.

The capability of agricultural land use is an important criterion used in sustainable rural land planning, worldwide. However, frequently there are not national standardized instruments for conducting this activity, such as in Guatemala. In this research, a comparative analysis of the two methodologies used in the country, one from the National Forestry Institute (INAB) and other from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), were done. Statistically significant differences exist between the application of one or another methodology, relative to the determined surface (measured in ha) of each one, of the units used for to classify capability of agricultural land use. Therefore, rural planning programs can be positively or negatively affected as function of the methodology used for this purpose. It is recommended discretion in the use of these methodologies, according with the primary interest of the development program to implement.

La capacidad de uso de las tierras agrícolas es un criterio ampliamente utilizado en el ordenamiento territorial rural sostenible a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, muchas veces se carece de instrumentos estandarizados a nivel nacional para la realización de esta actividad, tal el caso de Guatemala. En esta investigación se realizó un análisis comparativo de las dos metodologías más utilizadas en el país, la del Instituto Nacional de Bosques (INAB) y la del Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA), determinando que sí existen diferencias estadísticas significativas entre la aplicación de una u otra metodología, respecto a la superficie (cuantificada en ha) asignada a cada una de las unidades de capacidad de uso de las tierra, lo que con fines de implementación de programas de ordenamiento territorial rural puede afectar positiva o negativamente el manejo de los recursos naturales y la sostenibilidad de proyectos agropecuarios, recomendando discrecionalidad en el uso de estas metodologías, de conformidad con el interés primario del programa de desarrollo a implementar.

The value of rural lands in the country is estimated in order to facilitate, in an objective way, the financing processes of farms, for the establishment of sustainable farming communities. In this research, were analyzed, by fieldwork, 64 farms in the process of market to estimate the relationship between the price per unit area and a series of independent variables either quantitative or qualitative through the analysis of nonlinear regression with significance of 5% it is concluded that the variables that exert greater effect on rural land values are: the natural region where the farms are located, the area, the distance to the departmental main city and the access road infrastructure ( with or without asphalt). Logarithmic statistical models of form: LN (Price·ha-1) = β0+β1LN (area) + β2LN (distance to the departmental main city) were determined.

Se estima el valor de las tierras rurales del país con objeto de facilitar de forma objetiva los procesos de financiamiento de fincas, para el establecimiento de comunidades agrarias sostenibles. En esta investigación se analizaron mediante trabajo de campo 64 fincas en vías de mercado para estimar relaciones entre el precio por unidad de área y una serie de variables independientes tanto cuantitativas como cualitativas mediante análisis de regresión múltiple. Con significancia del 5% se concluye que las variables que ejercen mayor efecto sobre el valor de las tierras rurales son: la región natural donde están ubicadas las fincas.el área.la distancia a la cabecera departamental y la infraestructura vial de acceso (con o sin asfalto). Se determinaron modelos estadísticos de tipo logarítmico de la forma:LN (Precio·ha-1) = β0+β1LN (área)+β2LN (distancia cabecera departamental).

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of the gastrointestinal parasites of Tayassu tajacu (Collared peccary) and Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed deer) in captivity in the Republic of Panama during the year 2008. The gastrointestinal parasites with major prevalence were Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba sp., Crystosporidium sp., Endolimax nana and Strongyloides sp.

Se describe la forma de estimar el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman y las condiciones en que resulta apropiada su utilización. También se describe como realizar una prueba de hipótesis para determinar si el coeficiente estimado es significativamente distinto de cero.

A description is made on how to estimate the Spearman correlation coefficient and in what conditions it is appropriate to use it. Also, how to make hypotheses tests to determine if the estimated coefficient is significantly different from zero is described.