The objective was to typify the production of artisanal cheeses made with milk from local goats (Capra hircus Linnaeus, 1758) in the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico. From a census carried out, 16 artisanal cheese dairies were identified at the commercial level, all of which were considered in this research. A survey consisting of 108 questions was conducted, covering general information about farmers, animal health management, cheese making, production, and marketing issues. For the quantitative variables, basic statistics were obtained (mean, coefficient of variation, and standard error), while qualitative variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A principal component analysis with 31 variables and a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of 0.5, followed by cluster analysis, was performed and was significant according to the Kaiser criterion (p < 0.0001). Artisanal cheese production is primarily managed by men (87.5%), with an average age of 51 years, 19 years of experience in cheesemaking, 50 % having completed university studies, and 81.2 % not belonging to any association. Cheesemakers use only goat’s milk (37.5 %) or a combination of goat’s and cow’s milk (43.7 %) to make cheese. The most commonly produced cheese is panela-type cheese (87.5 %). Family tradition (37.5 %) and the need to use surplus milk (31.2 %) are the main reasons for starting cheese production. Most producers (93.7 %) consider the price of their product accessible but not fair (62.5 %), and 75 % depend solely on cheese production as a source of income. Three main components were identified, accounting for 50.1 % of the total variability, and three well-defined groups or clusters were formed. The results of this research are important because no information on this subject has been reported for the La Laguna region, considering that it is the most important goat-milk-producing basin in the country. Therefore, it is essential to identify strategies and policies to improve and support small-scale artisanal cheese producers.
The livestock sector can utilize native maize (Zea mays L.) varieties as an alternative source of feed for livestock during the dry season. However, their capacity to withstand high planting densities has not been fully evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic and forage performance, as well as the nutritional quality of silage produced from the native maize varieties Crema Carrillo Puerto and Criollo Tezonapa, compared with the hybrids HV-570, H-518, and Imparable, at planting densities of 15 625, 50 000, and 90 000 plants ha-1. Planting was established in a completely randomized block design with a split-plot arrangement and four replications. The variables evaluated included days to male (MF) and female (FF) flowering; leaf width (LW), length (LL), and number of leaves (NL); plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), and green forage yield (GFY). In addition, the dry matter, moisture, ash, fat, fiber, protein, and nitrogen-free extract contents of the corn silage were calculated. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS, and treatment means were compared using the least significant difference (LSD) test at α = 0.05. The native maize variety Crema Carrillo Puerto reached female flowering (FF) 76 d after sowing (DAS), whereas the hybrids reached FF at 64 DAS, 12 d earlier than the native maize varieties. At a density of 90 000 plants ha-1, Crema Carrillo Puerto showed greater plant height (226.67 cm) and stem diameter (1.91 cm). In contrast, at the same plant density, the Criollo Tezonapa variety showed higher values for leaf length (106.65 cm) and a greater number of leaves (14 leaves per plant). Criollo Tezonapa showed a higher green forage yield (36.93 Mg ha-1) and a crude protein content similar to that of the hybrids. These results indicate that native maize varieties can be successfully incorporated into intensive forage systems for the production of high-quality silage, demonstrating the adaptability of these genotypes and supporting their diversification of use and conservation.
This study evaluates the level of technical efficiency (TE) of marine fisheries in Saudi Arabia during 2000-2022 and examines the macroeconomic and agricultural policy factors influencing efficiency. A stochastic frontier production function was used under three distributional assumptions (half-normal, exponential, and truncated normal), providing a robust framework for capturing variations in TE across models. Results indicate that TE ranged from 0.915 (half-normal) to 0.962 (exponential), while the truncated normal distribution yielded 0.916. Although the exponential model reported the highest average TE, statistical tests confirmed that the truncated normal model provided the best overall fit. Population growth and industrial employment negatively affected efficiency, whereas food imports, female employment in agriculture, and food production positively influenced performance. These findings remark on the importance of both operational and macroeconomic factors in shaping fisheries efficiency. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers, showing that improving TE in Saudi Arabia's marine fisheries requires targeted investments in food production systems, strengthened import infrastructure, and supportive food security policies. This evidence-based framework can support sustainable and inclusive strategies to enhance productivity, resilience, and long-term sustainability in the fisheries sector.
Coastal environments are subjected to multiple interacting hazards that necessitate scientifically informed management strategies capable of balancing effectiveness and economic feasibility. The present study proposes a hybrid framework integrating Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods with Bacterial Foraging Optimization (BFO) to support coastal vulnerability management and resource prioritization. Three MCDM approaches, namely the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Weighted Sum Method (WSM), and Weighted Product Method (WPM), were used to estimate the relative significance of major coastal management components. Subsequently, BFO was used to identify optimal management configurations under predefined budgetary constraints. The analysis revealed that hydrodynamic forcing and coastal exposure exert comparatively greater influence on vulnerability reduction strategies than environmental quality and atmospheric forcing parameters. The applicability of the framework was further illustrated using representative coastal environments along the eastern coast of India exhibiting contrasting hazard characteristics. The proposed methodology provides an objective and flexible decision-support tool for improving coastal planning, prioritizing interventions, and enhancing the long-term sustainability of coastal systems.
The objective of this study was to characterize and identify arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) spores associated with economically important vegetable crops in the Acatzingo, El Cristo, and Santa María Actipan localities within the horticultural zone of the Tepeaca Valley, Puebla, Mexico. Arbuscular mycorrhizae are mutualistic symbioses established between fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota and the cortical cells of plant roots. This association contributes to plant adaptation to terrestrial environments by providing the fungus with carbohydrates, while the fungus facilitates the uptake and transport of phosphorus, nitrogen, and water from the soil. Two sampling events were conducted in April and August 2023, during which a total of 90 soil samples and 54 plant samples were collected from six vegetable crops. Spores were extracted from soil, and roots were stained using the Phillips-Hayman technique to detect mycorrhizal structures. Nine AMF genera and 14 morphotypes were identified, with Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus claroideum, and Glomus sp. being the most frequently observed taxa. Mycorrhizal structures, particularly vesicles and spores, were detected in four of the six crops, whereas no AMF structures were observed in pumpkin roots. Soil physicochemical characterization showed soil moisture contents of 9.4–13 %, water retention capacity of 41.3–50.9 %, pH values of 5.87–6.87, and electrical conductivity of 0.1–0.93 mS cm-1. Soil texture ranged from sand to sandy loam, with sandy particles predominating. These results provide a baseline for the diversity of AMF associated with vegetable crops in the Tepeaca Valley and show the potential influence of soil physicochemical properties on AMF occurrence and diversity.
