A Preliminary Study on the Validity and Stability of Projective Methods: An Application of the Structural Approach of Social Representations with Traditional Mexican Cheeses

Projective methods are qualitative tools used to study food consumer behavior. In recent years, there has been an increase in studies that use these tools to analyze consumer behavior, particularly with the word association (WA) technique. However, one of the challenges in using these methods is the stability and validity of the data. This research aimed to obtain preliminary information on the stability and validity of the associations generated by consumers with the WA technique, using the structural approach of social representations. For this, two studies were carried out; for the first study, a face-to-face survey was carried out in which 89 consumers participated, who wrote the first words that came to mind with the stimulus “Aculco” on a ballot paper. For the second study, 122 consumers completed the same task as in the first study; however, the participants were recruited from an online survey. A random sample (n = 50) of both studies was selected to explore the stability and validity of the results. In the three study samples, the words were grouped into categories and analyzed through the structural approach of social representations. The frequency of mention of the identified categories was compared with the chi-square test and the average position (AP) and the Cognitive Salience Index (CSI) were calculated. Prototype maps were built to study the structure of the categories according to the central core and peripheral areas. Cluster analysis was performed to corroborate the structure of the representations. Finally, multiple factor analysis (MFA) was performed to determine the similarity of the results obtained from the three samples using the RV coefficient. No statistical differences (p > 0.05) were identified in most of the representations (n = 11) generated from the WA task. Furthermore, the representation “Cheese and dairy products” was positioned in the central core of the three maps. The APs and the CSIs of each representation were similar in the three study samples. The RV coefficient (≥0.80) indicated similarity in the representations obtained. Results of this research can be useful for future studies that attempt to compare the stability and validity of the information based on qualitative and more flexible methodologies. Some methodological implications related to the validity and stability of projective methods are discussed.

Gender inequalities in the sale of handmade corn tortillas in central Mexican markets: before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

The objective of this study was to analyze gender inequalities and intersectionality experienced by rural-indigenous women who produce and sell native maize tortillas at three different markets-tianguis in central Mexico, facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This was a qualitative study based on 36 in-depth interviews before pandemic (2018), as well as 16 interviews during pandemic (2020) of women engaged in this work.

Results

Making corn tortillas by hand is one of the culturally assigned gender roles in the indigenous population of the Mazahua region, which is why their sale in local markets as a female strategy to have access to income for household sustenance has been widely by the communities. The configuration of the different market-space for the sale of handmade tortillas, reflects the inequalities of gender and intersectionality (ethnicity, class, age, family life cycle and education levels). The women in conditions of poverty, landlessness, and with school-age children, have met greater disadvantages in continuing to sell tortillas in the face of the experience of pandemic restrictions.

Conclusions

The women who were already disadvantaged by their intersectional relationships continue to experience the same inequalities that conditioned their position in the marketplaces before the pandemic, sustaining a marginal but constant market.

Consumer and food changes in Mexican households during maximal contingency in the COVID-19 pandemic

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapidly expanded throughout the world affecting human life in the health, social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects. On an international scale, some works have addressed the importance of the agri-food topic during the pandemic, especially about food consumption. The Mexican case is particularly relevant since it is the country with the highest proportion of overweight people. The objective of this work was to know the choices and consumption of foods in Mexican households during the period of maximal contingency. An on-line questionnaire was responded by 867 volunteers who answered about the aspects taken in consideration in their food consumption, the changes in the consumption of certain foods and the socioeconomic and health aspects of the family. Four groups were identified: “Budget consumers”, “Hedonics”, “Price conscious” and “Conscious”. Changes in the attitudes to food are not related to the health state, overweight, or family size; but are related to income level of households and above all, to the education level. Results show an opportunity to change for healthier food habits in Mexico, mainly in the most vulnerable sectors.

Propiedades tecnológicas y fisicoquímicas de la leche y características fisicoquímicas del queso Oaxaca tradicional

Los parámetros tecnológicos de la leche (características tecnológicas y fisicoquímicas) son de gran importancia porque influyen en el rendimiento y calidad del queso. Se sabe que los parámetros en leche varían dependiendo de la época del año, pero no se ha estudiado su efecto en queso en sistemas tradicionales. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar las características tecnológicas y fisicoquímicas de la leche, así como las fisicoquímicas del queso Oaxaca tradicional en época de secas y lluvias. Muestras de leche y queso se tomaron de 21 diferentes queserías a pequeña escala. En leche se analizó porcentaje de grasa (G), proteína (P) y acidez, tiempo de coagulación (TC), firmeza de la cuajada (FC) y rendimiento (RTO). En queso se analizó G, P, acidez, humedad y cloruros. Se utilizó un ANOVA de un factor (P<0.05), para evaluar las variaciones por estación. Se observaron diferencias significativas por época en G, P y acidez, además del TC, FC y RTO en leche; y G, acidez y humedad en queso. Los resultados del estudio muestran que las diferencias en las características fisicoquímicas y tecnológicas de la leche por época del año, se ven reflejadas en la composición del queso.

Análisis del efecto antibacteriano del chile (Capsicum annuum spp) y el epazote (Chenopudium ambrosioides) utilizados en la elaboración del queso botanero

El queso botanero que se produce en el noreste del Estado de México, se caracteriza porque se elabora con leche cruda, lo que representa un riesgo en cuanto a su calidad higiénico-sanitaria. Se presenta solo o se le adiciona chile cuaresmeño fresco y epazote o chile chipotle. A estos condimentos se les han asociado propiedades bactericidas y bacteriostáticas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar si los condimentos adicionados al queso botanero, influyen en los conteos de unidades formadoras de colonia (UFC) de lactobacillus, coliformes totales (COL), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) y levaduras (LEV), y el pH (características fisicoquímicas) de las variedades de queso botanero analizadas. El estudio se realizó en una quesería de tipo familiar del noreste del Estado de México (método de invitación). Se realizó el conteo de Lactobacillus, COL, S. aureus y LEV, los recuentos fueron superiores a los permitidos para COL (100 UFC/g y 10,000 UFC/g), S. aureus (1,000 UFC/g y 100 UFC/g) y LEV (500 UFC/g). Los condimentos adicionados al queso artesanal modifican los conteos de UFC/g, pero no los disminuyen a valores permitidos por la normatividad

Performance of small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of central Mexico during the dry season under traditional feeding strategies

In Mexico, small-scale dairy systems (SSDS) represent over 78 % of dairy farms and contribute with 37 % of national milk production; however, they face high feeding costs. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of SSDS during the dry season in terms of milk yields, milk composition and feeding costs under traditional feeding strategies, to identify areas of opportunity for improving their profitability. The information was collected from 22 SSDS every month during dry season. Feeds were classified in quality forages (QF), supplements (SU) and straws (ST). Two factors were identified: factor 1-a positive relationship among QF, SU, milk yield and ration cost and factor 2-represented straw usage. Four feeding strategies were identified: (1) low-cost feeding strategy; (2) home-grown feeding strategy; (3) high-cost feeding strategy; and (4) straw-based feeding strategy. There were differences (P < 0.001) among feeding strategies for QF, SU, ST, total dry matter offered (TDMO), ration cost (RC), external inputs, home-grown inputs and milk yield. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences among feeding strategies for fat and protein contents in milk. It is concluded that to improve performance and profitability and enhance sustainability in SSDS, farmers should base feeding strategies on home-grown quality forages, as it was the case in group 2 which showed lower feeding cost and better milk yield. It is also recommended to increase the inclusion of quality forages like grazing pastures and maize silages during the dry season and to avoid the inclusion of straws.

Intercropped oats (Avena sativa) - common vetch (Vicia sativa) silage in the dry season for small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of central Mexico

Small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of central Mexico require feeding strategies based on quality home-grown forage that may reduce high concentrate costs. Eight Holstein cows paired by parity and date of calving were used in a split-plot experiment to evaluate supplementing 6 kg DM/cow/d of oat-vetch silage (OVS) in comparison to maize silage (MS) as dry season feeding, for a more intensive use of the land through an oat-vetch catch crop. Cows had 9 h/d access to continuous grazing of perennial ryegrass - white clover pasture and 4 kg/d of commercial concentrate. The 9 week experiment, recorded weekly milk yield and composition, and body condition score and live-weight every fortnight. Milk yield was 20.1 kg/cow/d for OVS and 15.4 for MS (SEM +/-2.9, P > 0.05), with no differences for fat or protein content, body condition score, or live-weight (P > 0.05). The economic analysis showed that although feeding costs were higher for OVS, margins were greater than for MS, with feeding cost per litre of $0.21 for MS and $0.16 for OVS. OVS is a viable catch crop after the MS harvest that can substitute MS in the dry season enabling a more intensive use of the land.

Feeding strategies for small-scale dairy systems based on perennial (Lolium perenne) or annual (Lolium multiflorum) ryegrass in the central highlands of Mexico

Small-scale dairying is an option for campesinos in Mexico. The costs of feeding are high and strategies based on quality forages are a priority. The performance, agronomic variables and feeding costs were evaluated for dairy cows continuously grazing perennial ryegrass-white clover for 9 h/day (PRG) or fed cut herbage from annual ryegrass for 8 weeks followed by 9 h/day for 6 weeks on a tethered rotational grazing pattern (ARG). All cows received 3 kg/day of an 18% crude protein (CP) concentrate. A 14-week split-plot on-farm experiment was designed with 10 cows from two participating farmers, and 1.5 ha per strategy. Milk yield was recorded weekly and milk composition, live weight and body condition score were recorded every 14 days. Net herbage accumulation was greater for ARG (8222 kg organic matter (OM)/ha) than for PRG (5915 kg OM/ha) (p<0.05), with higher CP in PRG (p<0.05). Milk yield was 19 kg/cow per day for PRG and 15.9 kg/ cow per day for ARG (p>0.05). Over 14 weeks, PRG produced 1422 kg more milk. There were no differences for live weight or condition score (p>0.05), but linear regression shows a live weight gain of 0.200 kg/cow per day for PRG. Protein and fat content showed no differences (p>0.05), but milk fat content in PRG was below standard. ARG had 60% higher costs, and margins were 38% higher in PRG. ARG has a place in rain-fed fields. The results provide viable options for improving these systems that may be suitable in their socio-economic context and their social and personal objectives.

Feeding strategies for rearing replacement heifers in small-scale dairy production systems in the highlands of Central Mexico

The growth of Holstein heifers in the campesino dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico was evaluated in three feeding strategies. Thirty-three heifers from 11 farmers, grouped according to strategy, were weighed every 14 days for 28 weeks. The live weight change over each 14-day period was estimated by individually regressing live weight over period, taking the regression coefficient as an unbiased estimate of live weight change. Regression coefficients were analysed as a randomized design with feeding strategies as treatments. Strategies were as follows: S1: grazed or cut pasture all year, maize silage and maize straw in the dry season, and 1.0-1.5 kg concentrate/heifer per day. S2: maize straw in the dry season, cut pasture forage, grazing of native grass, weeds from maize fields, and 1.0-1.5 kg concentrate/heifer per day. S3: maize straw in the dry season, grazed native grasses and weeds in the rainy season. Live weight gains were: S1, 0.511 kg/heifer per day; S2, 0.271 kg/heifer per day; and S3, 0.252 kg/heifer per day. Despite the better gains in S1, they are 24% below recommendations, arriving to service at 20 months of age. Not rearing their replacements may be a better alternative for campesino farmers under current economic conditions.