Lambs' live weight estimation using 3D images

The sheep sector has not suffered the technification that other livestock sectors have. The lack of technological knowledge of the farmers and the economic limitations of the sector have made this technification difficult. One of the most widely used technologies is Precision Livestock Farming (PLF). PLF has already been used in other livestock sectors to improve farming efficiency. In the light of the problem that sheep farmers have in weighing lambs and their low precision, this paper proposes a system for estimating weight by means of 3D image capture. Thus, zenithal images of 272 lambs have been recorded. They have been processed using the capture of the upper area and the average depth of the pixels of the lamb. This estimates the weight of the animal with an error of less than 6%. This technology has a low economic cost and is easy to operate, helping farmers to be more willing to use it. This method manages to reduce the duration of the process, the stress of the animal and to improve the overall accuracy in weight estimation. Thus, it will help to have a greater control of the weight of the animal and to improve the economic profitability that the farmer obtains for the lambs.

Vitamin D status in Mexican women at reproductive age, Ensanut 2018-19

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of deficiency (VDD) and insufficiency (VDI) of vitamin D (VD), by sociodemo-graphic factors, obesity and physical activity in a probabilistic sample of Mexican women participating in Ensanut 2018-19.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 1 262 women aged 20 to 49 years, the prevalence of VDD/IVD was estimated and the factors associated with it were evaluated with a multinomial regression model.

RESULTS

The prevalence of VDI was 46.1% and of VDD was 31.6%. The probability of present-ing VDI and VDD was higher for residents of urban areas, in tertiles 2 and 3 of socioeconomic status, and with obesity, while was lower in women with moderate physical activ-ity.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of vitamin D in Mexican women continues to be a public health problem in Mexico despite the high availability of sunlight in the country. It is necessary to promote healthy sun exposure in the population and consider fortifying foods with vitamin D.

[Anemia, iron and zinc deficiencies, supplements consumption and morbidity in Mexican children aged 1 to 4: analysis of Ensanut 100k.]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the association between supplements and Liconsa milk intake, with anemia, zinc (ZD) and iron (ID) deficiencies, and morbidity in Mexican children resident of less than 100 000 habitants' localities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A subsample of 1 516 children aged 1-4 participants of Ensanut 100k was analyzed, carried out in 2018. Anemia was considered if [Hb]<11 g/dL, ZD if [Zn]<65 µg/dL and ID if [ferritin]<12 µg/L. Supplements and Liconsa milk consumption were obtained from a semi-quantitative food frequency; morbidity by self-report of the mother. Multiple logistic regression models were used adjusted by confounders.

RESULTS

Medium and high consumption of Liconsa milk was associated to lower odds of ID (OR=0.02, [95%CI 0.002,0.24] and OR=0.07, [95%CI 0.01,0.52]) and anemia (OR=0.13, [95%CI 0.04,0.37] and OR=0.17, [95%CI 0.03,0.87]). A high intake of Liconsa milk (OR=0.09, [95%CI 0.01,0.44]) and Vitaniño (OR=0.05 [95%CI 0.005, 0.46]) were both associated to lower diarrhea risk.

CONCLUSIONS

To assure the continuity of the consumption of nutritional supplements is necessary for improving the health and the micronutrients status in vulnerable Mexican children.

Technical Note: A new device for cervical insemination of sheep - design and field test

Deep semen deposition, avoiding retrograde flow, lesions and stress, has proved to be very important in the success of sheep AI. The objective of the present study was to develop a new, suitable anti-retrograde flow device for sheep cervical AI (DARIO) that enables deep deposition of semen into the cervix without any modifications to the procedures currently used, and to compare the fertility, fecundity, and prolificacy rates between DARIO and a traditional catheter. Field tests were performed on 16 farms actively participating in the non-profit National Association of Rasa Aragonesa Breeders´ genetic selection scheme and where sheep management was similar. A total of 242 AI lots were considered, including 1,299 ewes; 126 lots (662 ewes) were inseminated using DARIO, and 116 lots (637 ewes) using a traditional commercially-available catheter (control group). Several factors affecting AI results were included in the model for mean comparison between DARIO and control groups (farm and ram as random factors; catheter, year and photoperiod as fixed effects; catheter × photoperiod interaction). The type of catheter had a significant effect on fertility ( < 0.01) and fecundity rates ( < 0.01) but no significant effect was detected on the prolificacy rate ( = 0.45). For fertility rate (percentage of ewes lambing after AI), means ± SE for DARIO and control groups were 59.44 ± 2.13% and 49.60 ± 2.48%, respectively; for fecundity rates, means ± SE for DARIO and control groups were 0.99 ± 0.04 and 0.82 ± 0.05 lambs/inseminated ewe, respectively, and, for prolificacy rates, means ± SE for DARIO and control groups were 1.68 ± 0.04 and 1.63 ± 0.04 lambs/ewe lambing, respectively. Fertility rate was greater in the decreasing photoperiod ( = 0.01). Significant effects were found for both year ( < 0.05) and farm ( < 0.01) on fertility, fecundity, and prolificacy rates. Neither ram nor catheter × photoperiod showed any significant effects on the variables investigated ( > 0.05). Overall, the use of DARIO instead of the traditional commercially-available catheter increased both fertility and fecundity rates; the marginal mean differences were 9.05 pregnant ewes per 100 inseminated and 0.15 lambs per inseminated ewe, respectively.

Nutritional status of iron, vitamin B12, folate, retinol and anemia in children 1 to 11 years old: Results of the Ensanut 2012

OBJECTIVE

To describe the frequency of anemia, iron, vitamin B12, folate, retinol and predictors of anemia among Mexican children from Ensanut 2012.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Hemoglobin, ferritin, CRP, vitamin B12, retinol and folate concentrations were measured in 2 678 children aged 1-4 y and 4 275 children aged 5-11 y. Adjusted logistic regression models were constructed to assess the risk for anemia and micronutrient deficiencies.

RESULTS

In preschoolers and scholars, the overall prevalence of anemia was 20.4 and 9.7%, iron deficiency 14 and 9.3%, low vitamin B12 (LB12S) 1.9 and 2.6%; Folate 0.30 and 0%, and retinol depletion (VADp) 15.7 and 2.3%, respectively. ID and VADp were negatively associated with Hb (coefficient: -0.38 and -0.45, p<0.05); a higher log-CRP was associated with higher risk for anemia and VADp (OR=1.13 and OR=2.1, p<0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Iron deficiency, anemia and VADp are some of the main nutritional problems among Mexican infants.

Anemia and iron deficiency in Mexican elderly population. Results from the Ensanut 2012

Objective. To describe de prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and anemia in a sample of Mexican elderly population from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut) 2012. Materials and methods. 1 920 subjects ≥60 years of age were included. Hemoglobin, serum concentrations of ferritin and CRP were measured. The risk for ID and anemia adjusted for potential confounders was assessed in logistic regression models. Results. The overall prevalence of anemia was 13.9%, 15.2% in males and 12.8% females. For ID,overall it was 4.2%, males 4.0% and females 4.3%. The greatest prevalence of ID was found in males and females over 80 years old (6.9 and 7.0%, respectively). ID was present in 1.5 of 10 Mexican elders with anemia. Conclusion. The prevalence of anemia was high in the elderly, however the prevalence of ID was low; there is a need to further investigate the causes of anemia in this age group.

Prevalence and distribution of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Mexican adult population: a probabilistic survey

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence, distribution and degree of control of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Mexican population.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Subjects were classified as previously diagnosed T2D (PD); or as "finding of the survey" (FS) (glucose >or=126 mg/dL). Hemoglobin A1c was measured in PD-subjects.

RESULTS

The prevalence for PD-T2D was 7.34% (95%CI 6.3, 8.5) and for FS 7.07% (95%CI 6.1, 8.1), summing 14.42%; (7.3 million diabetics). 5.3% of PD-T2D were in good, 38.4% in poor and 56.2% very poor control. Older age (OR=0.96, 95%CI 0.94, 0.97), lower BMI (OR=0.95, 95%CI 0.91, 1.0), were protective for poor control. Affiliation to private services (OR=1.77, 95%CI 0.98, 3.13), larger T2D duration (OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.01, 1.08), and combining oral medication and insulin (OR=16.1, 95%CI 1.61, 161) were riskier.

CONCLUSIONS

We found an alarming prevalence of T2D in Mexican population; the majority of PD diabetics are in poor control. Research on the latter is warranted.