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The article presents research on nilgai antelope in Mexico as carrier for the protozoan parasites Babesia bigemia and Babesia bovis. It references a study by Elsa M. Cárdenas-Canales and colleagues published in the same issue of the journal. It examines the presence of Babesia species in blood samples to determine the role of these nilgai antelopes in bovine babesiosis.

The objective was to evaluate some morphological characteristics of backyard chickens (n=255) coming from 65 rural production units located in 52 municipalities of 18 States of the Mexican Republic. The statistical model included sex, state, and municipality within state. Sex affected all the response variables (P<0.0001), except massiveness index (P=0.3369). State affected all the response variables (P<0.0001) and municipality was only important for wingspan (P<0.0001), body weight (P<0.0271) and stockiness index (P<0.0267). Male chickens had greater (P<0.0001) body length (4.85 cm more), wingspan (5.66 cm more), breast circumference (2.94 cm more), shank length (1.73 cm more), body weight (0.65 kg more) and massiveness index (0.99 percentage points) than female chickens. Body weight increased 126 g (P<0.01) in males and 61 g in females (P<0.01) for each centimeter increment in breast circumference. Body weight showed to be moderately correlated (P<0.01) with body length (r= 0.65), wing span (r= 0.49), length of the shank (r= 0.67) and highly correlated with breast circumference (r= 0.76 in males). The Mexican backyard chicken presented significant morphological differences between males and females for traits studied, except for massiveness index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from 241 interviews collected in 2013 was analyzed to characterize populations of pigs (Mexican Hairless Pig (MH), Cuino Pig (CU) and Crossbred Pig (UD)). Variables were body weight (BW), head length (HL), body length (BL), thoracic perimeter (CG), height at withers (HW), croup width (RW), number of nipples (TC), dense or sparse hair (HD), presence or absence of tusks (TU), short or long snout (ST), upright or floppy ears (ER), calm or restless temperament (TM), proportionality index (PI), body index (BI) and relative weight index (RWI). Analyses were carried out with GLM and GENMOD of SAS. Models included state and population. Population was significant (P<0.05) for BW, BL, CG, HW, RW, TU, TM, PI, BI and RWI. Coefficients of variation (VC) showed the minor and major values for BW (18.8 %) and CG (27.8 %). VC were 13.0, 14.6 and 45.8 % for PI, BI and RWI. Least squares means for MH, CU and UD were: 48.06±6.17a, 35.93±3.04b and 61.11±7.42a kg (BW); 77.81±3.65ab, 69.56±2.02a and 88.52±4.93b cm (BL); 80.55±3.98ab, 71.72±2.20a and 93.23±5.37b cm (CG); 56.88±2.45ab, 51.26±1.36a and 60.32±3.31b cm (HW); 57±4a, 71±19b and 62±34a % (HD); 68±31ab, 70±14a and 61±27b% (TU); 65±30a, 56±12b and 62±3a% (TM). The MH and UD populations were similar in morphometry and different from the CU population. The CU population showed lower weight, smaller size and calmer temperament. The characterization of these populations is important for designing strategies for their conservation and efficient use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate some morphological characteristics of backyard turkeys (n=248) coming from 126 rural production units located in 75 municipalities of 24 States of the Mexican Republic. The statistical model included sex, state, and municipality within state. The three explanatory variables affected all the response variables (P<0.01), except municipality, which did not affect breast circumference (P>0.05). Male turkeys had greater (P<0.001) body length (10.7 cm more), wingspan (11.4 cm more), breast circumference (13.8 cm more), shank length (2.5 cm more), body weight (2.5 kg more), stockiness (9.0 percentage units more) and massiveness (2.8 percentage units more) than female turkeys. Body weight showed to be highly correlated phenotypically (P<0.01) with breast circumference in both males (r=0.74) and females (r=0.71). Body length was lowly correlated with shank length (r=0.25; P<0.01) in males, but it was not correlated with shank length in females (r=0.05; P>0.05). Body weight increased 143 g in males (P<0.01) and 113 g in females (P<0.01) for each centimeter increment in breast circumference. The predominant colors in the plumage, skin and tarsus were black, white and brown, respectively. The Mexican backyard turkey presented significant sexual dimorphism and strong phenotypic correlation between breast circumference and body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]