The performance of forage banks of Tithonia diversifolia established in degraded soils, with prolonged application of agrochemicals, under humid tropical forest conditions was determined. The forage bank was established on a farm in Yopal, Casanare (Colombia). The evaluation was carried out during a year to determine the effect on the chemical characteristics and the soil macrofauna, production of green forage and dry matter, relationship between the biomass of leaf-stem and nutritional quality of the whole plant and fractions (leaf-stem). There were increases in nutrients and soil mesofauna. Likewise, differences were observed in forage production and leaf-stem ratio. The forage presented nutritional quality between acceptable and good, with the leaves being the best quality fraction. It is concluded that Tithonia diversifolia has potential for the recovery of degraded soils and adaptat...

The aim of this study was to know the perception and knowledge of small producers about the behavior of the climate, its effect on milk production and the practices that allow adaptation to this behavior. The study was developed in Carmen de Carupa and Suesca (Cundinamarca, Colombia) with 40 producers who shared their knowledge through a semi-structured interview. The causes of climate change, events that affect milk production, changes in the climate in recent years and strategies that allow its adaptation were investigated. The humidity temperature index, precipitation, milk production and forage quality were determined. Frequency and principal component analysis were analysed through the Infostat® program. Producers considered deforestation as the main cause of climate change, perceived changes in climate and recognized droughts, frosts and high temperatures as events with the greate...

En el presente estudio se determinó el comportamiento de bancos forrajeros de Tithonia diversifolia establecidos en suelos degradados, con prolongada aplicación de agroquímicos, bajo condiciones de bosque húmedo tropical. El banco forrajero se estableció en una finca en Yopal, Casanare (Colombia). La evaluación se realizó durante un año para determinar el efecto sobre las características químicas y la macrofauna del suelo, producción de forraje verde y materia seca, relación entre la biomasa de hoja-tallo y calidad nutricional de la planta completa y fracciones (hoja-tallo). Se obtuvo incrementos en los nutrientes y mesofauna del suelo. Asimismo, se observaron diferencias en producción de forraje y en la relación hoja-tallo. El forraje presentó calidad nutricional entre aceptable a buena, siendo las hojas la fracción de mejor calidad. Se concluye que Tithonia diversifolia...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of the beetle Zophoba morio in Rattus norvegicus diets. The work was carried out in the bioterium of the Wakata Biopark, located in the municipality of Tocancipa, Colombia. Sixteen weaned rats were randomly assigned to two groups: control fed with commercial feed and experimental with inclusion of 20% Zophobas and 60% commercial feed for 30 days. Nutritional quality, consumption, weight gain, feed conversion factor and feed conversion efficiency were determined. A completely randomized design was used. A higher percentage of crude protein (p=0.0012) and ether extract (p=0.0080) was found in the zophobas larvae, while the percentage of ash was higher in the feed (p=0.0398). A higher consumption (p=0.0110) was found in the control group. There were no significant differences between groups or by sex in weight gain, feed conversion ratio o...