Citizenship or repression? Coca, eradication and development in the Andes

For over two decades the US has funded repressive forced coca eradication in Peru, Colombia and Bolivia to reduce the illegal cocaine trade. These policies have never met their stated goals and have generated violence and poverty. In 2006 Bolivia definitively broke with the US anti-narcotics model, replacing the militarized eradication of coca crops with a community-based coca control strategy. The program substantially reduced the coca crop while simultaneously respecting human rights and allowing farmers to diversify their livelihoods. This article outlines the elements of the Bolivian initiative that ensure its continued successful functioning. It explores to what extent this model can be translated to other Andean contexts

Effectiveness of blended learning on student engagement

Despite the increase in 1:1 computing initiatives in K-12 schools and increased technology use in higher education for blended learning, there is little empirical evidence of significant gains in learning outcomes. The use of the 1:1 initiatives to support student blended learning is the intent and purpose, but improved learning outcomes will not occur solely from investment in devices. This review investigates the promises and emerging research evidence of effectiveness of blended learning as a way to augment learning initiatives both in K-12 and in the higher education settings. This review draws from 30 peer-reviewed studies published in academic journals, doctoral dissertations, and academic books that analyze blended learning on student engagement. The emphasis focuses the comparison between traditional and blended learning environments, the best practices for implementing a blended learning environment, and the changes being made, over time, to improve student engagement in the blended learning environment

El debate sobre políticas de drogas en América Latina

Mientras los Estados Unidos mantienen su “guerra contra las drogas”, los líderes en América Latina cuestionan cada vez más las premisas que subyacen las políticas actuales y formulan llamados para debatir enfoques alternativos. Reformas significativas de las políticas sobre drogas implican sin duda un proceso largo y complicado. Ello no obstante algunos gobiernos –como Bolivia y Uruguay– y aun algunos Estados en los Estados Unidos que están avanzando en cuanto a intentos de reforma. El tema de las reformas a políticas de drogas se encuentra ahora en la primera línea de la agenda regional y, como resultado de una iniciativa lanzada en América Latina, también lo está en la agenda de la Organización de las Naciones Unidas. Es claro: Washington ya no puede dictar el enfoque de la región hacia las drogas

Interaction of Sweet Bran Inclusion and Corn Processing Method in Beef Finishing Diets on Digestibility

Six ruminally and duodenally fistulated steers were utilized in a 6 × 6 Latin square design to evaluate the interaction of corn processing method and Sweet Bran inclusion in finishing diets on total tract digestibility and rumen fermentation characteristics. Treatments were designed as a 2 × 3 factorial, with one factor as corn processing method (steam-flaked corn or a blend of high-moisture and dry-rolled corn) and the second factor as Sweet Bran inclusion at 0, 20, or 40% of diet dry matter. Cattle fed steam-flaked corn diets had greater starch digestibility while cattle fed high-moisture/ dry-rolled corn diets had greater neutral detergent fiber digestibility. As Sweet Bran concentration increased in the diet, cattle fed both steam-flaked corn and high-moisture/ dry-rolled corn diets had greater dry matter intakes and as a result, greater intakes of digestible energy. Increased energy intake may contribute to improvements in gain and efficiency when feeding Sweet Bran observed in a corresponding finishing trial

Effects of Individual Sweet Bran Components in Beef Finishing Diets on Nutrient Digestion

Sweet Bran is a branded wet corn gluten feed recognized for improving rumen health, energy intake, and gains in finishing cattle. Eight ruminally cannulated steers were utilized in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin Square design to evaluate the effect of individual Sweet Bran components on total tract digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters. Three Sweet Bran components (solvent extracted germ meal, corn bran, and mixed steep) were included at 40% of diet dry matter in their respective treatment, with a steam-flaked corn control diet. Total tract dry matter and organic matter digestibility were least for bran, intermediate for solvent extracted germ meanl, and greatest for steep and control diets. Neutral detergent fiber digestibility was least for control and intermediate for bran and steep with a tendency for solvent extracted germ meal to have the greatest fiber digestibility. Overall, steep and solvent extracted germ meal have similar energy densities as the steam-flaked corn control, and bran and solvent extracted germ meal are highly digestible fiber sources. The nutrient and physical characteristics of steep, solvent extracted germ meal, and bran are complementary and may contribute to the greater energy value of Sweet Bran compared to dry-rolled corn

Prevalence of Horns in a Pen Does Not Affect Incidence of Carcass Bruising in Feedlot Cattle

Disbudding and dehorning are two common practices done to remove horns from cattle to prevent injury to handlers and other cattle and to reduce bruising of carcasses. Bruised carcasses result in substantial reduction in profit due to trim loss, increased sanitation risk, and loss in time on the rail during processing. Previous research has indicated that cattle with horns increased hide damage of cohorts and caused injury to handlers. Cattle with horns cause circular shaped bruises that lead to trim loss due to bruising. Cattle with tipped horns do not have a lower bruising rate than cattle with intact horns. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of horn prevalence within groups of slaughter animals and the incidence of bruising on the carcasses of those same cattle

Characterizing Digestion Traits of Novel Corn Bran Products

A digestion study was conducted to evaluate novel corn bran products from Cargill Corn Milling on nutrient digestibility in beef steers. Three bran products (Bran A/B/C) were included at 70% of diet dry matter of TRT A, B and C, with an internal control (SFC control) diet which consisted of 70% SFC. The SFC control exhibited the greatest dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and starch digestibility, and the least neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. Among TRT A, B and C when bran products were included at 70%, there was no difference in DM or OM intake and digestibility. NDF digestibility was greatest for TRT A fed steers, least for TRT C with TRT B intermediate. Starch intake was greatest for TRT C fed steers, least for TRT A with TRT B intermediate; while starch digestibility was greatest for TRT A fed steers, least for TRT C with TRT B intermediate. Bran products had minimal effect on energy digestibility, ruminal pH, rumination activity and blood parameters. Digestion trait differences existed among different corn bran products, of which Bran A was better digested, and corn bran products could replace SFC up to 70% dietary inclusion without compromising digestible energy of diet

Evaluation of Gas Emissions from Cattle on Different Diet Adaptation Strategies Using Either Forage or RAMP

A 173-day finishing experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair, NE) during diet adaptation compared to a traditional forage adaptation program on methane and carbon dioxide emissions, animal performance and carcass traits in beef steers. Cattle were monitored using a calorimetry emission barn to quantify production of methane and carbon dioxide during step 1 of grain adaptation and at two subsequent times while fed a common finishing diet. Feeding RAMP reduced methane by 12% during the initial diet (step 1) compared to a traditional diet that contained 43% forage. When cattle were fed the same finishing diet, there was a 9% reduction in methane due to carryover effects from feeding RAMP during grain adaptation. Cattle fed RAMP tended to increase hot carcass weight by 13 pounds. These data suggest feeding RAMP during grain adaptation instead of forage could be a strategy to reduce methane emissions. The performance benefits from RAMP would further decrease methane production per pound of gain

Bulls Are More Efficient Than Steers with Similar Meat Quality

Bull breeding soundness evaluations are often performed as a critical component of beef cow herd management to ensure that herd bulls have adequate semen quality, are physically capable of enduring the breeding season, and to determine the serving capacity per bull. Currently, there are approximately 30.3 million beef cows and 2.1 million bulls in the U.S. Depending on the breeding soundness evaluation failure rate, there are likely several hundred thousand bulls which will enter the beef market annually and a portion will be young bulls with the potential to be fed and sold to produce saleable meat of choice or select quality grade. Castration of male cattle is a common procedure that is practiced world-wide, but is more common in the U.S. than in many countries. Behavioral benefits from castration include reduced aggressiveness and sexual activity by reducing testosterone levels. In addition, castrated animals maintain a lower muscle pH post-harvest producing fewer “dark cutters.” Bulls have greater feeding performance and efficiency than steers. However, a bull’s ability to gain efficiently and produce a leaner carcass, with more value to the packer and retailer, is overshadowed by the perception that meat from bulls is less tender than meat from steers. Castration methods and the age at castration influence the potential stress on the animal, resulting in concerns regarding animal welfare and animal performance; therefore, castration of post-pubertal bulls to improve meat quality should be re-evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of castration and the use of growth promotion technologies in post-pubertal bulls on feeding performance, carcass traits, and meat quality characteristics compared to intact post-pubertal bulls