Innovation
Year 2 Number 17 |
September 3, 2007
A way of life
By Jaime Parada
A simple search in Internet shows that Mexican universities offer a total of 104 Master's Degree and Doctoral programs in several stockbreeding specialties.
This shows that cattle farming production is evolving and, because of that, requires highly specialized professional and leading-edge technicians.
Ten years ago, cattle farmers realized they had to get involved in the development of applied research in order to improve the quality of their production.
Through the Committee for Livestock Promotion and Protection of Nuevo Leon, the Regional Cattle Farmers Association entered into alliances with research centers and universities to carry out development, validation, and technology transfer projects using biotechnology.
Besides working directly with Nuevo Leon State University (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León) and the National Institute of Forest, Agricultural, and Livestock Research, the producers have signed agreements with Tamaulipas State University (Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas), Antonio Narro Agricultural University and Texas A&M University. These institutions are part of Mexico's North Eastern Technical Consortium.
Other institutions have been joining this regional integration model, enlarging the range of actions, developing innovations, and setting a precedent in the country.
Scientific and technological support is crucial for a state like Nuevo Leon, which has about 15,000 producers registered with the Cattle Farmers Association and a similar number who are not affiliated.
Finally, we seek to improve the quality of livestock production in all ranches, regardless of their size, and this objective can only be achieved when all the players have a clear goal and walk along the same path.
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NL IS A REFERENCE POINT
in livestock technology
Cattle farmers create synergy by working together with researchers, universities, financing sources, private businesses, and governments to improve production by applying innovative methods.
Nuevo Leon cattle farmers are one step ahead in the use of biotechnology for the improvement of livestock production.
The Monterrey Central Regional Laboratory (Labmty), which is part of the Committee for Livestock Promotion and Protection in the State of Nuevo Leon (CFPP-NL), has a Molecular Biology area where it performs DNA tests for the diagnosis of diseases, paternity tests, and pathogen differentiation.
"Molecular biology allows us to determine each calf's paternity with certainty, which is very important in pure bred cattle," explained Jose Muraira-Gutierrez, Director of Labmty.
He added that this laboratory analyzes agricultural and livestock samples from 25 states in Mexico because it is one of the most advanced in infrastructure and human capital.
All research, development, and technology transfer initiatives come from local producers who are learning to create synergy with researchers, universities, financing sources, private businesses, and government agencies.
This scheme helps to speed up the process of adopting techniques for the improvement of livestock production and resistance to change is gradually being reduced.
"We are not interested in a project that will end up being stored on the shelf. As soon as a problem appears, we go to the laboratory and ask for their help in order to find a solution. If new equipment is needed, we go ahead and buy it. We want to leave behind the "trial and error system", stated Adrian De la Garza-Tijerina, President of the Regional Cattle Farmers Association of Nuevo Leon (UGRNL).
"The application of biotechnology began in 1997 in response to a need presented by the state's cattle farmers themselves," expressed Alberto Morales-Loredo, a molecular biology specialist and member of the National Institute of Forest, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP).
"They were interested in improving diagnosis methods regarding health and reproduction. This is why the INIFAP signed an agreement with the Cattle Farmers Association for researchers to work directly in the producers' labs," he explained.
Even though Nuevo Leon's cattle is among the best in Mexico, it is not yet possible to have a clear image of what goes on in all ranches.
"There is no official program for pure bred producers to certify the health condition of their animals. This is why it is important for them to know what the Monterrey Central Regional Laboratory does and for them to approach us and present their needs," expressed Ruben Cervantes, promoter of the Committee for Livestock Promotion and Protection.
For a start, we are implementing some control measures through the Better Cattle Program, which allows small producers to buy stud bulls at 50% of their value. The scheme also includes the signing of an agreement with the Cattle Farmers Association for each animal to be examined by Labmty.
Ramiro Avalos-Ramirez and Siblina Cedillo-Rosales, researchers at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics of the UANL, explained that knowing about the most common pathogens in the region helps to give added value to production because biosafety circles are created and a new path for the development of specific products for diagnosis, prevention, and cure is opened.
Muraira-Gutierrez stated that there are tangible results in several areas. "Three years ago, the prevalence of reproductive diseases was 40% or 50%. Today, it is around 25%. It is still high, but we are making progress."
And investments have not stopped. The CFPPNL is about to conclude the Center of Reproductive Biotechnology, a world-class laboratory that is being built in General Bravo. This project, the only one of its kind in Mexico, will cost approximately $1.4 million US Dollars.
The Cattle Farmers Association is having talks with several universities in order to make this center a breeding ground for researchers in the field of genetics. "We don't want to import, but form our own resources based on our needs," said De la Garza-Tijerina.
A CONCLUSIVE TEST
DNA analysis has a high discriminating capacity when it analyzes any biological sample, whether it is blood, tissue, bones, teeth, hair, semen, fingernails or food, among others. Paternity tests based on this type of studies have several advantages:
- DNA classification is the most conclusive test to identify cattle.
- It is not possible for two heads of cattle to have the same profile in a DNA test. The only exceptions are univiteline twins (born from the same ovule).
- DNA does not change with time.
- The certainty of paternity indicators is 99.99 percent.
- It is possible to identify frozen semen and embryos.
- The paternity of a fetus can be established while it is still in the mother's womb.
FIRST CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE
Researchers at the Monterrey Central Regional Laboratory (Labmty) work with undergraduate and graduate students from the UANL and the ITESM in the areas of Biological Sciences, Veterinary Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Biotechnology.
This laboratory is registered with the Executive Committee of the International Society of Animal Genetics. This means that shared analyses with organisms from other countries can be performed. Additionally, the paternity certificates it issues are internationally recognized.
The studies on animal health, genetic improvement and reproduction, food innocuousness, and animal nutrition are carried out in six areas:
- Molecular Biology Laboratory for DNA sequencing.
- Laboratory for the Verification of Toxic and Biological Residues in animal products.
- Laboratory of Animal Health Diagnosis to perform serology, ELISA, microbiological isolation, and histopathology.
- Bromatology Laboratory to determine the nutritional value of fodder.
- Cell Culture Laboratory to maintain and culture cells that allow viral isolation.
- Semen Processing Laboratory and production of embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF)
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NEURONS IN ACTION
THE PRIORITY IS INNOVATION
Three years after its launching, the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge Program (Mtycic) has positioned science and technology as drivers of integral economic growth in the State.
The State Governor, Jose Natividad Gonzalez-Paras recognized the vision and work carried out by Antonio Zarate-Negron, who led this project until August 31 st.
The program is now headed by Jaime Parada-Avila who became the General Executive Director of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Institute (I 2T 2) of Nuevo Leon on September 1 st.
During the "Origin, Achievements, and Destiny" event, which took place on August 28 th, Gonzalez-Paras pointed out that the alliance between businesses, universities, and the government -the triple helix- has been consolidated as the platform to direct investments towards applied research and technological development.
During this presentation, Parada-Avila was sworn in as General Director of the Monterrey, International City of Knowledge Program.
The executive expressed that he will continue with the negotiations to attract high-tech companies and scientific centers to the Research and Technology Innovation Park (PIIT).
"It is also crucial to accelerate the creation of businesses that use technology developed in Nuevo Leon," he pointed out.
 Jaime Parada-Avila, Antonio Zarate-Negron, and Jose Natividad Gonzalez-Paras.
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FUTURE EVENTS
OCTOBER 10, 2007 - FEBRUARY 7, 2008
SPECIAL DIPLOMA
COURSE
INNOVATIVE LEADERS
Technological innovation for business competitiveness and sustainability
Aimed at managers in the areas of production, quality, continuous improvement, maintenance, new products, innovation, and planning
INFORMATION: Alejandra Perales, CPM
Phone: (+52 81)
8369-0241
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