Éditeur(s) : Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions Caribbean Volunteer Expeditions ( Corning, NY )
Résumé : Cane Garden Methodist ; Carrot Bay Methodist ; East End Methodist ; Long Look Methodist ; Purcell Methodist ; Sea Cow Methodist ; South of East End Methodist ; Zion Hill Methodist

Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution.

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Sea cows (manatees, dugongs) are the only living marine mammals to feed solely on aquatic plants. Unlike whales or dolphins (Cetacea), the earliest evolutionary history of sirenians is poorly documented, and limited to a few fossils including skulls and skeletons of two genera composing the stem family of Prorastomidae (Prorastomus and Pezosiren). Surprisingly, these fossils come from the Eocene of Jamaica, while stem Hyracoidea and Proboscidea - the putative sister-groups to Sirenia - are recorded in Africa as early as the Late Paleocene. So far, the historical biogeography of early Sirenia has remained obscure given this paradox between phylogeny and fossil record. Here we use X-ray microtomography to investigate a newly discovered sirenian petrosal from the Eocene of Tunisia. This fossil represents the oldest occurrence of sirenians in Africa. The morphology of this petrosal is more primitive than the Jamaican prorastomids' one, which emphasizes the basal position of this new African taxon within the Sirenia clade. This discovery testifies to the great antiquity of Sirenia in Africa, and therefore supports their African origin. While isotopic analyses previously suggested sirenians had adapted directly to the marine environment, new paleoenvironmental evidence suggests that basal-most sea cows were likely restricted to fresh waters.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-00807308
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00807308
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0054307

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD EDP Sciences
Résumé : No matter which production system is considered (5% milk farms, 95% meatfarms), the Salers breed of cattle carries a strong image. Our work aims at showing that the development of the main territory in which the breed is found may rely on specific and identified products afforded by the breed. Multidisciplinary research (animal science, economics, food quality) and different methods (surveys, follow-up, and experimentation) were implemented. The experiments focused on the control of various types of production (milk, carcasses) and on a detailed description of the products (meat, cheese), given the attributes and the special behaviour of the animals. A before-weaning feeding approach favouring milk and forage later proves more efficient for finishing the young Salers male (15 months). The meat from these young bulls is clear, classified as mid-range quality, and can be sold in supermarkets. Parallel observations were made on farms and specific protein markers of juiciness were identified. Milk from Salers cows differs from that of Holstein especially in the nature of the fatty acids. Calf suckling before milking reinforces the differences. Cheeses made with raw milk from the breed differ in their textures and flavours. The cow must however be milked with her calf and the level of labour required impedes economic valorisation of the breed. Consumer surveys have confirmed the strong image of the breed that has a good potential for commercial development. Willingness to pay for identified products, however, is stronger for cheese (up to 30%) than for meat (up to 10%). Recognized qualities of products identified as issued from Salers cattle and originality in production systems can bring significant gains to various local actors, which can be considered as territorial rents.
La race bovine Salers bénéficie d’une image forte et reconnue, indépendante du système de production, laitier pour 5 % des élevages, ou allaitant pour 95 %. Pour autant le développement du « berceau de la race » peut-il s’appuyer sur les combinaisons de productions spécifiques et identifiées qu’autorise cette race ? Des recherches multidisciplinaires (zootechnie, économie, qualité des aliments) et des méthodes d’investigation variées (enquêtes, suivis, expérimentation) ont été mises en œuvre pour répondre à cette question. Les expérimentations ont porté sur la maîtrise des itinéraires de production (lait, carcasses) et la connaissance fine des produits (fromages, viandes), compte tenu des aptitudes et du comportement de la race. Une conduite alimentaire privilégiant le lait et les fourrages avant sevrage est ainsi plus efficace pour la production d’un jeune bovin Salers (15 mois). La viande de ces taurillons est claire, classée en gamme intermédiaire, mais peut se valoriser en grande et moyenne distribution. Le lait des vaches Salers diffère de celui des vaches Holstein surtout par la nature de ses acides gras. La tétée d’amorçage du veau spécifique de la race et difficile à supprimer, renforce les différences de composition. Les fromages fabriqués avec ce lait traité à l’état cru diffèrent par leurs textures et arômes. Une filière laitière pérenne pourrait bien valoriser ces différences mais la pénibilité de la traite faite obligatoirement en présence du veau reste un obstacle. Des enquêtes auprès de consommateurs ont confirmé la forte image de la race vectrice de valorisation économique. Leur consentement à payer pour des produits identifiés est cependant plus fort pour le fromage (jusqu’à 30 %) que pour la viande (jusqu’à 10 %). Les qualités reconnues des produits identifiés comme issus de vaches Salers et l’originalité des systèmes de production peuvent apporter des plus-values significatives aux divers acteurs locaux, ce qui peut correspondre à une forme de rente territoriale.
ISSN: 1166-7699

hal-00992549
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00992549
DOI : 10.1684/agr.2014.0687
PRODINRA : 259206