Abstract

SANCHEZ V, Raúl et al. Productive and economic response of guinea pigs to the use of four types of forage feeders. Rev. investig. vet. Perú [online]. 2013, vol.24, n.4, pp.441-450. ISSN 1609-9117.

The study evaluated the effect of various types of forage feeders on the efficiency of forage usage and on the productive and economic response of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) breeding. A total of 250 weaned male of 15 days of age at the Mantaro valley, Junín, Peru were used in a completely randomized design with five treatments of forage supply and five repetitions per treatment. Each repetition corresponded to a cage with ten guinea pigs. Four forage feeders were evaluated: cylindrical mesh on the floor (CMP), hanging U shaped mesh (MCU), iron grilled with foot on the floor (PFP) and hopper mesh in V shaped (TMV), plus the traditional method with the forage directly on the floor (DSP). The use of feeders improved forage consumption efficiency, total food consumption and benefit cost ratio (p<0.05). MCU was the most promising feeder in terms of forage consumption efficiency, body weight gain, total feed consumption, unit production cost and benefit cost ratio (p<0.05). It is concluded that the use of feeders improves productive and economic parameters, and the best feeder was the hanging U shaped mesh (MCU).

Keywords : guinea pigs; forage; intake efficiency; feeders.

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