Elaboration of Nutritional Blocks with Amarantus quitensis (Sangoracha) Flour for the Feeding of Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Abstract This study was carried out as part of the Minor Species Program of the FCP of the ESPOCH to elaborate nutritional blocks using different levels of sangoracha flour and its effect on the feeding of growing and fattening guinea pigs. A completely random design was used in a combinatorial arrangement of two factors: Factor A for flour levels and Factor B for sex, with three treatments and five repetitions, each one compared to a control treatment. The treatments were carried out by feeding 0% (T0), 7% (T7), 14% (T14), and 21% (T21) of sangoracha flour to 15-days-old guinea pigs weighing 0.360 kg at the start of the treatment. The treatments were continued for 75 days. The results showed highly significant differences in terms of the following variables: final weight, weight gain, nutritional block consumption, forage consumption, total feed consumption, and feed conversion. Overall, the T7 treatment presented good results. However, for the yield of the carcass, the T21 treatment was found to be the best. When evaluating the behavior based on sex, highly significant differences were recorded in the following variables: final weight, forage consumption, and yield to the carcass, all being higher in males; however, when the food conversion variable was analyzed, it turned out to be more efficient in females. The economic analysis showed that the highest cost-benefit was $1.14 obtained with the application of T21. This indicates that adding sangoracha flour to the diet of guinea pigs in the growth-fattening stage does not affect the productive behavior of the livestock, allowing for a new food alternative that reduces costs.

Keywords

• guinea pig, guinea pig feeding, sangoracha, nutritional block.