Abstract

ESCOBAR RAMIREZ, Felipe et al. Whey water and its influence on weight gain in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Rev. Inv. Cs. Agro. y Vet. [online]. 2022, vol.6, n.18, pp.557-566.  Epub Dec 15, 2022. ISSN 2664-0902.  https://doi.org/10.33996/revistaalfa.v6i18.191.

In guinea pig breeding, feed represents 80% of production costs, which, as it becomes more expensive, hinders the adequate supply of nutrients, with a subsequent decline in productive potential. Therefore, the study seeks to evaluate the influence of whey on the level of consumption, weight gain and feed conversion in guinea pigs. We worked with 36 male guinea pigs of three weeks of age, 333 g live weight on average, Peru breed, which were randomly distributed in three treatments, four replicates of three guinea pigs each, fed with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) + concentrate, base ration that was supplemented for treatment 1, with drinking water; treatment 2, with whey; and treatment 3, with drinking water + whey. Feed intake was evaluated for eight weeks, performing the analysis of variance corresponding to a completely randomized design. The consumption of whey alone or in addition to water improved weight gain and feed conversion; weight gain (750 and 729 g) in treatments 2 and 3, statistically similar to each other, were higher (P˂0. 05) to the increase (622 g) in Treatment 1; feed conversion of 3.2 and 3.8 in these treatments were higher (P˂0.05) than 5.2 in Treatment 1. It was concluded that whey has no influence on the level of feed consumption; by supplementing it alone or in addition to water, production costs and fattening period are reduced.

Keywords : Cavia porcellus; Whey; Weight; Feed; Feeding; Costs.

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