Evaluación de diferentes niveles de harina de pennisetum violaceum (Maralfalfa) en la elaboración de bloques nutricionales y su utilización en la alimentación de cuyes en la etapa de crecimiento y engorde

Abstract

In the Pungal el Quinche community, belonging to Guano Canton, the effect of the use of three levels of maralfalfa flour (10, 20, 30 %), were evaluated in the elaboration of nutritional blocks in the feeding of guinea pigs at the stage of growth and fattening, a completely randomized design (DCA), was applied, in combinatory arrangement of two factors, were the A factor is the levels of maralfalfa flour in nutritional blocks and the B factor is the sex of the animals, with 5 repetitions per treatment and the size of the experimental unit was 2 animals. The experimental results showed highly significant differences (P < 0,01), in the consumption of the block variable in favor of the treatments where 10 and 20 % of maralfalfa flour was used. Whereas, for final weight variables, weight gain, forage consumption, total food consumption, feed consumption, weight of the carcass and carcass yield did not report significant differences (P > 0,05). According to the sex of the animals as factor, no significant differences were reported (P > 0,05), for the weight gain variables, block consumption and feed conversion, while , in the variables final weight, forage intake, total food consumption, weight of the carcass and carcass yield showed highly significant differences (P < 0,01), favoring males. The highest profitability was obtained with the use of 30 % of maralfalfa flour, reached a benefit/cost of 1,13, consequently, the use of maralfalfa flour did not affect the productive behavior in these livestock, thus is recommended to included in the diet of guinea pig, during the stages of growth and fettering; 30 % Pennisetum violaceum (maralfalfa) flour, in the elaborations of nutritional blocks. Key words: Maralfalfa flour - nutritional block - feeding of guinea pig.