Evaluation of the nutritional value of Puya llatensis in cobayo feeding (Cavia porcellus)

© 2003 Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. All rights reserved. The nutritional quality and digestibility in vivo of the Puya llatensis for cobayo feeding was evaluated. The chemical analysis indicated 87.2% humidity, 2.3% protein, 0.75% ether extract, 15.43% crude fiber, 70.43% nitrogen free extract, 11.07% ashes, 0.04% calcium and 0.38% phosphorus on dry base. Moreover, the content of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) was 7.74 mg in 100 mg of fresh sample. A digestibility test was conducted on 10 male cobayos of 12 weeks of age and 650 g body weight. The coefficients of digestibility were: Dry matter (75.96%), total protein (28.86%), crude fiber (54.89%), ether extract (49.58%), nitrogen free extract (80.56%), and ashes (87.25%). For the feeding trial, 25 male cobayos of 30 days of age and 290 g body weight were used. Animals were distributed at random in five groups: T1 (control) = (barley + alfalfa 100%), T2 (barley + alfalfa 75% + Puya llatensis 25%), T3 (barley + alfalfa 50% + Puya llatensis 50%), T4 (barley + alfalfa 25% + Puya llatensis 75%), T5 (barley + Puya llatensis 100%). Body gain weight, feed intake and feed conversion were evaluated at three periods: initial (0-28 d), final (28-56 d), and total (0-56 d), and no statistical differences were found between T1, T2 and T3 groups (p>0.05). It was concluded that the use of Puya llatensis till levels of 50% alfalfa replacement do not affect the productive performance of cobayos.