Evaluación del efecto del consumo de agua de bebida sobre el número de crías nacidas al parto en cuyes (Cavia porcellus), Ibarra – Imbabura

Guinea pig farming is one of the most important activities within the families of the Ecuadorian highlands, however, the low profitability of the producers is reflected, by not meeting the demand for this species. One of the main causes of this problem is the low number of pups born at birth, showing the inadequate handling of the animals. A solution to this is the supply of drinking water in diets, allowing them to have better performance in terms of zootechnical parameters. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of drinking water consumption on the number of young born alive at parturition in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). For the development of the research, two stages were considered, the performance of the water quality analysis in the chemistry laboratory of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Ibarra Headquarters and the evaluation of the effect of drinking water consumption, carried out in the city of Ibarra, province of Imbabura. The research used a completely randomized design (DCA), using 36 animals, to which three different doses of drinking water were applied throughout the experimental phase\; After executing the respective breeding, the removal of males was carried out, in order to continue with the gestation of the females, to finally produce parturition and the evaluation of the productive and reproductive indices. The fruit of the research was evidenced through the data obtained for fertility, litter size and the average weights of breeders and offspring at birth and weaning. The study carried out shows that the consumption of drinking water ad libitum positively influences the number of young born alive at parturition, determining the increase in the litter and, therefore, the socioeconomic relevance that the proper management of this species entails.

La cobayocultura es una de las actividades de mayor importancia dentro de las familias de la sierra ecuatoriana, sin embargo, se ve reflejada la baja rentabilidad de los productores, al no cumplir con la demanda de esta especie. Una de las causas principales frente a este problema es el bajo número de crías nacidas al parto, manifestando el inadecuado manejo de los animales. Una solución ante esto, es el suministro de agua de bebida en las dietas, permitiéndoles tener mejor rendimiento en cuanto a los parámetros zootécnicos. El objetivo general de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del consumo de agua de bebida sobre el número de crías nacidas vivas al parto en cuyes (Cavia porcellus). Para el desarrollo de la investigación se contemplaron dos etapas, la realización del análisis de calidad de agua en el laboratorio de química de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Sede Ibarra, y la evaluación del efecto del consumo de agua de bebida, llevada a cabo en la ciudad de Ibarra, provincia de Imbabura. En la investigación se empleó un diseño completamente al azar (DCA), utilizando 36 animales, a los cuales se les aplicó tres dosis diferentes de agua de bebida durante toda la fase experimental; tras ejecutarse el empadre respectivo se realizó el retiro de machos, con el fin de continuar con la gestación de las hembras, para finalmente producirse el parto y la evaluación de los índices productivos y reproductivos. El fruto de la investigación se evidenció a través de los datos obtenidos para fertilidad, tamaño de la camada y de los pesos promedio de reproductoras y crías al nacimiento y al destete. El estudio realizado demuestra que el consumo de agua de bebida ad libitum influye positivamente sobre el número de crías nacidas vivas al parto, determinando el aumento de la camada y, por ende, la relevancia socioeconómica que conlleva el adecuado manejo de esta especie.

Guinea pig farming is one of the most important activities within the families of the Ecuadorian highlands, however, the low profitability of the producers is reflected, by not meeting the demand for this species. One of the main causes of this problem is the low number of pups born at birth, showing the inadequate handling of the animals. A solution to this is the supply of drinking water in diets, allowing them to have better performance in terms of zootechnical parameters. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of drinking water consumption on the number of young born alive at parturition in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). For the development of the research, two stages were considered, the performance of the water quality analysis in the chemistry laboratory of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Ibarra Headquarters and the evaluation of the effect of drinking water consumption, carried out in the city of Ibarra, province of Imbabura. The research used a completely randomized design (DCA), using 36 animals, to which three different doses of drinking water were applied throughout the experimental phase; After executing the respective breeding, the removal of males was carried out, in order to continue with the gestation of the females, to finally produce parturition and the evaluation of the productive and reproductive indices. The fruit of the research was evidenced through the data obtained for fertility, litter size and the average weights of breeders and offspring at birth and weaning. The study carried out shows that the consumption of drinking water ad libitum positively influences the number of young born alive at parturition, determining the increase in the litter and, therefore, the socioeconomic relevance that the proper management of this species entails.