Effect of Arachis glabrata Levels in the Diet on Reproduction and Pre-Weaning Growth Performance of Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus L) Fed on Panicum maximum

In order to evaluate the level of inclusion of Arachis glabrata in the diet of Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus L.) fed to Panicum maximum on the reproduction and pre-weaning growth performance, trials were conducted at the Laboratory of Animal Production and Nutrition (LAPRONAN) (FASA) of the University of Dschang between December 2016 and April 2017. For this purpose, 56 adult guinea pigs of local breed including 48 females and 8 males all 5 months old about and weighing on average 400 ± 50g were used. These animals were randomly distributed into 4 homogeneous lots of 12 animals and crossed with a ratio of 2 males for 12 females in a factorial design. Animals were submitted to iso-nitrogen rations (17% protein) associated with P. maximum. The animals in the control group received P. maximum at will and one concentrated food not containing Arachis glabrata (PMA0), while those of the other lots received in addition to P. maximum a concentrated food containing respectively 10 (PMA10), 15 (PMA15) and 20% of Arachis glabrata (PMA20). The results of this study show that the inclusion of the increasing level of Arachis glabrata had no significant effect (P> 0.05) on litter size. The rate of stillbirth was 9.10% in the animals receiving the ration containing 20% of Arachis glabrata compared to 0% for the other diets. The highest pre- and post-weaning mortality rates (30 and 33.33%, respectively) were recorded in animals receiving 20% and 10% rations of Arachis glabrata, respectively. The ration containing 10% of Arachis glabrata yielded the best fertility (75%), and net fertility (108.33%). Inclusion of 20% of Arachis glabrata in the diet resulted in the highest mean weights (P <0.05) in lactating females from birth to weaning. At birth and weaning, the highest average weight of piglets was obtained in control batch of animals. In terms of total gain (TG) and average daily gain (ADG), the ration containing 20% of Arachis glabrata recorded the most significant (P <0.05) values (105.36g and 5.20g / d respectively) at weaning. Thus, Arachis glabrata can be included up to 20% in the ration as a source of protein for improving production performances of guinea pigs in a farm environment