© The Authors, 2024, Published by the Universidad del Zulia*Corresponding author:juan.moscoso@unsaac.edu.pe
Keywords:
Cavia porcellus
Glycine max
Digestibility
Energy
Nutritional value
Digestible energy and nutrient digestibility of full-fat soybean meal in adult and growing
guinea pigs
Energía digestible y digestibilidad de nutrientes de la harina de soya entera en cuyes adultos y en
crecimiento
Energia digestível e digestibilidade de nutrientes do farelo de soja integral em cobaias adultas e em
crescimento
Celia Chillpa-Sencia¹
Juan Elmer Moscoso Muñoz¹*
Liz Beatriz Chino-Velasquez²
Isabel Cristina Molina-Botero³
Oscar Elisban Gómez Quispe
3
Mario Arjona-Smith
4
Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2024, 41(4): e244135
ISSN 2477-9407
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47280/RevFacAgron(LUZ).v41.n4.04
Animal production
Associate editor: Professor Juan Vergara-López
University of Zulia, Faculty of Agronomy
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
1
Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco - Av.
de La Cultura 773, Cusco 08003, Perú.
2
Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina - Av. La Molina
s/n, La Molina, Lima, Perú.
3
Universidad Nacional Micaela Bastidas de Apurimac - Av.
Inca Garcilazo de la Vega, Abancay 03001, Apurimac, Perú.
4
Universidad de Panamá - Carr. Panamericana, Chiriquí,
Provincia de Chiriquí 507, Panamá.
Received: 25-04-2024
Accepted: 04-09-2024
Published: 26-09-2024
Abstract
The use of full-fat soybean meal (FSBM) in feeding guinea
pigs would be a good alternative to improve dietary protein, but
little is known about the use of their nutrients in this animal species.
This study aimed to determine the nutrient digestibility and energy
digestible of FSBM and the eects of its incorporation in guinea
pigs’ diets. Thirty male guinea pigs were used, aged two (15
animals) and 10 weeks (15 animals). A basal diet was used, from
which the weight/weight substitution was carried out at proportions
of 15 and 30 % inclusion of FSBM. The digestibility of nutrients
in the diets diered between ages, being higher in adults than in
growing (p<0.001). The digestibility of DM and nutrients of FSBM
was high, being higher in adult guinea pigs (76.94 % DM, 77.56
% OM, 82.34 % CP, 86.87 % EE, and 60.96 % CF) than growing
(71.78 % DM, 72.35 % OM, 66.24 % CP, 60.37 % EE and 50.41 %
CF) (p<0.001). The digestible energy was 3375 and 3093 kcal.kg
-1
DM
for adult and growing guinea pigs respectively (p<0.001). FSBM
meal is a good option for feeding growing and adult guinea pigs due
to its high nutritional value and digestibility.
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2024, 41(4): e244135 October-December. ISSN 2477-9407.
2-7 |
Resumen
El uso de harina de soya entera (FSBM) en la alimentación de
cuyes sería una buena alternativa para mejorar la proteína dietaria,
pero se sabe poco sobre el uso de sus nutrientes en esta especie
animal. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la digestibilidad
de los nutrientes y la energía digerible de la FSBM y los efectos de
su incorporación en las dietas de los cuyes. Se utilizaron treinta cuyes
machos, de dos y 10 semanas de edad (15 animales/edad). Se utilizó
una dieta basal, a partir de la cual se realizó la sustitución peso/peso en
proporciones de 15 y 30 % de inclusión de FSBM. La digestibilidad
de los nutrientes de las dietas fue diferente entre edades, siendo
mayor en adultos que en crecimiento (p<0.001). La digestibilidad de
la MS y los nutrientes de la FSBM fue alta, siendo mayor en cuyes
adultos (76,94 % MS, 77,56 % MO, 82,34 % PB, 86,87 % EE y
60,96 % CF) que en crecimiento (71,78 % MS, 72,35 % MO, 66,24
% CP, 60,37 % EE y 50,41 % CF) (p<0,001). La energía digestible
fue 3375 y 3093 kcal.kg
-1
MS para cuyes adultos y en crecimiento
respectivamente (p<0,001). La harina de FSBM es una buena opción
para la alimentación de cuyes adultos y en crecimiento debido a su
alto valor nutricional y digestibilidad.
Palabras clave: Cavia porcellus, Glycine max, digestibilidad,
energía, valor nutricional.
Resumo
A utilização do farelo de soja integral (FSBM) na alimentação
de cobaias seria uma boa alternativa para melhorar a proteína
dietética, mas pouco se sabe sobre a utilização de seus nutrientes
nesta espécie animal. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a
digestibilidade dos nutrientes e a energia digestível do FSBM e os
efeitos de sua incorporação nas dietas de cobaias. Foram utilizados
trinta cobaias machos, com idade de duas (15 animais) e 10 semanas
(15 animais). Foi utilizada dieta basal, a partir da qual foi realizada
a substituição peso/peso nas proporções de 15 e 30 % de inclusão de
FSBM. A digestibilidade dos nutrientes das dietas foi diferente entre
as idades, sendo maior nos adultos do que em crescimento (p<0,001).
A digestibilidade da MS e dos nutrientes do FSBM foi elevada, sendo
maior em cobaias adultas (76,94 % MS, 77,56 % MO, 82,34 % PB,
86,87 % EE e 60,96 % FC) do que em crescimento (71,78 % MS,
72,35 % MO, 66,24 % CP, 60,37 % EE e 50,41 % CF) (p<0,001).
A energia digestível foi de 3.375 e 3.093 kcal.kg
-1
MS para cobaias
adultas e em crescimento respectivamente (p<0,001). A farinha de
FSBM é uma boa opção para alimentação de cobaias em crescimento
e adultas devido ao seu alto valor nutricional e digestibilidade.
Palavras-chave: Cavia porcellus, Glycine max, digestibilidade,
energia, valor nutricional.
Introduction
A diet meeting nutritional requirements serves as the foundation
for the successful production of any animal species (Wu, 2022).
Information regarding the nutritional contribution of feeds to fulll
animal nutritional requirements is crucial (Keeble, 2023), as it allows
an understanding of the level of utilization of nutrients and energy.
That is why the study of chemical composition and digestibility is
the rst step in carrying out its nutritional value (Wang et al., 2022).
Soybean meal (SBM) is a source of protein and indispensable
amino acids (Zhang et al., 2013) which are present in relatively low
concentrations in commonly used feed grains (Degola et al., 2019).
In addition to the above, SBM is highly digestible (Lagos & Stein,
2017), resulting in lower nitrogen excretion. Due to these benets,
is widely used in formulating diets for ruminant and non-ruminant
animals, companion animals, or in aquaculture (Shen et al., 2015).
The nutritive value and chemical composition of SBM depend
on the environmental conditions, climatic changes, seed variety,
harvesting, oil extraction, storage, topography, and soil fertility
(Stefanello et al., 2016; Degola et al., 2019; Ibáñez et al., 2020;
Arjona-Smith et al., 2022).
Andean mountains are cultural landscapes, where Cavia porcellus
L. is considered a cultural and natural resource to improve the quality
of life and economic sustainability in the Andean communities
(Patiño et al., 2021). The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), is a rodent
mammal native to South America, it is a small animal, easy to handle,
with short production cycles (Patiño et al, 2019). The guinea pig is
a non-ruminant herbivorous species with post-gastric fermentation
(Karasov & Douglas, 2013; Crowley et al., 2017) that develops a
colonic separation mechanism, with a high capacity to digest brous
feeds and dietary protein (Wen-Shyg et al., 2000; Franz et al.,
2011). The caecum occupies most of the abdominal cavity (Imam,
et al. 2021). In guinea pigs, the colon-rectum is the primary site for
fermentation (Chiou et al., 2000; Grant et al., 2014) and ferments
the ber better than other monogastric animals (Castro-Bedriñana &
Chirinos-Peinado, 2021). Guinea pigs exhibit vigorous coprophagy;
its physiological signicance lies in the use of bacterial proteins and
vitamins B or K synthesized by microorganisms in the large intestine;
this coprophagy changes according to nutritional requirements, such
as growth, reproduction, or aging (Ebino, 1993).
It is important to know the nutritional value of feeds, to formulate
economically viable diets and achieve high yields, which requires
determining their energy content, availability of nutrients, and
chemical composition (Castro-Bedriñana & Chirinos-Peinado,
2021). On the other hand, the productivity of guinea pigs can be
increased, among other things, by improving their diet and, above
all, by providing them with a balanced feed ration (Wauo et al.,
2020) using ingredients such as soybean meal. However, there is very
little information on its level of use in this animal species. This study
aimed to determine the digestible nutrients and energy of full-fat
soybean meal and the eect of its variation in incorporation levels in
the diet of guinea pigs.
Materials and methods
The study was conducted at a guinea pig production farm and the
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition of the Universidad Nacional de San
Antonio Abad del Cusco (Peru), situated at an altitude of 3230 above
sea level.
Animals and housing
Thirty improved type I guinea pig males (Perú breed) were used,
with an average age of two (15 animals) and 10 weeks (15 animals)
with a weight of 318.6 ± 33.6 g and 822.7 ± 68.0 g, respectively.
Individual metabolic cages (0.50 m × 0.25 m × 0.40 m) with manual
feeders, automatic drinkers, and feces collectors were used. The
animals remained there for 21 days, 10 days for acclimation (new
husbandry conditions and feeding), and 11 days for evaluation
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Chillpa-Sencia et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2024 41(4): e244135
3-7 |
(experimental phase). The environmental conditions were controlled
(average temperature 20 °C and humidity 60 %). The lighting was
articial (24 hours) every day.
Treatments, feed, and water supply
A basal diet was used (table 1), from which the weight/weight
percentage substitution was made in proportions of 15 % and 30 %
inclusion of full-fat soybean meal (FSBM). The FSBM used was the
one available on the market, and no additional treatment was done
for its use, because the objective was to value the ingredient as it is
available on the market.
Table 1. The basal diet used in the study and their nutritional
composition.
Ingredients Inclusion level (%)
Corn 10.00
Barley 31.02
Alfalfa meal 12.38
Soybean meal (44 % CP) 11.68
Wheat by-product 32.31
Soybean oil 0.36
Calcium carbonate 0.89
Dicalcium phosphate 0.82
Salt 0.24
Dl-Methionine 0.03
L- Lysine 0.03
Sodium bicarbonate 0.15
Mineral-vitamin premix* 0.10
Calculated composition (as-fed)
Digestible energy, Mcal.kg
-1
2.80
Crude protein, % 16.80
Ether extract, % 2.80
Crude ber, % 9.44
Nitrogen‐free extract, % 55.08
Ash, % 5.31
Lysine, % 0.80
Methionine, % 0.28
Methionine + cystine, % 0.58
Calcium, % 0.80
Available phosphorous, % 0.33
*
Vitamin-mineral premix supplied (per kilogram): Retinol 12,000 IU,
Cholecalciferol 5,000 IU, DL α-tocopherol acetate 30 IU, Menadione bisulfate 3
mg, Thiamin 2 mg, Riboavin 10 mg, Pyridoxine 3 mg, Cyanocobalamin 0.015
mg, Pantothenic acid, 11 mg, Folic acid 2 mg, Niacin 30 mg.
The analysis of the diets and FSBM is shown in table 2. Where
the treatments (T1, T2, and T3) correspond to the diets (basal, 15 %,
and 30 % of substitution), with ve repetitions (guinea pigs) in both
ages (growing and adult).
Guinea pigs were fed once a day (9:00 am) and had free access
to water (automatic drinkers). All diets were provided as a mash, and
the amount of feed supplied each day and any feed refusal (ad libitum
feeding) were recorded (it was > 20 %).
Sample collections and laboratory analysis
The feces were cleaned, weighed, and stored in plastic bags and
frozen (-20 °C) for later analysis. A balance (Sartorius, Germany)
with a capacity of 2.000 ± 0.01 g was used to weigh the feeds, feces,
and animals.
Table 2. Chemical composition of experimental diets and full-fat
soybean meal.
Components (%)
T1 T2 T3 FSBM
Total (As fed) 100 100 100 100
Basal diet 100 85 70 -
Full-fat soybean meal - 15 30 -
Diet and ingredient analysis (DM)
Organic matter 92.39 92.45 92.54 93.59
Crude protein 14.98 21.81 24.63 39.74
Ash 7.61 7.55 7.46 6.41
Ether extract 3.86 6.16 8.53 21.78
Crude ber 14.89 13.55 12.96 7.05
NDF 30.09 27.84 26.77 -
ADF 19.04 17.80 17.74 -
GE, kcal.kg
-1
4363 4538 5050 6676
Abbreviations: DM: Dry matter; GE: gross energy; FSBM: full-fat soybean meal,
NDF: neutral detergent ber, ADF: acid detergent ber.
The samples (feed and feces) were dried at 60 °C (48 hours), in
a forced air circulation oven (FED 720
®
, Binder GmBH, Tuttlingen,
Germany) and ground (1mm screen, Mill in MF10-BASIC, IKA).
Dry matter was determined in a forced air circulation oven (FED
720, Binder) at 105 °C for 16 h (method 950.46B AOAC, 2006). Ash
by incineration samples in a mue furnace (ECO110/9
®
, Protherm,
Ankara, Turkey) at 600 °C for 8 h (method 942.05 AOAC, 2006).
Nitrogen using an elemental analyzer (2400 series II
®
, PerkinElmer)
(method 990.03 AOAC 2007). Crude ber (method 978.10 AOAC,
2006), neutral detergent ber, and acid detergent ber were determined
using an automated ber analysis (FIBRETHERM
®
, Gerhardt,
Germany). Ether extract using an automatic crude fat analyzer
(SOX 606
®
, Hanon, China) (method 920.39 AOAC 2006). The gross
energy was analyzed using an automatic bomb calorimeter (6400
Calorimeter, Parr, USA). Samples were weighed on an analytical
balance (200 ± 0.01 g, Quintix 224-1X, Sartorius, Germany) and an
ultra-microbalance (5 g ± 0.1 µg, AD 6000, Perkin Elmer, USA).
Apparent digestibility
To determine the apparent digestibility (Da) in the diets, the direct
method was used (Castro-Bedriñana & Chirinos-Peinado, 2021):
Da (%) = [(NC (g) - NH (g)) / (NC (g)] x 100, were NC: Nutrient
consumed, NH: Nutrients excreted in feces (Díaz Céspedes et al.,
2021). The Da of FSBM (DAs) was determined using the substitution
method and total fecal collection, accounting for the apparent
digestibility of basal diet (BD) and experimental diets (EpD): DAa
(%) = (100 (EpD - BD)) / S + BD, were EpD: apparent digestibility of
experimental diets, BD: apparent digestibility of basal diet, S: FSBM
substitution level (Baker et al., 2014; Díaz Céspedes et al., 2021).
Digestible energy
Apparent digestible energy (EDa) was expressed on a dry basis:
EDa (kcal.kg
-1
) = GE - (EH x Qh) / Qa, where GE: gross feed energy
(kcal.kg
-1
), EH: gross energy of feces (kcal.kg
-1
), Qh: amount of feces
produced per day (kg), and Qa: amount of feed consumed per day
(kg) (Díaz Céspedes et al., 2021).
Statistical analysis
Firstly, the normal distribution (Anderson and Darling tests)
and homogeneity of variance (Levene’s test) were veried. The
data were analyzed using a factorial ANOVA that included the level
of inclusion of FSBM (0, 15, and 30 %), age groups (growing and
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2024, 41(4): e244135 October-December. ISSN 2477-9407.
4-7 |
adult), and their interaction. Dierences among treatments means
were determined by Tukey’s multiple range test. A p-value < 0.05
was considered statistically signicant. Each guinea pig was treated
as the experimental unit. A correlation analysis was performed
between the nutritional composition of the diets with the feed intake
and digestibility.
Results and discussion
Feed intake and apparent digestibility in diets
Table 3 shows the values of intake, feces, and digestibility of
guinea pigs fed increasing levels of FSBM. There was an interaction
among ages and treatment for consumption of DM, OM, CP, EE, gross
energy (p<0.05), and excretion of CP (p<0.01), while for digestibility
there was interaction in CP, and EE (p<0.01).
Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher in the adult guinea pigs (45.9
± 12.4 g.d
-1
) than in growing ones (21.0 ± 3.85 g.d
-1
) (p<0.01), and
diered between treatments and the interaction between age groups
and level of inclusion of FSBM (p<0.05), where the highest DMI
was observed with 15 and 30 % of FSBM in the adult guinea pigs.
The increase in the level of FSBM improved DMI in adult guinea
pigs, but in growing guinea pigs, the highest inclusion reduced DMI
(p<0.03), the same result was observed with the intake of organic
matter. Likewise, dierences were observed in the intake of crude
protein, and ether extract, between age, treatment, and their interaction
(p<0.01) where adult guinea pigs with 30 % of FSBM inclusion had
the highest intake (p<0.01).
On the other hand, crude ber intake was dierent between
ages (p<0.01) and was higher for adults than growing guinea pigs
(p<0.01; 6.31 vs 2.86 g.d
-1
), but no signicant dierences were found
between treatments and their interaction (p>0.05). Energy intake
diered between ages, treatments, and interactions (p<0.01). Energy
consumption was higher in adult guinea pigs with 30 % inclusion of
FSBM than in the other treatments, and in all cases, this consumption
was higher in adult guinea pigs compared to growing animals (214.14
vs 97.53 kcal.d
-1
).
Voluntary feed intake is inuenced by both animal and feed
factors (Riaz et al., 2014) hence the productivity of guinea pigs can
be improved, above all, by providing a well-balanced ration (Wauo
et al., 2020). In this case, the observed variation in feed intake and
nutrient levels would be related to the nutritional content of the diets.
Nutrient intake in mammalian herbivores is dependent on the energy
density of the diets, quantity, and nutritional composition of the plant
species and plant parts they consume (Castro-Bedriñana & Chirinos-
Peinado, 2021). It has long been suggested that the capacity of the
digestive tract is an important limiting factor in feeding; this seems
to be especially true for ruminants, in which fermenting bulky feed
remains in the rumen for very long periods (Forbes, 2007). T1 and T2
had the highest levels of ber (14.89 % and 13.55 % respectively),
which would have determined greater cecal retention. In guinea pigs
increased cecal retention time limits their ability to increase feed
intake and recover soluble nutrients on poorly digestible high-ber
diets (Stevens and Hume, 1998), thereby limiting the feed intake of
dry matter and nutrients, since an inverse relationship exists between
the level of dietary ber (CF, FDN, and FDA) and the feed intake of
dry matter (R
2
= 0.846).
If nutrient requirements increase in proportion to metabolic
requirements, and feed intake is restricted directly by gut capacity,
small herbivores must consume highly concentrated diets of nutrients
(Karasov & Douglas, 2013), as observed in the present study, where
the highest consumption was with the T3, which had the lowest
ber content in the diet (12.96 %), on similar way, voluntary feed
intake in the pig, is aected by dietary factors, were the pig adjust
the feed intake to maintain its energy requirement, although the level
of energy intake slightly declines as energy concentration decreases,
due a progressive limitation of gastrointestinal capacity before energy
demand is met, as diet bulkiness becomes more important (Henry,
1985). However, control of feed intake is complex and even if this
perspective were correct, multiple factors (energy concentration,
protein level and amino acid balance, etc) can compromise the
appropriate adjustment in feed intake (Classen, 2017).
The dry and organic matter content in the feces diered between
ages (p<0.05), being higher in adults than in growing guinea pigs
(7.90 vs 4.88 g.d
-1
); but no signicant dierences were found between
treatments and the interaction of age by treatment (p>0.05). For crude
protein content in feces, signicant dierences were found for the
age-by-treatment interaction (p<0.01), where the excretion was
higher in adults than in growing in the three treatments.
The excretion of EE, and CF, had dierences either between
ages and treatments (p<0.01), no signicant dierences were found
between the interaction of age by treatment (p>0.05). The highest
excretion (EE and CF) was in adults (p<0.01). When evaluating the
level of inclusion of FSBM, the excretion of EE was greater at 30
% than with other treatments (p<0.01), and the excretion of CF was
higher at 15 and 30 % (p<0.01). The energy excretion was higher in
adults than in growing (p<0.01), no signicant dierences were found
between treatment and, the interaction of age by treatment (p>0.05).
Dierences were observed in the digestibility of DM, OM, CP,
EE, CF, and energy between ages (p<0.01), being greater in adults
compared to growing guinea pigs. The greatest dierence observed
was for EE (19 %), CP, and CF (10 %) in the other nutrients this
dierence was small. As indicated above, the interaction eect for
CP and EE digestibility was greater in adults with 15 and 30 %
FSBM (p<0.01) than in others. Regarding the treatments, signicant
dierences were observed for the digestibility of DM, CP, EE, CF,
and energy (p<0.01), and in all cases, the digestibility was higher
in treatments T3 and T2 than in T1. Digestible energy (DE), was
dierent between ages and treatments but no dierence was observed
in the interactions (p<0.01), being greater in adults (3,782.95
kcal.kg
-1
DM) than in growing (3,479.10 kcal.kg
-1
DM) (p<0.01).
With the treatments, the ED was high with the T3 compared to the
other treatments (p<0.01).
As a general rule, digestive eciency declines with an increasing
amount of refractory material in feed (Karasov & Douglas, 2013).
The feed of the guinea pigs contains very variable amounts of pro-
tein, ber, fat, and energy, and the majority is brous nature. Feeds
rich in ber (insoluble ber) and ash are associated with less uti-
lization of nutrients and energy (Cheeke et al., 2020), while feeds
rich in raw protein (dierent levels of protein) and energy are asso
-
ciated with greater utilization (digestibility) of nutrients and energy
(Castro-Bedriñana & Chirinos-Peinado, 2021; Farías-kovac et al.,
2020). This eect was observed in the study where the digestibility
of nutrients and energy was lower with the higher level of crude
ber, NDF, ADF, and ash, but it was high with increasing level of
protein showing a high correlation between the level of dietary pro-
tein and digestibility (R
2
= 0.842).
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Chillpa-Sencia et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2024 41(4): e244135
5-7 |
Table 3. Feed intake and apparent digestibility with the inclusion of FSBM in growing and adult guinea pigs (dry matter basis).
Diets
Growing Adult
SEM
p-value
T1 T2 T3 T1 T2 T3
Treat-
ment
Age T × A
Feed intake (g.day
-1
)
Dry matter 19.97
cB
22.69
cB
20.29
cB
42.72
bA
45.20
aA
49.68
aA
4.17 0.034 0.001 0.029
Organic matter 18.45
cB
20.98
cB
18.78
cB
39.47
bA
41.79
aA
45.98
aA
1.97 0.031 0.001 0.028
Crude protein 2.99
eB
4.95
dB
4.99
dB
6.40
cA
9.86
bA
12.24
aA
0.51 0.001 0.001 0.001
Ether extract 0.79
dB
1.36
dB
1.73
cB
1.65
cA
2.78
bA
4.24
aA
0.21 0.001 0.001 0.001
Crude ber 2.99
B
2.91
B
2.70
B
6.36
A
6.12
A
6.52
A
0.47 0.671 0.001 0.570
Energy (kcal.d
-1
) 87.15
cB
102.99
cB
102.45
cB
186.40
bA
205.12
bA
250.89
aA
1.50 0.001 0.001 0.001
Excreted feces (g.day
-1
)
Dry matter 5.68
B
4.90
B
4.93
B
9.67
A
7.91
A
9.06
A
0.58 0.107 0.001 0.466
Organic matter 5.15
B
4.45
B
4.49
B
8.69
A
7.03
A
7.97
A
0.60 0.062 0.001 0.370
Crude protein 1.03
bB
0.83
bB
0.84
bB
1.12
abA
1.12
abA
1.36
aA
0.05 0.208 0.231 0.005
Ether extract 0.31
bA
0.29
bA
0.35
aA
0.22
bB
0.21
bB
0.29
aB
0.02 0.001 0.001 0.874
Crude ber 1.53
aB
1.21
bB
1.14
bB
2.48
aA
1.82
bA
2.12
bA
0.15 0.001 0.001 0.159
Energy (kcal.d
-1
) 26.22
B
24.39
B
23.46
B
42.14
A
34.97
A
40.26
A
0.55 0.001 0.132 0.335
Apparent digestibility (%)
Dry matter 71.54
bB
77.24
aB
75.61
aB
76.65
bA
83.42
aA
80.95
aA
1.04 0.001 0.002 0.742
Organic matter 72.12
B
77.65
B
75.96
B
77.25
A
84.09
A
81.89
A
0.60 0.062 0.001 0.367
Crude protein 65.45
cB
82.38
bB
83.22
bB
81.99
bA
84.27
aA
88.42
aA
0.53 0.001 0.001 0.001
Ether extract 60.23
eB
73.48
dB
79.45
cB
86.01
bA
92.64
aA
92.82
aA
0.13 0.001 0.001 0.001
Crude ber 47.96
bB
58.43
aB
55.84
aB
59.08
bA
70.15
aA
66.65
aA
0.57 0.001 0.001 0.166
Energy 70.04
bB
76.53
aB
77.02
aB
76.63
bA
83.87
aA
83.16
aA
0.61 0.001 0.001 0.892
Digestible energy
Kcal.kg
-1
MS 3,065.32
cB
3,482.50
bB
3,889.49
aB
3,343.33
cA
3,806.23
bA
4,119.28
aA
33.79 0.001 0.001 0.924
a,b,c
Lowercase letters indicate dierences between treatments within each age group (p<0.05).
A,B
Uppercase letters indicate dierences between age groups (p<0.05).
SEM: Standard error of the mean.
Although the digestibility of the ber was indeed lower compared to
the other nutrients, the values were high when compared to rabbits
and rats. So, the guinea pig is more ecient than the rabbit in diges-
ting the crude ber and digests the organic matter and crude ber as
eciently as horses and ponies (Slade & Hintz, 1969). This is possi-
ble due to the relatively longer length of the large intestine in guinea
pigs, which is the major site for fermentation (Chiou et al., 2000),
and the caecum occupies most of the abdominal cavity (Imam, et al.
2021).
Additionally, the guinea pig exhibited vigorous coprophagy
(Ebino, 1993) with a colonic separation mechanism (Wen-Shyg et al.,
2000) and slower, potentially less complete removal of bacteria from
the digestion plug in a larger colon. The vigorous coprophagy, have
a physiological signicance lies in the use of bacterial proteins and
vitamins B or K synthesized by microorganisms in the large intestine
(Ebino, 1993). It probably also explains the higher digestibility of
ber from the same feed in guinea pigs and other herbivorous rodents
as compared with rabbits (Franz et al., 2011).
Digestibility of nutrients and digestible energy of full-fat
soybean meal
The digestibility of DM, OM, and the nutrients of the FSBM, is
shown in table 4. It is observed that the digestibility values are higher
in adults for all nutrients than in growing guinea pigs (p<0.01). Also,
it is seen that the digestibility values are lower than 70 % for CP,
EE, and CF in growing guinea pigs, and for adults, these values are
low in crude ber (60.92 %). The digestible energy of FSBM meal
was dierent between adults and growing guinea pigs (p<0.01), this
value was 3,375 kcal.kg
-1
DM for adults and 3,093 kcal.kg
-1
DM for
growing guinea pigs, where the digestibility was higher for adults
(50.56 %) than in growing guinea pigs (46.33 %) (p<0.01).
Table 4. Digestibility of the nutrients and energy digestible to
full-fat soybean meal in growing and adult guinea pigs
(dry basis).
Ingredient Growing Adult SEM p-Value
Digestibility, %
Dry matter 72
b
77
a
0.607 0.001
Organic matter 72
b
78
a
0.613 0.001
Crude protein 66
b
82
a
1.89 0.001
Ether extract 60
b
87
a
3.12 0.001
Crude ber 50
b
61
a
1.24 0.001
DE, kcal.kg
-1
MS 3,093
b
3,375
a
33.2 0.001
Digestibility, % 46
b
51
a
0.497 0.001
A, B
Letters indicate dierences (p<0.01). SEM: Standard error of the mean.
Nutrient digestibility of FSBM was lower than in diets, especially
in ber, which could be attributed to the fact that raw soybeans
This scientic publication in digital format is a continuation of the Printed Review: Legal Deposit pp 196802ZU42, ISSN 0378-7818.
Chillpa-Sencia et al. Rev. Fac. Agron. (LUZ). 2024 41(4): e244135
6-7 |
have anti-nutritional quality factors (Colombino et al., 2023), which
inuence the utilization of its nutrients mainly in growing guinea
pigs. The digestibility of non-starch polysaccharides is aected by a
multitude of factors, including animal species, age groups of animals,
solubility, chemical structure, and their quantity in the diet (Valentine
et al., 2017).
In this case, the age of the guinea pigs had a marked eect on
the digestibility of nutrients and energy in the diets and FSBM,
determining that the values of digestible energy were higher for adult
guinea pigs than in growing, attributable to the dierences in their
physiological development of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the
digestive capacity, enzymatic production, and fermentation capacity
would not have been sucient to achieve the best use of nutrients and
energy (Fernández et al., 1986; Sciellour et al., 2018). Similar eects
were observed in pigs, where digestibility of NSP increases with the
age of animals since grower and nisher pigs can utilize dietary ber
better than young piglets (Sciellour et al., 2018).
Conclusions
The digestibility of dry matter and nutrients in full-fat soybean
meal are high, exhibiting greater values in adults than in growing.
The inclusion level of full-fat soybean meal in the diets aected the
digestibility of nutrients, being higher with high levels, associated
with the high crude protein, and fat content and lower ber. The
digestible energy of full-fat soybeans was dierent between the
ages, being 3,093 and 3,375 kcal.kg
-1
DM, with 46 % and 51 % of
digestibility for growing and adult guinea pigs respectively.
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