Producción y rentabilidad de cuyes alimentados con arbustivas forrajeras tropicales en zona rural de Quevedo, Ecuador

Abstract The objective of the study was to determine the productive behavior and profitability of guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) under the effect of consumption of tropical forages (Morus alba, Erythrina poeppigiana and Tithonia diversifolia). A complete randomized design was applied with six repetitions, the experimental unit was made of two guinea pigs, 48 male guinea pigs of 30 days of age and average weight of 363.54 g were used. Balanced consumption (CB) g, forage intake (CF) g, total feed consumption (CAT) g, weight gain (GP) g, feed conversion ratio (ICA) and carcass yield (RC) % were evaluated. The highest sales income for meat produced and the highest benefit/cost was recorded by treatment T2 ($ 5,93 cuy-1 and 1,64 cuy-1), representing the equilibrium point of $ 3,44 animal-1 it shows that is a good alternative for raising guinea pigs.