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Effects of Two Protein Levels on Growth Rate and Feed Efficiency of Guinea Pigs from Different Inbred Lines¹

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan

Abstract

Two hundred and seven guinea pigs from 12 inbred lines (154 individually fed and 53 group fed) were randomly assigned to one of two rations containing 14 and 23% crude protein, and fed from three to 15 weeks of age. Pigs individually fed the lower protein diet gained significantly more, consumed more feed and were more efficient than pigs on the higher protein diet. Males gained faster, ate more than females but did not show a significantly higher feed efficiency. The lines differed in total gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency. Faster gaining lines tended to eat more and were more efficient than slower gaining lines. The line x sex interaction for feed efficiency was significant, but other first and second order interactions for the three traits compared were nonsignificant.

Average total gain for group fed pigs was higher for those on the lower protein ration. Among the group fed pigs neither the lines nor the two sexes differed significantly in average total gain.

A comparison of group fed and individually fed pigs within a line suggested that pigs in two lines gained more and those in one line gained less under a group-fed regime.

¹ Contribution No. 281, Department of Animal Husbandry.

² Present address: Saigon, Viet Nam.