Butirato de sodio en la eficiencia productiva de cuyes parrilleros suplementados con alimento artesanal y balanceado

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of sodium butyrate (SB) to improve the productive efficiency of guinea pigs supplemented with artisanal feed (AF) or balanced feed (BF). A total of 48 guinea pigs of both sexes of the Colorada line, 21 ± 5 days old, were used and housed in four-level battery cages. Weight gain (WG), feed conversion efficiency (FC) and carcass yield (CY) were evaluated in response to the following treatments: T1 (AF without BS), T2 (AF with 500 ppm BS), T3 (AF with 1000 ppm BS), T4 (BF without BS), T5 (BF with 500 ppm BS) and T6 (BF with 1000 ppm BS). Data were analyzed using a randomized block design with a 3x2 factorial arrangement, considering the levels of BS inclusion and the type of feed supplement as factors of interest, and the sex of the animal as a block. The inclusion of BS had no significant effect (p>0.05) on the improvement of the WG or the CY; however, a favorable effect (p<0.05) was observed in the improvement of the FC at the level of 1000 ppm. In conclusion, regardless of the type of supplementation, sodium butyrate contributes to the improvement of the feed conversion efficiency of the Colorada line guinea pigs due to a lower intake, but it does not influence weight gain or carcass yield.