World Journal of Environmental Biosciences
World Journal of Environmental Biosciences
2025 Volume 14 Issue 4

Cavia Porcellus: Impact of Dietary Organic Acid Supplementation on Productive Performance, pH, and Intestinal Development


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  1. Faculty of Animal Sciences, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Orellana Campus, El Coca 220150, Ecuador.
Abstract

Guinea pig production has been increasing in Andean production systems in recent years due to their rapid growth, feed efficiency, and the nutritional value of their meat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing the diet with organic acids (propionic, acetic, and formic) on the productive performance, gastrointestinal pH, and intestinal development of guinea pigs during the fattening phase. A total of 160 weaned male and female guinea pigs aged 3 weeks (434.62 ± 9.05 g) were used and distributed using a completely randomized design with a 4x2 factorial design; Three levels of organic acids were applied to the forage twice a week (T1: 2.25 ml; T2: 2.5 ml; T3: 2.75 ml). The animals were fed a diet based on forage and balanced feed (80:20) for 63 days. Productive variables (weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield), digestive organ weight, stomach and cecal pH, and histological parameters (villous length and width, crypt depth) were evaluated. In T2 and T3, production parameters significantly improved (p<0.001), with greater weight increase and carcass yield.. Liver weight increased in the supplemented groups (p=0.024), and pH showed a tendency toward greater acidity in the stomach; however, no differences were found in intestinal morphology. Live weight correlated positively with liver and intestine weight and negatively with gastric pH. Supplementation with organic acids improves productive performance and promotes metabolic development without affecting the intestinal integrity of guinea pigs.


How to cite this article
Vancouver
Masaquiza D, Zapata J, Intriago H, Castañeda S. Cavia Porcellus: Impact of Dietary Organic Acid Supplementation on Productive Performance, pH, and Intestinal Development. World J Environ Biosci. 2025;14(4):1-7. https://doi.org/10.51847/kjbmu5huDc
APA
Masaquiza, D., Zapata, J., Intriago, H., & Castañeda, S. (2025). Cavia Porcellus: Impact of Dietary Organic Acid Supplementation on Productive Performance, pH, and Intestinal Development. World Journal of Environmental Biosciences, 14(4), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.51847/kjbmu5huDc
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