Browsing by Author "Morocho Correa, Kevin Alejandro"

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    Evaluación de la digestibilidad in vitro de la materia seca de dietas a base de subproductos agroindustriales en cobayos (Cavia porcellus)
    (Universidad de Cuenca. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, 2026-02-13) García Fernández, Katherine Maribel; Morocho Correa, Kevin Alejandro; Haro Haro, Andrés Norberto
    The use of agro-industrial by-products in guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) feeding represents a strategic alternative to reduce feeding costs and improve the sustainability of production systems, provided that adequate nutrient utilization is ensured. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of diets formulated with the inclusion of agroindustrial by-products, based on their chemical composition and in vitro digestibility. Experimental diets were formulated including broccoli and cabbage at inclusion levels of 5 and 20%. In vitro dry matter digestibility was evaluated using a three-stage system simulating ileal digestion and cecal fermentation, including pH measurement and gas production as indicators of fermentative activity. The diets showed a balanced chemical composition, with crude protein contents ranging from 14 to 16%, low lignin levels (2.4 and 2.9%), and moderate concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (32 and 36%). Ileal dry matter digestibility did not differ among treatments (P > 0.05). However, fecal and total dry matter digestibility showed significant differences (P < 0.01), mainly attributable to cecal fermentation. Diets with 20% inclusion of by-products, particularly broccoli, exhibited higher total dry matter digestibility values (up to 62%) and greater cumulative gas production, associated with a lower cecal pH. In conclusion, the inclusion of agro-industrial by-products in guinea pig diets does not affect pre-cecal enzymatic digestion but significantly modulates cecal fermentation, thereby improving overall dry matter utilization. These results support the use of plant by-products as nutritionally viable alternatives in guinea pig feed, provided they are formulated considering their impact on cecal fermentation dynamics.