Efecto de la cascarilla de cacao (Theobroma cacao) sobre los índices productivos en cuyes (Cavia porcellus)

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of cocoa husks (Theobroma cacao) on the feeding of guinea pigs during the fattening stage. This research was carried out in a farm located in Quindialó - Quisapincha. A total of 160 male guinea pigs weighing between 350 and 450 g were weighed with four experimental diets: T1 with 0% inclusion of cocoa husks, T2 with 5% cocoa husks, T3 with 10% cocoa husk and T4 with 15% cocoa husk. The variables evaluated were: daily weight gain, final weight gain and feed conversion. A randomized block design with four treatments and four replicates was used, and the analysis of variance and Tukey test at 5% were performed for the treatments that were statistically significant with the SAS 2000 statistical program. The present investigation shows that the values of initial weight (PI) presented a similar behavior (P = 0.8005), whereas for the final weight (PF) and daily weight gain (GDP) the value for treatment 4 (T4) was (p = 0.0001), with a value of 1189g and 16.10g respectively. In addition, the feed conversion (CA) was also better in treatment 4 (T4) with a value of 4, being significantly higher compared to other treatments. Proving that the inclusion of 15% cocoa shell in diets is efficient to obtain a better productive response in guinea pigs, without causing negative effects in the animals.