TITLE:
Effect of Cassava Leaf ( Manihot esculenta ) Level in Guinea-Pigs ( Cavia porcellus ) Meal on the Physico-Chemical and Techno-logical Properties of Its Meat
AUTHORS:
Christelle Laure Maguipa Tandzong, Pierre Désiré Mbougueng, Hilaire Macaire Womeni, Nathalie Mveugang Ngouopo
KEYWORDS:
Guinea Pigs, Diet, Cassava Leafs, Physico-Chemical Composition, Meat Technological Properties
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.6 No.15,
November
20,
2015
ABSTRACT: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different rates of dried cassava leafs in diet as replacement of protein sources on the weight gain and carcass yield of guinea-pigs, as well as on the physico-chemical and technological properties of guinea-pigs’ meat. A total of forty-eight (48) eight-week-old guinea-pigs were divided in a completely randomized experimental design, in four groups and fed with the experimental foods. These experimental foods were formulated as follows: cassava-leaf (Manihot esculenta) powder was incorporated at concentrations of 0%, 8%, 10% and 12% respectively in replacement of protein sources for R0, R1, R2 and R3. Each treatment consisted of a group of 12 guinea pigs per paddock (6 males and 6 females). The initial weight (IW), final weight (FW), daily weight gain (DWG) and total gain (TG) were evaluated. At the 22nd week, animals of each group were sacrificed by bleeding, then skinned and eviscerated. Carcasses were cut, and some parts (loin, thigh and shoulder) were collected, deboned and analysed. The highest FW and carcass yield (CY) were obtained with the use of 10% cassava leafs (R2): 556 g (FW), 42.65% (CY) for males and 529.17 g (FW), 37.39% (CY) for females. The incorporation of 8% (R1) and 12% (R3) cassava leafs led to a significant increase (P