DIETARY PROTEIN AND WEIGHT GAIN IN CAPTIVE COLLARED PECCARY (PECARI TAJACU) IN LORETO, PERU
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24841//fa.v34i1.796Keywords:
amazonian ecosystems, ex situ wildlife management, nutritional physiology, serum biochemestry, sustainable animal productionAbstract
Pecari tajacu, a wild species of high nutritional value in the Peruvian Amazon, represents a strategic alternative for conservation and sustainable production programs. This study evaluated weight gain in captive individuals subjected to three dietary protein levels at the Pilot Center for Wildlife Breeding of the National University of the Peruvian Amazon (UNAP), Loreto. Twelve individuals of similar age were randomly assigned to three experimental pens. Weight gain and serum biochemical parameters were recorded monthly over a six-month period under diets containing 12% (T1), 14% (T2), and 18% (T3) crude protein. Treatment T3 resulted in a significantly higher average monthly weight gain of 2.4 kg (p < 0.05). A low correlation was observed between serum values and body weight (r = 0.27), while total proteins showed a strong correlation (r = 0.83), and albumin and globulin exhibited a moderate correlation (r = 0.58). In conclusion, the inclusion of plant- and animal-based ingredients with high protein content (18%) enhanced both weight gain and the biochemical profile of the specimens. These findings provide technical evidence to optimize the nutritional management of P. tajacu in controlled breeding systems, with relevant implications for ex situ conservation and rural development in the Amazon region.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Etersit PEZO LOZANO, Marx PEÑA HIDALGO, Mirle CACHIQUE PINCHE, Rolando AQUINO YARIHUAMÁN, Freddy Orlando ESPINOZA CAMPOS, Carlos R. DÁVILA FLORES, Rommel R. ROJAS ZAMORA
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