Experimental ethology of intensively reared lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca).

The objective of this study was to evaluate and to describe the main behaviors of family groups of lowland pacas (Cuniculus paca) raised in a commercial breeding facility. We used 24 adult pacas, 16 females and 8 males, with a mean live weight of 8.2 kg and age ranging from 2 to 4 years. The animals were kept in groups of two females and one male per enclosure. Cameras were used to monitor the animals. The behaviors identified were divided into five categories (maintenance, exploratory, social interaction, reproductive, and environmental interaction). A completely randomized design in a split-split plot arrangement with three treatment factors was used: sex, period of the day, and season. The frequencies of the maintenance and environmental interaction behavioral categories were significantly higher during the day compared to the nocturnal period (P < 0.05). The duration of each behavioral category differed significantly (P < 0.05) between day and night. The frequencies of the maintenance and reproductive behavioral categories were significantly higher during the dry season compared to the rainy season (P < 0.05) and the relative duration of behaviors of the environmental interaction category was shorter during the dry season (P < 0.05). Females exhibited a significantly higher frequency of maintenance and environmental interaction than males (P < 0.05) and the duration of environmental interaction was shorter (P < 0.05) in females. The present results add to the existing knowledge on the behavior of lowland pacas raised in captivity for production of this wild species which is in the stage of domestication.

Digestibility of diets and nutritional value of torula yeast (Candida utilis) for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and agoutis (Dasyprocta spp. ) / Digestibilidade das dietas e valor nutricional da levedura torula (Candida utilis) para coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) e cutias (Dasyprocta spp. )

The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional value of diets that contain torula yeast in rabbits and agoutis and the influence of torula yeast on the apparent digestibility of the nutrients. In the first experiment, 32 New Zealand White rabbits were fed diets with four different levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) of torula yeast that was substituted for soybean meal. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and eight repetitions. The digestibility coefficients (DC) of dry matter (DM; DCDM), crude protein (DCCP), neutral detergent fiber (DDNDF), ether extract (DCEE), and gross energy (DCGE), as well as the mean daily consumption (MDC), were calculated (MDC: 113.98, 113.96, 113.22, and 115.07 g animal-1; DCDM: 71.04%, 69.98%, 67.79%, and 74.08%; DCCP: 80.17%, 79.55%, 75.10%, and 78.47%; DCND: 66.85%, 65.50%, 63.31%, and 70.12%; DCEE: 77.83%, 76.46%, 78.36%, and 82.07%; and DCGE: 71.04%, 69.98%, 68.37%, and 73.82%). No significant effects (P > 0.05) were found on the MDC or the DCs for the different yeast levels, and the inclusion of torula up to 15% did not affect diet digestibility. The digestible energy (DE) (kcal kg-1 DM-1) of a diet with 15% torula yeast was calculated as 2,870.52 with the methodology proposed by Matterson (MMT) and 2,870.89 when corrected by the methodology proposed by Villamide (MVD). Linear regression estimated the DE...(AU)

Objetivou-se a avaliação nutricional das dietas com a inclusão de levedura torula para coelhos e cutias e sua influência sobre a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes. No primeiro experimento, utilizou-se 32 coelhos Nova Zelândia Branco. Avaliou-se quatro níveis de inclusão (0, 5, 10 e 15 %) de torula em substituição ao farelo de soja. O delineamento empregado foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições. Determinaram-se os coeficientes de digestibilidade (CD) da matéria seca (CDMS), da proteína bruta (CDPB), da fibra detergente neutro (CDFDN), do extrato etéreo (CDEE) e da energia bruta (CDEB) das dietas, bem como os valores de energia e proteína digestíveis da torula. Foram obtidos os valores de digestibilidade para CDMS (71,04; 69,98; 67,79 e 74,08 %), CDPB (80,17; 79,55; 75,10 e 78,47 %), CDFDN (66,85; 65,50; 63,31 e 70,12 %), CDEE (77,83; 76,46; 78,36 e 82,07 %) e CDEB (71,04; 69,98; 68,37 e 73,82 %), respectivamente. Não houve efeito significativo (P>0,05) para os CD estudados nos níveis de inclusão da levedura torula nas dietas. Os valores de ED (kcal. kg-1) da torula foi de 2870,52 utilizando-se a metodologia proposta por Matterson (MMT) com 15% de inclusão do alimento e, 2870,89 quando corrigido pela matéria seca do alimento teste conforme Villamide (MVD). O valor estimado da ED (kcal.kg-1) por regressão linear foi de 2805,22. Os valores...(AU)

Digestibility of diets and nutritional value of torula yeast (Candida utilis) for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and agoutis (Dasyprocta spp. ) / Digestibilidade das dietas e valor nutricional da levedura torula (Candida utilis) para coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) e cutias (Dasyprocta spp. )

The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional value of diets that contain torula yeast in rabbits and agoutis and the influence of torula yeast on the apparent digestibility of the nutrients. In the first experiment, 32 New Zealand White rabbits were fed diets with four different levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) of torula yeast that was substituted for soybean meal. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and eight repetitions. The digestibility coefficients (DC) of dry matter (DM; DCDM), crude protein (DCCP), neutral detergent fiber (DDNDF), ether extract (DCEE), and gross energy (DCGE), as well as the mean daily consumption (MDC), were calculated (MDC: 113.98, 113.96, 113.22, and 115.07 g animal-1; DCDM: 71.04%, 69.98%, 67.79%, and 74.08%; DCCP: 80.17%, 79.55%, 75.10%, and 78.47%; DCND: 66.85%, 65.50%, 63.31%, and 70.12%; DCEE: 77.83%, 76.46%, 78.36%, and 82.07%; and DCGE: 71.04%, 69.98%, 68.37%, and 73.82%). No significant effects (P > 0.05) were found on the MDC or the DCs for the different yeast levels, and the inclusion of torula up to 15% did not affect diet digestibility. The digestible energy (DE) (kcal kg-1 DM-1) of a diet with 15% torula yeast was calculated as 2,870.52 with the methodology proposed by Matterson (MMT) and 2,870.89 when corrected by the methodology proposed by Villamide (MVD). Linear regression estimated the DE...

Objetivou-se a avaliação nutricional das dietas com a inclusão de levedura torula para coelhos e cutias e sua influência sobre a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes. No primeiro experimento, utilizou-se 32 coelhos Nova Zelândia Branco. Avaliou-se quatro níveis de inclusão (0, 5, 10 e 15 %) de torula em substituição ao farelo de soja. O delineamento empregado foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições. Determinaram-se os coeficientes de digestibilidade (CD) da matéria seca (CDMS), da proteína bruta (CDPB), da fibra detergente neutro (CDFDN), do extrato etéreo (CDEE) e da energia bruta (CDEB) das dietas, bem como os valores de energia e proteína digestíveis da torula. Foram obtidos os valores de digestibilidade para CDMS (71,04; 69,98; 67,79 e 74,08 %), CDPB (80,17; 79,55; 75,10 e 78,47 %), CDFDN (66,85; 65,50; 63,31 e 70,12 %), CDEE (77,83; 76,46; 78,36 e 82,07 %) e CDEB (71,04; 69,98; 68,37 e 73,82 %), respectivamente. Não houve efeito significativo (P>0,05) para os CD estudados nos níveis de inclusão da levedura torula nas dietas. Os valores de ED (kcal. kg-1) da torula foi de 2870,52 utilizando-se a metodologia proposta por Matterson (MMT) com 15% de inclusão do alimento e, 2870,89 quando corrigido pela matéria seca do alimento teste conforme Villamide (MVD). O valor estimado da ED (kcal.kg-1) por regressão linear foi de 2805,22. Os valores...