Abstract
This study was conducted within three months at the University of Dschang Research and Application Farm (5°44’-5°36’ et 5°44’-5°37’ LN ; 10°06’-9°94’ et 10°06’-9°85’ LE). The main objective was to evaluate the integration perspectives of caviaculture and fishery. Specifically, the study was aimed at evaluating the production of guinea pig dungs, its bromatological composition and appreciating the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio in other to determine the adequate quantities of manure for a proper fertilization of fish ponds. Hence, 96 guinea pigs weighing averagely 390 ± 110g each were randomly distributed into two comparable lots (floor covered with litter and floor without litter) and were subjected to 8 feeds (5 grasses and 3 legumes). Each lot had 6 repetitions of 8 individuals. The animals were fed three times daily within 30 days. The dungs of guinea pigs were collected after three days between 6 and 8am during the experimental period. They were then selected and weighed using and electric balance of 0.1g sensitivity. At the end of the study, the following results were obtained: a guinea pig of 390 ± 110 g in confinement produced between 51.7 ± 0.4 to 60.5 ± 0.7g (fresh weight) of dung per day. The bromatological analysis of these dungs showed that they are made of organic material (80.0%), dry matter (94.3%), crude protein (10.7%), ash (19.9%) and nitrogen (22.7%). These results attesting the richness of these dungs helped in estimating the quantities (103.4g to 206.8g) of dung/day/100m2 for the breeding of 2 to 4 guinea pigs per fish pond of 100 m2 for an integrated breeding (guinea pig-fish).
Highlights
Malnutrition is one of the main problems that African populations suffer and this is linked to a deficit in protein especially animal protein [1]
This study is aimed at evaluating the production of guinea pigs dungs, its bromatological composition and appreciating the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio in other to determine the quantity of manure necessary for a proper fertilization of fish ponds
At the end of this study on the prospects of integrating caviaculture and fish farming in the Western Region of Cameroon, it appears that the production of guinea-pig manure is of the order of 60.53 ± 0.64g when the floor is littered and of 51.69 ± 0.36g when the floor is not covered
Summary
Malnutrition is one of the main problems that African populations suffer and this is linked to a deficit in protein especially animal protein [1]. Fertilizers are products whose use helps in the maintenance and improvement of primary production and the physical, chemical and biological properties of the pond [9] Their use in fisheries remains limited due to the high competitiveness of agricultural [10] and the nature of large zooplankton produced [11]. Caviaculture is one of the new speculations of animal husbandry of family farms which is strongly promoted today in Cameroon ([12]; [13]; [14]) This breeding is very promising due to the fact that breeding guinea pigs does not need a high capital, their meat are of good quality, no odour and they are suitable as a pet with a ready market ([15]; [16]). This study is aimed at evaluating the production of guinea pigs dungs, its bromatological composition and appreciating the nitrogen/phosphorus ratio in other to determine the quantity of manure necessary for a proper fertilization of fish ponds
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