Use of Implants Regarding Growth Parameters in Black Iguana Young Maintained in Intensive Conditions

Abstract

Implants are used in animal production to increase weight-gain. Due to this, the objective of this study was to evaluate one implant’s effect on the black Iguana’s (Ctenosaura pectinata) weight gain parameters in intensive conditions. Twenty-four iguanas’ young were used in the study, at the age of 13 months old. The experiment lasted nine months. The subjects were kept in individual cages. Two types of commercial feed products were used combined with the use of the implant. The evaluated variables were daily weight gain (mg anim-1 d-1) and longitudinal growth (μ anim-1 d-1): total, snout-vent and of the head. The in vivo apparent digestibility of dry matter and feed conversion (mg) was also measured. In order to analyse these variables, a completely randomised block design, with 2x2 factorial arrangement and six repetitions, was adopted. The initial weight was used as a covariable. The sample results show that daily weight-gain and longitudinal growth (p < 0.06) were different depending on whether their food type was turkey feed with the implant, or chicken feed without the implant. The study concludes that turkey feed combined with the implant Zeranol increased daily weight-gain and total growth of the black iguana young in captivity.