Desempenho reprodutivo de matrizes de paca Cuniculus paca em relação a alimentação e sua viabilidade econômica

Abstract

Breeding wild animals in captivity has become an increasingly common practice in recent years. This activity offers benefits to both wildlife and breeders, representing an additional source of income. However, this area is still relatively little explored, lacking information on management practices that can maximize production. One of the essential factors in managing animals in captivity is the feed provided, and this can play a significant role in the reproductive potential and performance of the herd. In this context, the main objective of the present study was to analyze the impact of the food provided on the reproduction of the paca (Cuniculus paca) and also to evaluate the weight gain of the animals. To achieve these objectives, the study was carried out in four pens with a total of seven animals in each pen, applying two different diets. The first diet consisted of corn grain plus concentrated feed, while the second had a 30% replacement of the first diet with fruit, fed a few times a week. The inclusion of fruits in the diet aimed to promote animal health, improve their performance and reduce production costs. In this way, some parameters were evaluated, including reproductive characteristics and the development of the animals, such as the weight of the puppies at birth and at five months of age. During the process, the collected data was subjected to the Mann-Whitney test, a non-parametric statistical test for independent samples. The results revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two diets in relation to the animals’ weight development and reproduction. Additionally, we performed an analysis of the costs associated with feeding corn and feed, compared to feeding that includes fruit. Although we recognize that this study is limited to the reality of the farm in question, we identified a significant reduction in costs in the diet that incorporates fruit. This finding suggests that including fruit in the diet may be a viable strategy for reducing food costs while maintaining animal performance and reproduction. In summary, breeding wild animals in captivity is a growing activity, and the study highlights the importance of food in the reproduction and development of animals. The inclusion of fruit in the diet has shown promise in terms of economics and animal performance, highlighting the need to further explore this approach.