Phenotypic characterization of linear body measurements of Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in the middle belt of Ghana
Abstract
The study was carried out to investigate the phenotypic characteristics, relationship between body weight and linear body measurements of Guinea pigs in the middle belt of Ghana. A total number of 367 Guinea pigs of about four weeks old were used for the study. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, 310 Guinea pigs were sampled using snowball sampling method. Fifty four Guinea pigs were reared for four months in the second phase. Simple linear regression equation was used for body weight and linear body measurements. All the data were analyzed by using R statistical software version 4.2.1 and SPSS version 21.0. The effects of location had significant (p ≤ 0.01) variation effect on Guinea pigs whilst sex did not have significant effect (p > 0.05) on Cavies. The highest correlation value (0.91) was between body length and heart girth. The least correlation value (0.21) was found between body weight and foreleg length. The simple linear regression equation: Y= -214.69+5.51BL+10.11HG+15.74HW+18.16HL-7.74HLL-5.34FLL, body length (BL), heart girth (HG), height-at-withers (HW) and head length (HL) were the best predictor of body weight in Guinea pigs with R2 of 0.80. The best time to predict the body weight of Guinea pig was in week 2. However, it was concluded that the linear body measurements of Guinea pigs in the middle belt of Ghana serve as good indicators to predict live body weight which breeders can use for breeding purposes.
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Introduction
Characterizing indigenous breeds are very essential because they are well adapted to the local environment and require very little economic inputs for their sustenance (APD, 2003). Characterization is paramount for conservation and sustainable utilization of farm animal genetic resources, especially local breeds that are often less envisaged due to their relatively low production potential (Adjei et al., 2015).
Phenotypic characterization generally refers to the process of identifying distinct breed populations and describing their external and production characteristics within a given production environment (Karnuah et al., 2018). Phenotypic characterization describes how to conduct a study on a specific animal population and its production environment which includes; details of what to measure, how to take these measurements and how to interpret them (FAO, 2012). It provides the prerequisite information and guidelines on genetic and molecular characterization (FAO, 2011).
Guinea pigs are widely reared for meat in Latin America and many African countries but their production has received virtually no attention from government institutions and agricultural sector policymakers (AU-IBAR, 2019). Ghana has various breeds of domestic animal species that contribute to agriculture and food security, but there is little knowledge on the characteristics of some of the breeds (APD, 2003). Micro livestock are likely to become increasingly important as a result of rapid increase inhuman population and urbanization (Assan, 2014). Guinea pigs appear to be cheaper and achievable solution that can be used to supplement and compensate for the protein insufficiency in rural areas for many reasons (Handlos, 2018). However, characterizing indigenous breeds and their subsequent description would assist in the development of economically low esteemed areas of every region through the evaluation of local breeds and thereby promoting conservation of local breeds and preservation of biodiversity (De Marchi et al., 2003).
Ayagirwe et al. (2019) indicated that Guinea pigs can be phenotypically characterized based on their observable quantitative traits such as; body weight, head length, body length, heart girth and height.
In accordance with Animal Production Directorate (2003) stated that Ghana Animal Genetic Diversity must conserve indigenous breeds and improve upon their sustainability. Now, it is imperative to characterize these wonderful animals (Guinea pigs) for food, income, multiplication and research.
Conclusion
Basically indigenous Guinea pigs in the middle belt of Ghana were small in size with Ahafo region being superior in body weight and linear body measurements. Matured Guinea pigs had an average body weight of 405.19 gwhen they are about 90 days old and even more. The sexes did not have influence on Guinea pigs production. The body length highly correlated with heart girth (0.91), followed by body weight and body length; hind leg length and foreleg length (0.87). The least correlation value (0.21) was between body weight and foreleg length. The association between these body dimensions would be a good asset to estimate the carcass weight of the Guinea pigs in the middle belt of Ghana. Body length (BL), heart girth (HG), height-at-withers (HW) and head length (HL) were the best predictor of body weight in Guinea pigs. Predictive equation could be useful by farmers, researchers and animal processors to determine the body weight of Guinea pigs. Linear body measurements of Cavies could be used by breeders for breeding purposes to determine various body measurements in the areas where there is scarcity of weighing scale and tape measures.
