Respuesta bioquímica y morfométrica a la incorporación de pescado, pollo y carne vacuna en la dieta de Caiman yacare en cautiverio

Abstract

Nutritional biochemical indicators, liveweight and corporal dimensions allow to evaluate the impact of different diets regarding the growth of Caiman yacare, as well as to optimize their commercial breeding. In a hatchery located in northeast Argentina, three diets were evaluated using 60 sub-adults specimens (liveweigh: 1.46 ± 0.06 kg and muzzle-sewer longitude: 37.29 ± 0.28 cm), divided in three groups of 20 animals each (50% each sex). All animals received a basal diet (70%) of balanced food (DM 88%, CP 30%, EE 11%, ash 4.5%) and a supplementation (30%) that varied according to the group (bovine meat, chicken or fish). At the beginning and the end of the trial (170 days) weighings and corporal measurements of the reptiles were carried out. Also, blood analysis (nutritional profile) were performed in 10 animals of each group (50% of each sex). Through a totally randomized design, the analysis of the covariance (ANCOVA) was carried out. Parameters such as longitude and head wide, as well as values of total protein, albumin, albumin-globulin ratio, hematocrit, hemoglobin, glucose and potassium didn't reveal significant differences among diets. Caimans that received the food supplemented with chicken showed higher increments of liveweight, total longitude, muzzle-sewer longitude, and thoracic perimeter, as well as superior levels of total globulin, beta globulin, total cholesterol, C-LDL, sodium and inorganic phosporous (p<0.05). Animals that received fish exhibited significantly higher blood levels of alpha and gamma globulins, creatinine, C-HDL, fructosamine and calcium. Reptilian supplemented with bovine meat presented higher levels of urea, triglycerides and magnesium (p<0.05). No cases compatible with nutritional deficiencies were registered. On the contrary, results indicate that the three supplements revealed to be useful for feeding C. yacare, especially with chicken meat for its significant repercussion on the increment of liveweight and corporal dimensions of caimans.