DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2022.v09i07.003

Pages: 91-98

A study was conducted on 48 guinea pigs (24 females: 522.21±28.88g and 24 males: 566.75±43.13g) of local breed of Cameroon to evaluate the mineral content of their meat. Animals were fed with Pennisetum purpureum ad libitum supplemented with one of the experimental diets: ML 0% (Control), ML 8%, ML 10% and ML 12% containing respectively 0, 8, 10 and 12 % of cassava leaf meal (CLM). Each of the 4 diets was assigned to 4 groups of animals corresponding to the 4 treatments/Diets and these animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with 12 replicates per ration, six of which were per sex and per group. After sacrifice of animals at 22nd weeks, the meat from the Loin, Thigh and Shoulder, were analyzed. Results revealed that mineral contents of females meat were higher than those of males: Sodium content was highest (p<0.05) in the Shoulder (48.34%) of females fed Control diet; Females fed ML 12% diet registered at Shoulder’s level higher (p<0.05) concentrations of Calcium and Iron (14.64 and 46.78 % respectively) just like in the same part, Potassium and Zinc contents were the most (p<0.05) abundant (9.49 and 4.11% respectively). This study revealed that guinea pig’s meat is particularly poor in Magnesium (0.95%). The greatest (p<0.05) Iron content was at shoulder’s level (46.78 mg / gDM) of females receiving ML 12%. These results suggest that CLM can improve mineral content of guinea pig’s meat.