Selection of future guinea pig parents using a selection index that includes productive and morphological traits

Abstract

The study aimed to identify and select genetically superior male guinea pigs through productive and morphological traits. A genetic index was constructed to determine the Probable Breeding Value (PVB) for characteristics such as weight gain (IPT), body length (CL), thoracic perimeter (PT) and feed conversion (CA). Forty weaned guinea pigs were housed in individual cages according to a completely randomized design, distributed in two treatments, Valle Cajamarca guinea pigs and Valle Condebamba guinea pigs. Each treatment with 20 repetitions. No significant differences (p>0.05) were found in the IPT, LC and PT indicators; however, the Condebamba Valley guinea pigs were more efficient in AC compared to the Cajamarca Valley (p<0.05). The partial PVB values of the top 50% (The 10 best guinea pigs in each group) for each trait were highly variable between both ecotypes. The best Selection Index value in the Cajamarca Valley guinea pigs was 1124.82 and in the Condebamba Valley guinea pigs, was 1158.74, where the Condebamba Valley guinea pigs provided six future reproducers and the Cajamarca Valley population contributed four. It is concluded that the growth indicators and the selection index allow to determine the best male guinea pigs as future breeders based on genetic merit from two ecotypes.