 |
Diet: High Energy Guinea Pig Pellets
A Guinea Pig diet specifically designed for breeding
colonies where fresh supplementary feeds are not used.
-
Energy has been increased by around 10% over the standard
diet. Protein has been increased slightly, fibre reduced,
lipid energy increased and carbohydrate energy maintained.
Lipid source has been broadened to maximize range of fatty
acids and maximize polar lipids (important precursors for
prostaglandin biosynthesis). These modifications were made
after it was found that breeding guinea pigs fed the
standard GPR diet without fresh food supplementation had a
higher incidence of late pregnancy toxemia. This problem was
not found in any breeding facilities where the standard GPR
diet was fed along with a range of fresh fruit or
vegetables.
-
For animal breeding facilities with relatively small,
open Guinea Pig breeding colonies we would recommend a mixed
feeding regime of GPR and fresh fruit / vegetables.
-
The formulation includes a form of vitamin C with good
stability, however it is known that considerable vitamin C
degradation occurs on autoclaving the diet at
1200 C. Whilst we have had no reports of symptoms
of vitamin C deficiency in colonies fed this diet
exclusively, we would recommend that the water of all Guinea
Pigs be supplemented with Vitamin C.
-
Feed is manufactured as a cylindrical pellet 4 mm
diameter and 4 - 10 mm long.
-
The diet is packed in bags suitable for direct loading
into an autoclave.
-
If the diet is to be autoclaved, the recommended
conditions are: Autoclave at 120O C for 20
minutes with a post autoclaving vacuum drying cycle. Some
clumping of the diet can be expected, but the diet clumps
can usually be easily broken. Modifying the drying time to
leave some residual moisture in the diet can minimize the
clumping. Do not autoclave at 1350 C as this will
result in significant clumping that will be difficult to
break.
All information copyright 2002. Specialty Feeds Pty Ltd.
|
 |