CAFT in Animal Nutrition, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
Present address-Subject Matter Specialist (Animal Science), Agriculture Science Centre, National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack-753006, Odisha, India
*Corresponding author: E-mail: mohanta.ranjan@gmail.com
Online published on 10 May, 2016.
Twenty one adult guinea pigs (BW 583.4±10.1 g) were divided into3 groups of 7 animals each. Animals in group T1 were fed a control (basal) diet while arsenic (As) was added either as sodium arsenite or arsenic trioxide @ 50 mg As/kg in group T2 and T3, respectively. Experimental feeding was continued for 11 weeks including a four days digestion trial. Dry matter intake was lower (P<0.05) and apparent absorption of As was higher (P<0.05) in As exposed groups. Growth rate and feed conversion efficiency were lower (P<0.05) in the arsenic exposed groups irrespective of the As compound. These results indicated that both compounds of arsenic (sodium arsenite and arsenic trioxide) given @ 50 mg/kg diet reduced feed intake, nutrient utilization and growth performance in guinea pigs.
Arsenic, Arsenic trioxide, Growth, Nutrient utilization, Sodium arsenite
