Research Article

EFFECT OF FLAVOMYCIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRIA (MYOCASTOR COYPUS MOL.) WEIGHT GAINS IN THE FINISHING PERIOD

Stanisław Łapiński, Bogusław Barabasz, Piotr Niedbała, Piotr Łapa

Agricultural University of Cracow, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 6(1), 2007, 39‒46

Abstract. The study was carried out using a herd of standard nutria. Animals were fed with feeds with various flavomycin supplements depending on the group (gr. I – control; gr. II – 3 mg; gr. III – 4 mg; gr. IV – 5 mg). Animals in each group were weighed once a week. The data obtained were used to calculate weight gains and growth rate in particular weeks. Results were analysed using three-way analysis of variance (time, ration and sex). Body weight of individuals of each sex differed highly significantly from the beginning of the experiment. The increase in nutria body weight at 7 months of age was highly significant (p  ≤  0.01). The final means of body weight in particular group were not statistically significant (gr. I – 4401 g, SD=585; gr. II – 4904 g, SD = 875; gr. III – 5021 g, SD = 1134; gr. IV – 4593 g, SD = 645). The data obtained did not show statistically significant differences in the body weight gains of nutrias from 7 to 8.5 months of age. The data obtained did not show statistically significant differences in the growth rate of animals receiving different flavomycin supplements.

Keywords: antibiotic growth promoters, flavomycin, Myocastor coypus, Nutria