The Effect of Different Levels of Ascoribc Acid in the Diet of Guinea Pigs on Health, Reproduction and Survival

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Breeding lots consisting of one male and two female guinea pigs were fed a commercial ration essentially free of ascorbic acid. A total of 207 guinea pigs was divided into 4 groups (each group consisting of 16 to 19 lots) and given daily supplements of ascorbic acid per guinea pig, respectively, 2, 4, 6 or 8 mg. These levels of ascorbic acid were continued throughout the life of the breeders. The 8-mg level of ascorbic acid was significantly superior to all other levels in terms of the number of pregnancies per female and in the number of total and living young. The females receiving the 8-mg level had a somewhat longer reproductive period. Average total birth weight of the young was greater and their period of survival tended to be longer. Under the conditions of stress of pregnancy in this study, the average age at death of the females was respectively for the 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-mg levels, 542, 647, 665 and 420 days. There were no statistically significant differences between any of these averages because of the large variation in age at death of the individual females.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: