Nutritional and ethnobotanical characterization of unconventional forages for guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) production systems in the high-Andean tropics

Guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus ) production represents a key strategy for food security in rural households in the high-Andean region of southern Colombia. However, the sustainability of these production systems is limited by rising dependence on commercial feeds and the loss of traditional knowledge regarding local forage use. This study aimed to characterize the nutritional and ethnobotanical properties of unconventional forages used in guinea pig production systems in the high-Andean tropics. The methodological approach integrated participatory surveys, guided farm recognition, and collective knowledge dialogues to document plant use and management practices. Nutritional composition was assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and compositional variables were analyzed through Principal Component Analysis and hierarchical clustering. A total of 24 forage species from different taxonomic families were identified. Species were grouped by their feeding role and associated with medicinal, human food, soil protection, ornamental, and repellent functions, highlighting their multifunctional value within smallholder systems. Nutritional analysis revealed substantial variability in protein content, structural fiber fractions, mineral composition, and digestibility indicators. Multivariate analysis identified four nutritional forage groups: Group 1 protein–mineral dense forages potentially relevant for growth and reproduction; Group 2 structurally fibrous forages associated with cecal fermentation processes; Group 3 high-moisture forages with intermediate nutritional contribution and complementary bulking function; and Group 4 intermediate-value basal forages. The integration of ethnobotanical knowledge with nutritional evaluation demonstrates that local forage biodiversity constitutes a strategic resource to diversify diets, improve feeding efficiency, reduce reliance on external inputs, and enhance the sustainability of guinea pig production systems in high-Andean tropics in Colombia.