Growth Performance of Grasscutters (Thryonomys Swinderianus) in Captivity Fed on Pelleted Forage and Cassava Tubers with the Peel in Ghana

Authors

  • Seidu J.M College of Agriculture Education, University of Education, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana
  • Dzisi K.Ab College of Engineering, Department of Agriculture Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Addo A.G College of Engineering, Department of Agriculture Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Barte-Plange A. Barte-Plange A. College of Engineering, Department of Agriculture Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
  • Odai , B College of Engineering, Department of Agriculture Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

It was also observed that it would cost GH? 21.70 for one kilogram weight gain feeding the grasscutter with Elephant grass whilst with the pelleted feed it would cost GH? 9.83 and GH? 6.85 for ration 1 and   ration 2 respectively feeding the grasscutter. Grasscutter farmers in Ghana are encouraged to feed their grasscutters with pelleted combination of Elephant grass, gliricidia leaves and cassava with the peel  with either urea or soy meal with other commercial ingredient as complete diets for sustainable grasscutter production in Ghana and countries south of the  sub-Saharan region . 

The study was to investigate the growth performance and quality of the meat of grasscutters in captivity fed on two pelleted diets made of Elephant grass, gliricidia leaves and cassava with the peel with urea as ration 1 and with soy bean meal as ration 2. The control was feeding with only Elephant grass. Feed intake, feed wastage, weight gain were measured and feed conversion ratio was calculated.  Feed intake and feed conversion ration were not significantly different at P> 0.05. Although the feed intake of the experimental animals was low on the pelleted feed their growth rate was numerically higher as compared to those fed on the Elephant grass ( Pennisetum purpurenum) only. The final body weight of the animals fed on the pelleted feed were not significantly different but were significantly different to those fed on the control feed p>0.05. Grasscutters are noted for their feed wastage, in the study feed wastage of the three rations were significantly different p>0.05.with the control feed recording the highest feed wastage. The dressing percentage of carcass  as well as the protein content of the meat of the animal fed on the pelleted diets were not significantly different but were significantly different to those of the control ( p>0.05).  

References

[1 ] Achana, B. (2002). Conservation International’s experience in grasscutter production: Kakum National Park Grasscutter Research Station. Proceedings of Workshop on promoting grasscutter Production for Poverty Reduction in Ghana, Eusbett Hotel, Sunyani, Ghana. K. Atta-Agypong
[2] Adu, E. K. and Rhule, S.W. A. (2005). Preliminary study on the effect of protein supplementation on live weight gain in captive Grasscutters fed freshly cut Panicium maximum. Proceeding of the fourteenth biennial conference of the Ghana society of animal production. Research Memorial Centre, Tamale Ghana. 31st August – 3rd September, 2005: 27-37.
[3 ]Adu, E. K. 2005. Constraints to grasscutter production in Ghana. Proceedings of the International Forum on Grasscutter. Institute of Local Government Studies, Accra, Ghana. Theresa Antoh, Rita Weidinger, Joshua Ahiaba and Antonio Carrilo (Editors). Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana. Dececember, 12 – 16th,2005: 45-50.
[14] Annor, S.Y., Garrick, D. J. and Blair, H. T. 2000. Economic values of traits for beef production in Ghana. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production Africa, 48:97-110.
[5] Annor, S. Y., Kagya-Agyemang, J.K., Abbam, J. E. Y., Oppong, S. K. and Agoe, I.M. 2008. Growth Performance of Grasscutter (Thryonomysswinderianus): eating leaf and stem fractions of guinea grass (Pancium maximum). Livestock Research for Rural developments Volume 20. Article no. 125
[6] Brookes, I.M.,Barry, T.N., and Moughan, P.J. 1992. Nutrition and Feeding of Livestock. Feeding guide No. 2. Department of Animal Science, Massey University, New Zealand. Pp 95-110
[7] Etchu, K.A.,Ndzi, V.A.,Ndamukong, K.J. and Oben, B. 2012. Comparative performance of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) fed maize and rodent pellets as concentrate supplement under intensive management system in Cameroon. African Journal of Agricultural Research; 7(6) pp883-891
[8] Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC). 1995. Report on comparison of export performance of non-traditional products for the periods January to December 1993 and 1994.
[9] Ghana News Agency (GNA) 2009. Annual ban on hunting begins. General News. Monday 3rd August 2009. Retrieved July 15,2012 from http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=166277

[10] German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) 2010. Grasscutter statistics in Ghana. Market Oriented Agriculture Programme, Annual Report, Accra, Ghana
[11] Kabir, P. 2005. The market potential for grasscutter production: A case study in the Sunyani Metropolis of Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. BED Dissertation, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong- Ashanti, Ghana
[13] Kusi, C, Tuah, A K,Annor, S Y, and Djang-Fordjour,K T (2012). Determination of dietary crude Protein level required for optimum growth of grasscutters in captivity. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 24(10)2012
[14] Mensah, G.A and Okeye, A.M. 2006. Continued harvest of the diverse African animal genetic resourses from the wild through domestication as a strategy for sustainable use: A case of the larger Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus). In Animal Genetics Training Resource, version 2, 2006. Ojango, J.M.,, Malmfors, B. and Okeye, A.M. (Eds). International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
[15] Mensah, G.A., Gnimadi, A. and Hounggnibo, G. 2001. Formulation d’un projet de promotion de la fliere aulacode au Benin – volumen III-(PPFAB), CBDD/Benin pp28
[16] Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) 2004. Livestock Development in Ghana: Policies and Strategies. Animal Production Directorate, Veterinary Services Directorate and Livestock Planning and Information Unit, Accra, 122 pp
[17] Radzick, A. and Wolfenden, R. 1995. Aproficient Enzme. Science 6 (267):90-91
[18] Schaible, P.K. 1970. Poultry nutrition. The AVL. Publishing Company Inc., Westops Connecticut. Pp289-299
[19 ] Schrage, R. and Yewadan, L. T. 1999. Raising Grasscutters Deutsche Gesellschaft fur
TechnischeZusummernarbeit (GTZ) GMBH Eschborn Germany.
[20] Ward, D. 2007. Water requirements of livestock. FACTSHEET ISSN 1198-712X. QUEENS Printer for Ontario, Canada. Pp23-25
[21] Zyl.A.and Meyer, A.J.1999. The influence of fibre on growth rates and the digestibility of nutrients in the greater cane rat (Thryonomys Swinderianus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 123:129-135.

Downloads

Published

2016-03-25

How to Cite

J.M, S., K.Ab, D., A.G, A., Barte-Plange A., B.-P. A., & , B, O. (2016). Growth Performance of Grasscutters (Thryonomys Swinderianus) in Captivity Fed on Pelleted Forage and Cassava Tubers with the Peel in Ghana. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 18(1), 1–15. Retrieved from https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/1464

Issue

Section

Articles