Growth performance of grasscutter fed under different feeding regimes

Abstract

Twelve(12) grasscutters of both sexes with an average initial weight of 0.870kg were randomly divided into three treatments of four animals each. T1, T2, T3 were 100% Concentrate, 40% Elephant grass + 30% Sweet cassava+ 30% concentrate; 50%Elephant grass +50% Sweet cassava root respectively. They were fed 100g per head per day of the experimental diets and all the animals were given cool water ad libitum. The experiment lasted for 70 days after a seven day adjustment period. Completely randomized experimental design was used. The final mean weight and total weight gain were both significant(p<0.05). The daily weight gain showed significant(p<0.05) difference. T1(7.86g) had the best even though it was similar to T2(7.11g). Daily feed intake decreased linearly (p<0.05) from T1 (66.64g) to T3 (61.50g). Feed conversion ratio also showed significant (p<0.05) differences. Based on this work, concentrate feed can be fed solely to grasscutter without any adverse effect. However, similar result could be achieved grasscutters are fed with 40% elephant grass + 30% sweet cassava root + 30% concentrates.