Jornal de Ciências Agrícolas e Pesquisa de Alimentos
Acesso livre

Abstrato

Effects of Pelleted Feed on the Performance of the Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus)

Swallah Abdul Majid Marani

The research was conducted to evaluate the effect of pelleted feed (PF) on the performance of the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus). The work was carried out at the grasscutter unit of the University of Education, Winneba, Faculty of Agriculture Education, Mampong-Ashanti. The experiment lasted for sixteen (16) weeks starting from the 27th November 2012 to 2nd March 2013. A total of fourteen (14) post weaned grasscutters with average live weight of 842 grams, comprising eight (8) males and six females were allocated to three treatments with three replications in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Three dietary treatments were formulated to contain 17.13, 18.3 and 20.33 crude protein. In T1, the protein was derived from plant source and concentrate. In T2 (Pelleted), the protein was derived from plant sources only. In T3 (Pelleted), the protein was derived from plant sources and urea. Water was supplied ad-libitum. The parameters measured were; feed intake, initial weight, final weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits, haematology and feed wastage. Feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the experimental diets. However, feed intake in T1 was extremely higher in the experimental diets. Mean daily weight gain was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by dietary treatments. Grasscutters fed on T1 diet had the highest weight gain though not significantly different (P>0.05) from T2. Mean final body weight of grasscutters followed a similar pattern to mean daily weight gain. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. However, grasscutters fed on diet T2 were marginally more efficient in converting feed to gain than those fed on other dietary treatments. Dietary treatments significantly (P<0.05) influence the protein content among animals fed on T3 but not significant (P>0.05) influence on animals in T1 and T2. Grasscutters fed on diet T2 had the highest protein content in their meat. Percentage fat content of grasscutters followed a similar pattern as percentage protein. Ash content was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the diets. Apart from the heart, empty intestine, spleen and kidney weights which were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. The diets significantly (p<0.05) affected other carcass characteristics that were measured in all the treatments. Also, apart from mean cholesterol and platelet which were affected (P<0.05) by the diets, other blood parameters were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. Daily feed wastage was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the experimental diets. However, feed wastage was extremely higher in T1 when compared with T2 and T3. Analysis on feed wastage revealed that feeding pelleted diets resulted in reduced feed wastage. It was concluded that feeding grasscutters with Pelleted feed (PF) as a replacer for non-pelleted diets may not affect the growth, carcass and blood characteristics of the grasscutter. However, there will be improved feed and a minimum feed wastage by grasscutters therefore boosting the economic gains of the production.