26/02/2023
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HANDLING:
Unlike every other farm animals, grasscutter is not just handled anyhow. For easy
handling, follow the tips below:-
Handle at the middle of the tail. Do not handle at either end of the tail to avoid pulling off
or cutting off of the tail. Hold with the head facing down
At the vertebrae (waist) if the animal is very large, support with the tail.
The forelegs: grab firmly from the back above where the forelegs are. When done
correctly, your finger should be able to cross over and rest very well beneath the armpit
of the forelegs. Turn it up and check whatever you want. To know whether you are
holding it firmly, you can blow air on its face. If you are, despite its struggle, you can still
go on holding it. If not, it can easily free itself from your grip.
FEED:
The grasscutter feed is divided into two types:
Primary feed or basal feed (foliage)
Secondary feed or artificial feed
Primary Feed:
This consists of the following:
i. Elephant grass - pennisetum purpurem
ii. Guinea grass - panucum maximum
Fresh maize stalk and cobs
Sugar cane
Pineapple leaves/crown
Cassava stem and tubers
Yam and potato tubers
Pawpaw fruit
Unripe tomatoes
Cucumber etc
Please remove the seed of any fruit before feeding them. And don’t feed with overripe
fruits.
Secondary Feed:
They will need only about 50 -100g/day/animal. The major consideration for any form of
animal feed is the nutritional requirement of that animal.
NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT OF GRASSCUTTER:
- Crude protein - 12 – 14%
- Digestible Energy - 2300 – 2500 kcal
- Crude Cellulose - 8 – 10%
- Calcium - 0.5 – 1%
- Phosphorus - 0.3 – 0.5%
Grasscutter is fed 3 times a day with primary feed in the morning and evening while the
secondary feed is given in the afternoon.
When properly fed, the expected average daily weight gain (ADWG) is between 9 – 10g.
NB:
Grasscutter does not require much water. The grasses used as primary feed contains
water. However, when you feed the animal with wet gr
