Grasscutter
Grasscutter
Grasscutter
Rearing
grasscutters
Intervenants
ContRibutoRs
E. Lionelle Ngo-Samnick
Review
Stphanie Leroy
Contents
1
Housing
1.1
1.2
1.3
Reproduction
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Basic facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Selection for breeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Mating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Gestation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Handling grasscutters
Feeding
4.1
4.2
4.3
Production planning
Disease management
6.1
6.2
6.3
16
Preventative measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Some symptoms of sick grasscutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Veterinary treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
12
Dietary planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Providing food, water and
mineral supplements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Conserving and stocking food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5
5
6
Recordkeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Infrastructure maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Other information
8.1
8.2
Financial planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Useful contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
General
information
infor
mation
Grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) are rodents widely found in grasslands,
clearings, wet or marshy areas in Africa. They are more commonly known as
hedgehogs in Central Africa, agouti in French-speaking West Africa, and
cane rats in English-speaking West Africa.
HOUSING
A
A
A
A
pen
pen
pen
pen
for
for
for
for
The layout of the pens depends on the type of material used in their
construction. Metal pens can be moved around, whereas brick pens will
be fixed.
It is not recommended to use materials such as straw, bamboo, wood or
matting because they can be eaten away by the grasscutters. The pens
can be open or closed, whichever the producer prefers. There should be
room to move around between the pens.
4m
12 m
An open pen
open pens are enclosures without any covering on top, and with a surface
area of about 3 m2 and 1.5 high. There is an opening in the side that gives
onto the aisle in order to facilitate easy access for the farmer.
Closed pens are covered by some kind of appropriate roofing material, and
may be divided into compartments using partitions. The height of the wall is
lower (80 cm) and the surface area can vary between 2 and 3 m2.
If there are two compartments, they should have the same surface area.
The compartments are separated with partitions, with a 15 cm opening to
allow the free movement of the animals from one compartment to another.
The covering can be made from various materials.
1,5 m
40 cm
1,5 m
7 cm
6 cm
The dimensions
of the cage
should be almost
the same as the
animal to be
handled.
The squeeze cage is used to handle the animals more easily. The dimensions of the cage should be almost the same as the animal to be handled.
The producer can make it himself, by building a rectangular cage with fine
meshed screening. The producer should base the size of the cage on the
average weight of the animals in his production, and will also depend on
the animal stock chosen (heavy or light variety). The squeeze cage should
be built in such a way that the animal cannot turn around inside the cage.
80 cm
2m
1m
REPRODUCTION
2.3 Mating
the male grasscutter can mate with several females in a single period.
The male, who can be identified by his wrinkled, brown genitals, is placed
first in the pen so that he can mark his territory and thereby reduce the
risk of fights. The female, identified by the closeness of the anus to the genital area, is put in the pen with the male for 24 hours. During the mating
session, make sure the male is heavier than the female.
There are generally two options for mating in captivity:
Permanent mating: The male and females remain together in the same
pen, and only the young are removed after weaning.
temporary mating: The female is placed in the same pen as the male at
a particular point in time, and removed once pregnant.
Each of these options has pros and cons depending on production goals
and the degree of organization in the breeding operation.
Advantages
Disadvantages
PeRmanent
matinG
Increased breeding
cycle
temPoRaRy
matinG
Reduced risk of
adult male killing
offspring
Clear identification
of mother and
offspring
Excellent
management of
breeding process
2.4 Gestation
Gestation is around five months. After mating, it is recommended to check
that the female is pregnant by using a simple test.
10
Gestation test
>>> birth
Newborn grasscutters, even when very small, already resemble fully grown
adults. They can move around easily within a few hours. After delivery, special measures should be taken to ensure that the mother gets sufficient,
good quality food, and that she gets plenty of water, which is essential for
effective milk production.
>>> weaning grasscutters
Weaning generally takes place 40 days after birth, and should not be
extended because the mother will grow weak from prolonged feeding of her
young. During weaning, the young males are separated from the females
and put together with other males of the same weight. The male can be
identified by the distance between the genitals and the anus, which is twice
as large as that of the young female.
HANDLING
GRASSCUTTERS
12
FEEDING
the food supplied should meet all the animals daily requirements.
In captivity, grasscutters can eat fresh or dried food, although their diet
consists mainly of green forage. It can be supplemented by feed with high
energy value, or added protein and minerals.
Examples of food
Arachide
Bl ou son de
Fausse ca
(appele Pennnne
isetum)
Riz
bl
Mas
Ananas,
papaye verte
Pain rassis
13
Name
annual grasses
Perennial grasses
legumes
moringa
Moringa oleifera
agricultural by-products
Cereal grains
shells
other
14
15
PRODUCTION
PLANNING
A single pen
can hold a
maximum of
15 young
grasscutters
16
During weaning, the young males are separated from the young females.
Given that a single pen can hold a maximum of 15 young grasscutters, it is
possible to predict how many pens will be needed. The breeder should not
hesitate to sell surplus animals or to enlarge pens as soon as possible, in
order to reduce the risk of overpopulation.
DISEASE
MANAGEMENT
17
Application
Household soap
Dilute in water
Bleach
Disinfectant detergent
(for example, Crsyl)
Quicklime
Dilute in water
Bleach + detergent
18
Solution
Additional actions
animal prostrate,
not moving much,
lethargic
newborns
partially eaten
by the females
Death of suckling
babies
Dead animal
19
Illness and
probable cause
Solution
Additional actions
Long-acting antibiotics in
the drinking water of the
whole colony
Incinerate or bury the
carcass
Disinfect the farm
completely
Check the feed quality
several dead
Illness: Suspected
animals at the disease
same time and
in the same pen
bulging at the
base of the tail
Illness: Tail
detached during
handling
lump under
the skin
Illness: Abscess
20
Illness: pidemic
Symptoms
soft or liquid
stools
Dirty anus
Illness and
probable cause
Illness: Diarrhoea
Probable cause:
Poor quality feed,
sudden change in
concentrate
animal does
not move but
appears to be
in good health
Illness: Possible
fracture
Probable cause:
Fighting
Solution
Additional actions
Antibiotics
Check dampness in and
around the pen
Check for protection from
the cold and draughts
Check the powdery quality
of concentrate
21
7.1 Recordkeeping
make a document that records all activities carried out on the farm,
including future activities, as well as all daily events. Each animal
should have its own file or reference card, and all events that concern it
should be noted.
The files or cards should contain the following information (preferably using
both sides): For all animals: its origin (parentage or source farm), pen
number, sex and age.
FRont
22
Pen n:
Father:
animal n:
mother:
sex:
source farm:
Dob:
litter:
Date
Illness
Characteristics
Treatment
baCK
For females: Date of mating, number of mating male, date of positive
gestation test, date of delivery, litter size at birth and litter size at weaning.
Female n
origin:
age at first mating:
Mating
Date Male
Date of
gestation
test
Pen n
Date of entry:
Cause:
Date of removal:
Births
Date Liging Dead
Weaning
Added Removed
Remarks
Date N Weight
For males: date of mating, number of mating female, births resulting, etc.
male n
origin:
age at first mating:
Mating
Date
Pen n
Date of entry:
Date of removal:
Cause :
Births resulting
Female N
Palpation
Remarks
Total
number born
23
A global record is also useful for noting different aspects of all the animals,
and allows the farmer to monitor and evaluate how his production is performing.
The farmer will be able to quickly calculate the rates of birth, fertility and
mortality between birth and weaning, and assess the breeding potential of
the colony, for example.
Pen
Females
mating
weaning
Remarks
Weight
Number
Date
Removed
Added
Dead
Living
Date
Date Male
birth
P
A
24
OTHER
INFORMATION
25
30 000
30 000
200 000
Feed
200 800
200 800
Veterinary costs
negligible
negligible
total Costs
430 800
230 800
480 000
480 000
49 200
249 200
Income
Description
Sale of animals
PRoFit
26
plantain
production
27
Rearing
grasscutters
Pro-Agro is a collection of practical, illustrated guides that are jointly published by CTA and
ISF Cameroon. They are an ideal source of information for farmers, rural communities
and extension workers in tropical and subtropical regions.
This manual is extension material for unconventional animal breeding. It describes
how to rear grasscutters, large rodents that are commonly found in the wild in areas
of grassland, clearing, wet or marshy areas in Africa. Grasscutters breed prolifically,
grow quickly and are easy to rear, thereby making them an ideal alternative to poaching
for meat. The manual highlights the agricultural value of grasscutter by-products unfit
for human consumption.
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is a joint
international institution of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States
and the European Union (EU). Its mission is to advance food and nutritional security, increase prosperity and encourage sound natural resource management in ACP
countries. It provides access to information and knowledge, facilitates policy dialogue
and strengthens the capacity of agricultural and rural development institutions and
communities. CTA operates under the framework of the Cotonou Agreement and is
funded by the EU.
Engineers without Borders (ISF) is a network of professionals in more than 52
countries to promote human development through improved access to scientific and
technical knowledge. In Cameroon, ISF works together with local people to improve
their livelihoods and strengthen their technical capacity by sharing and diffusing information adapted to their needs.