Feed Types and Growth Performance of Grasscutter (Thryonomys swindarianus) in a Controlled Environment in Abak Local Government Area

Abstract

The study examined the effects of different feed types on the growth performance of grasscutters under controlled conditions in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Five specific objectives, five research questions, and five corresponding research hypotheses were formulated to guide the investigation, and a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was adopted to ensure unbiased allocation of experimental units. The population of the study consisted of twenty (20) grasscutters. The grasscutters were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, with four replicates per group to maintain equal sample size across groups and enhance the validity of comparative analysis. Data were collected on a weekly basis throughout the experimental period on key growth performance parameters, namely feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and weight gain. The feeding trial lasted for a minimum period of three months to allow adequate observation of growth trends and proper assessment of the effectiveness of the various feed treatments, and the forage components of the diets were wilted overnight before feeding to reduce moisture content and improve palatability and intake. Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation) were used to address the research questions, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance to determine whether significant differences existed in growth performance among the treatment groups. Where significant differences were observed, Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was conducted as a post-hoc analysis to identify the specific treatment means responsible for the observed variations. The findings revealed that all five treatments exerted significant positive effects on the growth parameters of grasscutters, with the broiler finisher plus forage combination (T4) emerging as the most balanced and optimal diet, particularly in terms of weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. The study recommended amongst others that the Government of Akwa Ibom State, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, should organize periodic seminars and workshops to educate farmers on grasscutter production, emphasizing the use of broiler finisher and broiler finisher + forage combination, which were shown to significantly improve growth performance in grass cutters