By-Products as Protein Source for Lactating Grasscutters

Abstract

The potential of grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus temminck) as a source of animal protein can be exploited with better understanding of its nutrient requirement. An experiment was conducted to determine the protein requirement of lactating grasscutters fed agro-industrial by-products namely; wheat offal and soybean meal. Sixteen 13 months old lactating grasscutters, in groups of four, were randomly allotted to four treatment diets formulated to respectively supply 10, 14, 18 and 22% crude protein (CP). Performance in respect of weight of does at end of lactation, daily weight gain of pups, daily weight gain of doe and litter, weaning weight of pups, feed conversion ratio, and cost to gain ratio, were significantly (P<0.05) higher on the 22% CP diet. The daily weight loss of does and percentage mortality among pups were significantly lower on the 22% CP diet. Though the percentage mortality among pups was significantly (P<0.05) higher, the litter size weaned was significantly (P<0.05) higher on the 18% diet. Given the overall economic importance of low mortality rate in the expansion of farm animal populations and profitability thereof, these results suggest that 22% is the optimum crude protein level for lactating grasscutters, when industrial by-products, soybean meal and wheat offal, are used as dietary supplements.

Effet de l'utilisation de cosses de trois variétés améliorées de niébé (<I>Vigna unguiculata</I>) et de maïs de variété espoir dans l’alimentation des lapereaux dans l’Ouest du Burkina Faso

“…Les compositions chimiques des Rations alimentaires expérimentales sont comparables aux valeurs trouvées dans la littérature. Les taux de protéine brute obtenus dans cette étude pour les Rations alimentaires expérimentales se situent dans l'intervalle 17,41 à 19,59% et sont similaires à ceux trouvés par Wogar et al (2012) et par Wogar et al (2013). De même, les teneurs de cendre brute obtenues pour les trois Rations alimentaires expérimentales sont comprises entre 8,99 et 9,69%.…”

Animal Performance, Feeding Behaviour and Carcass Traits of Feedlot Cattle Diet Fed With Agro-Industrial By-Product as Fat Source

“…Studies have been conducted for the feasibility of the use of cotton by-products in ruminant feeding, especially cottonseeds (Aferri, Leme, Silva, Putrino & Pereira, 2005;Stelzleni, Froetschel, & Pringle, 2013) cottonseed meal, (Pina et al, 2006) cottonseed hulls (Magalhães et al, 2005;Kazama et al, 2008) and cottonseed cake for dairy cows (Alves et al, 2010); and wheat offal and soybean meal to grasscutters (Wogar & Ayuk, 2012). However, differences in dry matter (DM) intake related to fat sources using cottonseed and its by-products were also observed (Cranston et al, 2006).…”

Performance of Growing Grasscutters Fed Diets with Varying Levels of Soybean Meal Replaced by Brewers Dried Grain

“…The grasscutter presents an efficient process for the production of cheap meat from the utilization of cheap and easily available feedstuffs. It has been reported that the productive activities of grasscutters are positively affected by feeding agro-industrial byproducts Wogar and Ayuk (2012) and various other sources of fibre feedstuffs (Wogar et al, 2011).…”