Untitled

Abstract

Baseline management practices and productivity of captive greater cane rats were studied between February and July 1992 using questionnaires with 33 practising and former farmers in 16 villages in three regions in southern Ghana. The colony sizes were relatively small, ranging between 1 and 96, with nearly a 100% farmer drop-out rate. The mean litter size of the greater cane rats in this study was 4.8+/-0.13, with the young being weaned at 8.8 weeks old. Although nearly all the farmers interviewed (90.9%) had long-term commercial intentions, a number of problems militating against their objectives were encountered. These included lack of technical support on proper management practices for efficient production, housing design, dry season feeding, sex determination and the acquisition of foundation stock. In conclusion, these studies have shown the generally poor state of the greater cane rat industry in Ghana, which requires research into almost all aspects of the productivity of this animal under captive breeding.

Non-genetic factors affecting fitness traits in the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus)

“…Mean kidding interval of 8.2 months obtained in the study is similar to 7.5 months reported by Adu et al (1999). It is however longer than the 6.9 and 6 to 7 months reported by Schrage and Yewadan (1999) and Mensah and Okeyo (2006), respectively.…”

“…Mean values of kidding interval and number of parturitions per doe per year were 8.2 months and 1.8, respectively. Mean litter size at birth (3.9) and litter size at weaning (3.4) fall within ranges from the literature, 3.8 to 4.8 and 2.4 to 3.9, respectively (Adu et al, 1999;Jori and Chardonnet, 2001;Adu, 2003;Ikpeze and Ebenebe, 2004c;Addo et al, 2007). Mean litter birth weight (473.2 g) and litter weaning weight (1888.2 g) are also within ranges, 289.2 to 798.0 g and 1038.4 to 2242.5 g, respectively (Schrage and Yewadan, 1999;Adu et al, 2000;Ikpeze and Ebenebe, 2004a;Ikpeze and Ebenebe, 2004b).…”

“…It is also close to 10 to 11 months calculated from data presented by Mensah and Okeyo (2006). Kidding around 11 to 12 months is ideal because age at first mating is around 6 to 7 months, and gestation is approximately 5 months (Schrage and Yewadan, 1999;Adu et al, 1999).…”

Mitochondrial D-loop diversity of grasscutter (<i>Thryonomys swinderianus</i> Rodentia: Hystricomorpha) in Ghana

“…Grasscutters are thus hunted aggressively to the point of using poisonous baits and fire to the peril of wildlife habitats, the environment and consumers. The meat is eaten by all classes of people with no religious prohibitions [6], and is also exported to continental Europe and the United States, where it is sold mainly to West Africans living in those regions [7].…”

“…Grasscutter domestication started in the 1970s but efforts over the years have met with little success. Rearing attempts suffered from high mortality due to the aggressive nature of the species, referred to as "berserk behavior" [7]. In any domestication process, selection for de-sirable traits is of great importance to ensure ease of handling and for profitable production in the case of the grasscutter, which is being developed as a mini-livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa to alleviate poverty and to cater for the protein needs of the people.…”