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Open Access
HERBAGE ACCEPTABILITY BY GRASS CUTTERS {Thryonomys swinderianus T.) IN DOMESTICATION PROCESS
(Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension,Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2011-10-12) . Falade, Luke O; Idaho, Kingsley O.; Mailafiya, Mohammed A.
Grass cutters could be reared in captivity to supplement the meat from livestock to boost animal protein intake by Nigerians. Since they are herbivores, they should not compete with man for grains and cereals to thrive in domestication hence, herbage acceptability trial was carried out. Browse trees herbages were harvested and offered as supplements to pineapple crown, cassava tubers and sugar cane as basal feeds. Time of fodder acceptance as well as level of intake was monitored. The results revealed that siam weed, bush tea and tridax were absolutely (0.0 g) rejected by the animals. They however nibbled at Christmas bush (5.67 g), black velvet (4.0 g), sheabutter (1.33 g) and wild custard apple (1.0 g). This discovery could encourage domestication of grass cutters to boost animal protein availability. More interestingly, the results would have provided hints and guides on browse plant utilization in grass cutters rearing, which they could not discover in the wild as subterranean animals that never climb.