Grasscutter farming: A manual for beginners in Nigeria

These little creatures are not just amazing but can bring you some profit as well. Grasscutters are loved and treasured in West and Central Africa. Their meat is considered to have one of the highest protein and lowest fat contents. Grasscutter meat can be very valuable. Let’s find out why there is a very intensive production of grasscutters in many African countries and how you can start this kind of business yourself. For those who want to learn more about grasscutter farming, a manual for beginners in Nigeria, continue reading.

Grasscutter farming is highly profitable, more profitable than you imagined. The meat is widely consumed allover the West Africa region and beyond, making it one of the top 10 animals whose meat is in highest demand in the market. A market ready Grasscutter is sold between N4,000 to N5,500. Five hundred Grasscuters in a year could earn you between N2 Million to N2.75 Million.

The animal reproduces very quickly and in good numbers. A fully grown female Grasscutter after gestation, carries the pregnancy for 140 – 150 days and deliver about twice a year. Each pregnancy produces average of four to seven young ones. Sometimes up to ten, that means one female Grasscutter could produce 8 – 20 other Grasscutters in a year. 

It grows big and very fast too. Grasscutter is one of the biggest rodent in Africa. A fully mature female or male that is ready for market weighs between 3.5kg for the female and 4.5kg for the male. While measuring 45cm to 60cm in body length. The standing height is between 25 to 30cm. The body size of a fully grown male is about the size of a nine inches block.

A good number of Grasscutter is consumed yearly but most of them still comes from the wild through hunters who goes into the bush to hunt for them but usually not easy to catch, making the animal meat very scarce in the market.

Grasscutters has we all known is divided into species although they are under the porcupine family. Grasscutter is of two species which are:

1. Thryonomys swinderianus temminck: which is the giant breed and

2. Thryonomys Gregorianus

*PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF GRASS CUTTERS*

The body length of thryonomys Swinderianus temminck varies from 25-70cm with an average of 48cm and their tail reaches 0.65-26cm in length, the total body weight of adult ranges between 4-12kg. The heaviest bodies have an average weight in males of 4.5kg and 3.5kg in females which looks a giant guinea pig. 

GRASS CUTTER BEHAVIOR IN CONFINEMENT

Grass cutters can be subdivided into two (2) categories, the docile and indocile grass cutter. 

The docile grass cutter: adapts well to life in confinement and becomes accustomed to man quickly, whereas the indocile grass cutter panics when people approach and tries to escape from its cage or pen. Grass cutters easily recognize their cage or pen and the individual who takes care of them.

1. (Thryonomys swinderianus),also called Cane Rats and Grass Cutter; in English-speaking West African countries, Agouti in French-speaking West African countries and hedgehogs in Central Africa, are rodents that are widely found in wet or grasslands areas in Africa. Though these animals are widely hunted in Africa, they can be domesticated like other micro-livestock animals such as rabbits.

More often the thryonomys Swinderianus is common and that's the one am currently rearing. 

Let's have a little view on some of their characteristics... 

Some characteristics of grasscutters are:

Grasscutters  are placid(peaceful)  and relatively prolific animal.

They become sexually active and mature at 5-6 months. At this age they can reproduce and give birth to as high as 12 young.

They can be easily reared or managed, and this made their domestication as an alternative to poaching them in the wild.

They can grow rapidly in intensive conditions.

The meat of grasscutters is very rich in protein and economically valuable.

HOW TO BREED OR RAISE GRASSCUTTERS

The best way to breed grasscutter is by raising them under intensive system, i.e. keeping them in cages or pens inside a very safe shed.

It is very important to choose a very good location as this is high critical for successful grasscutter rearing.

Other conditions that must be met for a successful grass cutter rearing include:

The area/location should be easily accessible and free from flood. 

It must be well ventilated, secured, availability of a source of feed and water. 

The number of grasscutters kept and the objectives of production determine the size of the building or pen. 

However, the standard is that a family of grasscutters, comprising one adult male and four females should be provided a space of 1.6-2 m2.