Grasscutter Farming; Feeding, Vaccination And Others
Grasscutter farming
Grasscutter Farming; Feeding, Vaccination And Others
(This is a continuation of a previous article, to get the complete article on this subject,
please use the link – important tips for grasscutter farming business)
Grasscutter Feeding
It is paramount to categorically state that grasscutters like rabbits are coprophagous (they directly eat their soft feces from the anus to obtain important semi-digested nutrients). This is a vital part of their routine nutrition.
Grasscutter feeds on certain grasses, leaves, fruits, stem, and tubers which include; elephant grass, guinea grass, sugarcane, giant star grass, gamba grass, fresh maize stovers and salted cob, plantain pseudo-stem, sweet potato, cassava, yam, fresh groundnuts, oil palm fruits, maize stem, wild rice, wheat bran, ripe pawpaw, pineapples and mango etc.
A common practice in Grasscutter feeding is the use of supplements such as poultry feeds (Grower mash concentrates, pellets) and salt lick.
Grasscutters are fed twice daily. They can also be feed 3 times if the feeds are readily available. It is paramount to know that Graascutters prefer eating in the early hours of the morning and the night. They eat very little in the afternoon.
The newly born and younger grasscutters feeds from the mammary gland of the doe (female grasscutter). Sufficient clean water should be made available to encourage feeding.
Grasscutter Mating Methods
The does (female Grasscutters) are ready for mating as from 24 weeks (6 months) of age while the buck (male Grasscutter) is ready at 32 weeks (8 months).
The mating is done in a ratio of one buck to 3 does. If after about 160 days of mating and there is no sign of pregnancy in the does, they can be re-matted with another buck. The does are usually taken to the male hutch for mating processes.
The gestation period in grasscutters is usually about 22 weeks (about 154 – 158 days).
Grasscutter can undergo parturition twice a year giving birth to about 8-12 offsprings with males usually larger than the females at birth. Young ones are usually weaned from their mothers between 4-8 weeks.
After weaning, they can be allowed to live with the family until they are 4 months old before separation.
Vaccination and Treatment of Grasscutter
Grasscutters are usually vaccinated against enterotoxaemia and coccidiosis; diseases caused by the bacteria- Clostridium perfringes and protozoa- Eimeria respectively. Antibiotics are also administered against other bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.
Why you should go for Grasscutter Farming Business
- Grasscutter farming is a high-profit rewarding agribusiness that is on a high demand
- Grasscutter farming provides a high-quality protein which is low in fat
- The cost of production to start is relatively small
- Grasscutter farming is easy to control as grasscutters are gentle and non-aggressive.
- Grasscutter has a lot of health benefits and often prescribed by a nutritionist to aid wellness and improve health.
Read Also; 5 Things you must know before starting up a poultry farm
Nutritional and Health Benefits of Grasscutter Meat
Though grasscutter has a much smaller body size and weight to other larger livestock such as; cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, the meat yield is of higher quality and richer in protein and low in fat.
Grasscutter meat is very low in cholesterol with a high amount of minerals such as calcium, iron, and phosphorous.
Because of its low amount of cholesterol, it tends to serve as a befitting source of protein for those who are at risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, high blood pressure, stroke, shock, etc. It also helps to prevent and reduce the risk of the above diseases.
The presence of a high amount of iron helps to boost red blood cell production thus preventing anemia and other related health challenges.
The high amount of phosphorus and calcium also helps to promote bone and teeth health and preventing diseases such as rickets, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, etc.
It also helps to prevent the excessive loss of blood as calcium is needed in blood/tissue coagulation processes.
It contributes to the homeostasis of the body needed for the normal functioning of the organs and system of the body.
Grasscutter Farming; Feeding, Vaccination And Others
Brilliant and educative articles more of these . Thanks.