Performance of Growing Grasscutters Fed a Concentrate Diet without Supplementation with Forage

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effect of feeding growing grasscutters a concentrate diet without forage. Study Design: The experiment involved three treatments with three replicates per treatment in a Completely Randomized Design. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Research Farm of the University of Calabar, Nigeria, between November, 2013 and March, 2014. Methodology: Eighteen 10-weeks old male grasscutters of equal weight (850 g) were allocated randomly to three treatments (T1, T2, T3), with six grasscutters per treatment and two grasscutters per replicate. The grasscutters were fed a concentrate diet containing 23.00% crude protein, 7.00% crude fibre, and 2300.00kcalME/kg with elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) as forage. This study involved three feeding regimes, in which all animals were fed a concentrate diet ad libitum. Varying levels of forage, including 24, 12 and nil hours access to forage, were allowed animals in treatment 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Water was supplied ad libitum. Weights of animals were taken at the beginning of the study and every week thereafter. Records of feed intake were taken daily. Results: Findings show that forage intake (239.90 g) was significantly (P=0.05) higher in grass cutters fed concentrate with ad libitum supply of forage, while concentrate intake (49.50 g) and total feed intake (69.40 g) were significantly (P=0.05) higher in grasscutters fed concentrate with restricted supply of forage. Average daily weight gain (11.20 g) was significantly (P=0.05) higher, while the best feed conversion ratio (4.22) and cost to gain ratio (0.40) were obtained, in grasscutters fed concentrate without forage. Conclusion: It is concluded that the performance of growing grasscutters fed a concentrate diet without forage is superior to the performance of growing grasscutters fed a concentrate diet with forage. The indication is that commercial feeds containing the right amounts of nutrients, including fibre, and offering a low cost to gain ratio, can be packaged for the convenience of grasscutter farmers.