Growth performance of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) fed graded levels of cocoa bean shell with cocoyam peel as replacement for forage grass

摘要

The study was carried out to determine the effect of varying levels of cocoa bean shell with cocoyam peel as replacement for forage grass on growth indices by grasscutter. Eighteen grasscutter with average weight of 1.00 ± 0.25kg were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments with six animals per treatment in a complete randomized design. The compared diets were: GG (70% forage grass and 30% concentrate diet that served as the control diet), CS30 (30% cocoa beans shell with 40% cocoyam peel and 30% concentrate diet) and CS40 (40% cocoa bean shell with 30% cocoyam peel and 30% concentrate diet). The results showed that daily feed intakeand feed conversion ratio were greater in diet GGthan CS30 and CS40. Treatment diet CS40 was better in final body weight, total weight gain and daily weight gain. Variation did not occurin initial body weight of the grasscutter. It can be concluded that combination of 40% cocoa bean shell with 30% cocoyam peel and 30% concentrate diet has the potential to enhance growth performance of grasscutter.