Growth and reproductive performance of captive grass cutter (<i>Thryonomys swinderianus</i> Temminck) on feeds supplemented with <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Lam

Abstract

Feeding trial were conducted in one- tier cage (1.40 x 0.60 x 0.90m) to assess the growth and reproductive performance of grass cutter (Thryonomys swinderianus ) on feeds supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf. Five experimental diets were formulated at 22% crude protein content with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% M. oleifera as partial replacement for Groundnut Cake (GNC). Each treatment was replicated twice with 2 T. swinderianus (one male and female) per replicate of average body weight 1290.37±0.25g. Thryonomys swinderianus were fed twice daily to satiation/ad libitum. Mean Weight Gain (MWG), Specific Growth Rate (SGR), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), Mortality Rate (MR), Litter Size (LS), Birth Weight (BW) and Survival Rate (SR) were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at p = 0.05. Results showed that the T. swinderianus on M. oleifera leaf based diets had higher growth than those on control diet but T. swinderianus fed 100%n inclusion of M. oleifera leaf had significant higher MWG, SGR and FCR of 255.35± 3.12g, 0.03±0.00g and 0.04±0.00 respectively. Highest mortality were recorded in the control (3) while lowest were recorded in 75 and 100% M. oleifera leaf inclusion (0, 0) respectively. Also, 25 and 50% inclusion of M. oleifera leaf recorded lowest litter size (4) while highest (5) were recorded in other treatments. Hundred percent survival rate were recorded in 75 and 100% inclusion of M. oleifera leaf and this were significantly different (p<0.05) from the control (40%). Highest birth weight of fawn was recorded in 100% M. oleifera leaf inclusion (135.0 g) and was significantly different (p<0.05) from other treatments. These suggest that M. oleifera leaf could be a potential and promising dietary supplementation that would affect growth, and reproductive performance of T. swinderianus in captivity.

Keywords: Thryonomys swinderianus, Animal growth, Moringa oleifera, Reproductive, Experimental diets