Grasscutter Farming – SS2 Livestock Farming Lesson Note (Second Term)

Grasscutter farming is the rearing of grasscutters, also called cane rats, in pens for their meat. It is a type of micro-livestock farming. Grasscutters eat mostly grass, are clean animals and sell for a high price. Farmers usually keep them in colonies of one male and four or five females.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State five reasons why grasscutter farming is a good business.
2. Describe a suitable pen for grasscutters.
3. List the types of feed given to grasscutters.
4. Explain how a grasscutter colony is organised and state the gestation period and weaning age.
5. State the main points of good handling and management.

Why farm grasscutters?

In Nigeria, the grasscutter (also called the “Cane Rat”) is one of the most loved “bushmeats”. For a long time, people only got them by hunting in the bush with dogs and fire. Today, we can farm them just like rabbits or goats. This is called micro-livestock farming.

Why is it a great business?

1. High demand: Nigerians love the taste of grasscutter meat. It is a “premium” meat that sells for a high price in restaurants.
2. Healthy meat: It is very lean (not much fat) and high in protein. It is much healthier than eating too much fatty beef.
3. Low feed cost: They mostly eat grass, so you do not have to spend all your money on expensive bags of “company feed”.
4. No smell: Unlike pigs or poultry, grasscutters are very clean animals. Their droppings do not smell bad, so you can even keep them near your house.
5. Fast multiplication: One female can give you up to 10 to 14 babies in a single year.

How do you house grasscutters?

Grasscutters are very shy and can be easily frightened. They are also “rodents”, which means they love to chew through things. Their house must be strong and quiet.

The cage (pen) system

• Materials: Use concrete blocks or strong wire mesh with wood. Never use only wood, or they will chew their way out in one night.
• Measurement: A standard pen for one family (1 male and 4 females) should be about 1.5 metres long and 0.5 metres high.
• The floor: The floor should be slightly slanted so that their urine can flow out. This keeps the pen dry.
• Location: Put the house in a quiet place. Too much noise from cars or shouting people can make the mothers get stressed and kill their babies.

What do grasscutters eat?

As the name suggests, they love grass. To make them grow big and heavy for the market, you need to give them a “balanced diet”.

1. Forages (grasses): Their favourite is Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum). They also love Guinea grass and sugar cane stalks.
   • Farmer’s tip: Always dry your grass in the sun for a few hours before giving it to them. “Wet” grass straight from the rain can give them stomach problems (bloating).
2. Crops and tubers: They enjoy cassava, sweet potatoes, maize stalks, and even the bark of some trees.
3. Concentrates: To make them grow faster, you can give them a little poultry feed, wheat offal or groundnut cake.
4. Water: Even though they get water from the grass, they still need a small bowl of clean drinking water every day.

How do grasscutters breed and multiply?

If you manage your breeding well, your farm will grow very fast.

• The family (colony): In grasscutter farming, we usually keep them in a “colony”. This is 1 male and 4 or 5 females.
  • Warning: Never put two adult males in the same cage. They will fight until one dies.
• Maturity: Females are ready to mate at about 7 months old. Males are ready at 8 months.
• Pregnancy (gestation): It takes about 152 days (roughly 5 months) for a grasscutter to have babies.
• The babies: They are born with their eyes open and hair on their bodies. They can start nibbling on soft grass within 3 days.
• Weaning: Separate the babies from their mother when they are about 40 days old, so that the mother can rest and get ready for the next pregnancy.

How do you manage grasscutters and keep them healthy?

Grasscutters are generally tough, but they can still get sick if you are careless.

1. Handling: Never pick a grasscutter up by its tail, because the skin of the tail can pull off. The best way to move them is to use a long PVC pipe or a small cage to trick them into entering.
2. Salt licks: Like cows, grasscutters need minerals. Place a “salt lick” block in their cage for them to lick.
3. Sanitation: Clean the floor of the pen every day. Remove old grass that they have not eaten so that it does not rot.
4. Bedding: Use dry grass or wood shavings on the floor to keep them warm and comfortable.

Student activity: the “Elephant Grass” test

Go out to the school field and find some Elephant Grass.

1. Look at the stem. Is it hard or soft?
2. Which part do you think the grasscutter likes to eat most: the green leaves or the juicy stem? Answer: They love the juicy inner part of the stem best.

Note to students:

Grasscutter farming is a “patience” business. It takes about a year to get your first big harvest, but once it starts, the money comes in steadily because the meat is always in demand.

Evaluation

1. Give five reasons why grasscutter farming is a good business.
2. Why should a grasscutter pen not be made of wood alone?
3. List the four groups of feed given to grasscutters and give one example of each.
4. How many males and females make up one colony, and why must two adult males never share a cage?
5. State the gestation period of a grasscutter and the age at which the babies are weaned.

Assignment

Describe how you would house and feed a colony of grasscutters. In your answer, state the materials for the pen, where you would place it, and the feeds and water you would give.