Performance Characteristics of Grasscutters (Thryonomis Swinderianus) Fed Rice Offal Partially Replaced with Cassava Peel Meal.

The study was conducted to determine the performance traits of grasscutters fed rice offal partially replaced with cassava peel meal. Sixteen (16) grower Grasscutters between the ages of 3-4 months were used for the feeding trial which lasted for 8 weeks (56 days). They were randomly assigned to the four diets in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The study had four (4) treatments and four replicates per treatment, with each animal serving as a replicate. The grasscutters were individually fed in their various experimental units. Parameters measured were performance traits (feed intake, growth rate and feed conversion ratio). Results shows that, the parameters measured; Average final body live weight (g), feed intake (g), daily weight gain (g), total weight gain (g) and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the treatments. The results of this experiment generally showed that, rice offal can replace cassava peel meal up to 75% in the diets of grasscutter without any deleterious effect on the performance parameters but the best was on the replacement level of 25%, though it did not differ significantly (P>0.0) from 50% replacement level. On the basis of this present study, further study is suggested to affirm the 50% level. It is however, recommended that for optimum performance of grasscutter, rice offal could be included at 25%, considering the growth response and feed conversion ratio obtained from the present study.