Effect of Varied Dietary Protein Levels on the Reproductive Performance of Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) in Captivity

This study examined the effect of varied dietary protein levels on the reproductive performance of grass-cutter with a focus on birth weight, litter size and survival rate of baby grass-cutters. Eight growing grass-cutters comprising 4 males and 4 females were used with one male and one female paired per treatment. Observations were made on feed intake and litter birth characteristics of the animals. Four dietary treatments containing Crude Protein (Cp) percentages: 18%, 20%, 22% and 24% levels were fed to the animals. Results obtained showed that significant differences (p<0.05) existed in the mean weekly feed intake of the grass-cutters, with highest dry matter intake (68.26 8.64 g/head/wk) in Cp 18% followed by Cp20, 22 and 24% in descending order. There were no significant differences (P >0.05) in the survival rates, with 5 and one mortalities recorded for Cp 18 and 20%, respectively, while none for Cp 22%and 24%. Litter size of grasscutters produced by the parental stocks indicated highest rate (5) for Cp24% and significant differences (p<0.05) existed in the birth weights of offspring produced in respective feed treatments. It was concluded that a protein inclusion rate of 24% gave the best reproductive performance when compared to other crude protein percentages.