What is a grass cutter in Africa?

THE cane rat, a large, blunt-nosed version of its urban cousin, looks docile enough. But it has a taste for fingers. “You need skill to be able to handle them,” says Francis Ababio, who teaches students how to rear the rodents, also known as grasscutters, at Kwadaso Agricultural College in Kumasi, Ghana’s second city.

Is grass cutter a rat?

The grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus), variously known as the marsh cane-rat, ground hog and in francophone West Africa, the aulacode or incorrectly, the agouti is a rodent but not a rat proper, since it belongs to the Hystricomorpha (porcupine family).

Is it safe to eat Grasscutter?

Grasscutter meat once called the “the king of bush meat” and still treated as a delicacy; can be taken regularly as part of the healthy human diet or be treated as medicine. Therefore, avoid grasscutter meat to your peril.

What is the male Grasscutter called?

Parent animals i.e. Doe (female) and Buck (male) with four offsprings can also be kept in one hutch. Generally, grasscutter of the same sex and about the same age can be reared together in the house.

How much does Grasscutter cost in Ghana?

How much is Grasscutter in Ghana? In captivity, a pair consisting of one male and one female can produce 12 pups in a year and present market value would be @ 60-100 Gc which is equivalent to $ 40/grasscutter.

How do I know if my Grasscutter is pregnant?

Imminent parturition is manifested by the expectant mother adopting the ‘penguin posture’ three days before delivery and a combination of the ‘penguin posture’ with frequent looks at the lower abdomen a day before delivery. The grasscutter delivers precocious young after 148-158days of gestation.

Is Grasscutter meat healthy?

Compared to other meats such as rabbit meat, grasscutter meat is very low in cholesterol and high in protein. It has a very high mineral (e.g. iron, calcium and phosphorous) content compared to beef, mutton, and chevon.

What does Grasscutter feed on?

Grasscutters are strictly herbivores, and prefer mainly tick-stemmed grass species (Schrage and Yewadan 1999). The feeding habits of grasscutter and other rodents (e.g. rabbits) are directly opposite.

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Is Grasscutter halal?

Apart from vegetarians, grasscutter is eaten by all peoples, customs and religions. Grasscutter isn’t forbidden by Islam (Haram) and Judaism. Even Christians who observe Sabbath (Adventists etc.) don’t have a problem with eating grasscutter.

What are the diseases of grass cutter?

From the main results obtained in this study, respiratory disorders (29.19%), traumatic injuries (29.81%) and gastrointestinal diseases (22.36%) were the most important clinical diseases and cause of mortality (30, 27.5 & 21.25% respectively) of captive grasscutter.

What is the lifespan of a Grasscutter?

7-9 years The average lifespan of a captive-reared grasscutter ranges from 7-9 years. They can live up to 12 years depending on health care given to the animals during their service lives. … ORIGIN OF THE GRASSCUTTER.

Kingdom : Animalia
Family : Thryonomyidae
Genus : Thryonomys
Species : Thryonomys swinderianus

Does antelope meat taste good?

Mild-tasting and finely grained, antelope meat is similar to venison. Antelope has one-third the calories of beef. Buffalo (Bison) is similar taste to beef, but rather coarsely tex- tured and sweet.

What is the difference between Grasscutter and grasshopper?

As nouns the difference between grasshopper and grasscutter is that grasshopper is a herbivorous insect of the order orthoptera noted for its ability to jump long distances while grasscutter is a native employed in india to bring grass for horses.

How much is a colony of Grasscutter in Nigeria?

A mature Grasscutter is sold for N5,000. (N5,000 X 12 Grasscutters = N60,000).

How many types of Grasscutter do we have?

There are basically two types of grasscutter farming cage; they are: The open pen. The Closed pen.

How do you build a Grasscutter house?

How do I start Grasscutter farming in Ghana?

You only need a little free space in your compound to put up grasscutter farming cages or a kitchen space to convert into a grasscutter pen. For the cages, you need to use wire mesh on the sides as the rodents can chew up all other organic options.

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How do you deworm a grass cutter?

You can feed your grasscutter with both pawpaw and pumpkin (especially the seeds) regularly as they contain anthelminthic compounds. Pawpaw contains carpaine while pumpkin contains cucurbitin. They both remove intestinal worms effectively and without any side effects on your animals.

How many babies does a Grasscutter give birth to?

twelve young Although widely hunted, grasscutters can also be domesticated. They are placid animals and relatively prolific, becoming sexually mature and able to reproduce at around five to six months, and producing litters of up to twelve young.

How many grass cutters make a colony?

a colony should contain one male and three females in one Grass cutter cage. The Grasscutter pen/cage should be blocked at the back and opened at the front.

How many times can Grasscutter give birth in a year?

Though the long gestation length observed in grasscutters is usual of hystricomorph rodents, it is a disadvantage to production, because with the best of strategies only two deliveries could be obtained per female per year, and worse still, only 4 -12 neonates could be obtained per female within the period.

Is Grasscutter red or white meat?

In terms of health benefits of consuming grasscutter, it has been discovered that it produces white meat that is very similar in taste and texture to seafood depending on the age at which they are slaughtered. Beyond this, grasscutter is high in protein yet low in fat.

How do you raise a grass cutter?

The best way to breed grasscutter is by raising them under an intensive system, i.e. keeping them in cages or pens inside a very safe shed. It is very important to choose a very good location as this is highly critical for successful grasscutter rearing.

Is Grasscutter farming profitable?

Very easy, cheap to start and maintain, grasscutter farming is said to be a highly profitable business in animal farming. It is also one of the most profitable animal husbandry businesses in Nigeria.

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Is rabbit farming profitable in Nigeria?

Rabbit farming is now a very lucrative business in Nigeria to the level that the Federal Government of Nigeria has shown interest in it by using it as part of means of empowering youths. Some years ago, the fear of any potential investor in rabbit farming business was market.

Why is eating insects Haram?

Hanafi Ruling on Eating Insects are not considered permissible because they are said to not have blood. However, all insects (regardless of the species) have a type of blood called hemolymph. Hemolymph is a combination of blood and lymphatic fluid, and unlike humans and mammals, it does not contain red blood cells.

Is it haram to eat worms?

Some ulamas (interpreters of Islamic rules), such as Imam Malik, Ibn Abi Laila and al-Auza’i, declare that eating worms is Halal as long as it brings benefits and it is not harmful to human health. … Of the four major Sunni Islamic schools of thought, Hanafi scholars forbid eating bugs, while Maliki scholars accept them.

Is Cicada halal?

One thing to note is that cicadas are not considered kosher or halal, though certain types of locust are considered kosher in the Torah. Locusts are also regarded as halal, as they were eaten during the time of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.