Grasscutters
(a rodent family), like many rodent species have been and continue
to be a delicacy in a number of
countries, in Latin America, Africa and Asia where markets exist for a
wide variety of rodent
species for consumption,
grasscutters are often preferred over other sources of meat. The vast
majority of these animals are
still gathered from the wild and
several species have been hunted so extensively that they are now
extinct. And this offers
small-scale farmers, investors,
businessmen and all those with wealth-mind set, an economic incentive
for raising grasscutters
in captivity.
Grasscutters are widely distributed and valued in West and Central Africa. The meat is of a higher protein but lower fat content than domesticated farm meat and it is also appreciated for its tenderness and taste. More recently, intensive production of grasscutters has been undertaken in many African countries, including Nigeria.
Research carried out over the last two decades has allowed the selection and improvement of stock for captivity with much knowledge and techniques for grasscutter production.
Grasscutter has been overhunted and savanna habit is often at risk during the dry season from bushfires, which are lit during bushmeat hunting expeditions. Grasscutters are not the most prolific of rodent species but the high demand, attract market price and small amount of investment required makes grasscutters a suitable mini-livestock activity for income generation in many part of Nigeria.
Below are the importance/advantages of grasscutter production:1. They can easily be reared at home
2. They are herbivorous animals, so they feed mostly on grass. They can also be fed on kitchen wastes.
2. They are herbivorous animals, so they feed mostly on grass. They can also be fed on kitchen wastes.
3.
Grasscutters
are polygamous in nature, hence it
makes it easy to raise them in captivity and in large numbers.
4. It requires little start up capital.
5.
Source of income and employment.
6. High demand
7.
Production of pharmaceuticals:
The pancreas of the grasscutter is
believed to have a high concentration of insulin, which is used in local
preparation for
the treatment of diabetes. The
possibility of using the brains, blood and various organs for producing
various biological
products for use in medicine and
research generally could be explored.
8. The meat has high carcass quality and protein
is comparable to that of poultry.
9. The meat tastes well and highly relished.
10. There is no known religion
discrimination against grasscutter meat.
11. Grasscutters do not compete with man for food.
12. As pets
Click HERE to download a comprehensive material on grasscutter production
12. As pets
Click HERE to download a comprehensive material on grasscutter production
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