Post by Trade facilitator on Aug 9, 2022 23:22:05 GMT 1
Grasscutter farming is a very important aspect of Agriculture to society as it helps to provide sufficient animal protein and reduce the killing of game animals in the wild.
Therefore knowledge of how to properly house these animals and the understanding of their reproductive process is very important.
Conditions For Breeding:
In intensive production, grasscutters should be kept in cages or pens inside a secure shed. The location of the shed is critical for successful rearing. The area should be easily accessible, in a flood-free zone, removed from noise, well aired and ventilated, with feed and a water source, as well as being secured. The size of the building will depend on the number of grasscutters kept and production objectives. By way of example, the space required for a group of reproductive grasscutters comprising one adult male and four females is 1.6 to 2 m2.
Materials For The Rearing Shed:
Different types of material are used in the construction of the rearing shed, including bricks or breezeblocks, bamboo, straw and matting. The building should be ventilated and offer enough light to facilitate rearing activities. The long sides of the structure are made of a low wall 1.5m high, with the upper half covered with chicken wire. The roof can be made out of corrugated iron, straw or any other kind of waterproof material.
Materials For The Rearing Pens:
The grasscutters are kept in pens inside the rearing shed. The number of pens depends on the production objectives. It is recommended to have one breeding female per pen. The recommended surface area per adult animal in the pen is 0.2 m2. one possible setup could include:
• A pen for fattening young grasscutters;
• A pen for adults;
• A pen for mating;
• A pen for giving birth and feeding the young.
The layout of the pens depends on the type of material used in their construction. Metal pens can be moved around, whereas brick pens will be fixed. It is not recommended to use materials such as straw, bamboo, wood or
matting because they can be eaten away by the grasscutters. The pens can be open or closed, whichever the producer prefers. There should be room to move around between the pens.
Type Of Pens:
Open Pens: These are enclosures without any covering on top, and with a surface area of about 3 m2 and 1.5 high. There is an opening in the side that gives onto the aisle in order to facilitate easy access for the farmer.
Closed Pens: This are covered by some kind of appropriate roofing material, and may be divided into compartments using partitions. The height of the wall is lower (80 cm) and the surface area can vary between 2 and 3 m2. If there are two compartments, they should have the same surface area. The compartments are separated with partitions, with a 15 cm opening to allow the free movement of the animals from one compartment to another.
The covering can be made from various materials. The floor inside the building should be smooth and even, while the pens can be plastered or not. Feeding and drinking troughs can be made of cement or clay, and should be heavy enough so that the grasscutters cannot knock them over. The producer can make the troughs himself. All that is needed is to make a
mold out of wood or other scrap material. Calculate one trough per three grasscutters.
The squeeze cage : This is used to handle the animals more easily. The dimensions of the cage should be almost the same as the animal to be handled. The producer can make it himself, by building a rectangular cage with fine meshed screening. The producer should base the size of the cage on the average weight of the animals in his production, and will also depend on the animal stock chosen (heavy or light variety). The squeeze cage should be built in such a way that the animal cannot turn around inside the cage.
REPRODUCTION
Below are the basic facts to know about Reproduction in Grasscutters. sexual maturity:
• For the male: 8 months (32 weeks) at a minimum body weight of 2.5 kg;
• For the female: 6.5 months (26 weeks) at a minimum body weight of 1.8 kg.
sex ratio: 1 male for 4 to 10 females.
Ovulation in the female is triggered by the presence of a male.
Gestation period: 5 months (22 weeks) approximately number of litters per year: 2 liters number of young per litter: 4 young suckling period: 40 days (6 weeks) before weaning.
Selection For Breeding:
Selecting a group of animals for breeding should not be done at random.
The farmer can get the best animals from the nearest breeding and multiplication center, or from another breeder. The selection should be made on the basis of weight. The females should all have around the same weight (avoid weight differences of greater than 500 g); in contrast,
The male should be 0.5 to 1 kg heavier than the female. Closely related mating pairs, where the male is related to the females, are also not recommended. The females can, however, be related.
Mating:
The male grasscutter can mate with several females in a single period. The male, who can be identified by his wrinkled, brown genitals, is placed first in the pen so that he can mark his territory and thereby reduce the risk of fights. The female, identified by the closeness of the anus to the genital area, is put in the pen with the male for 24 hours. During the mating session, make sure the male is heavier than the female. There are generally two options for mating in captivity: Each of these options has pros and cons depending on production goals and the degree of organization in the breeding operation.
Permanent mating:
The male and females remain together in the same pen, and only the young are removed after weaning.
Advantages Of Permanent Mating: There is increase in breeding cycles.
Disadvantages Of Permanent Mating:
Difficult to identify the mother of each offspring
• Less control over reproduction
• Risk of cannibalism
• Under-exploitation of the male
• Risk of exhausting reproductive females.
Temporary mating:
The female is placed in the same pen as the male at a particular point in time, and removed once pregnant.
Advantages Of Temporary Mating:
• Reduced risk of adult male killing offspring.
• Clear identification of mother and offspring.
• Excellent management of breeding process.
Disadvantages of Temporary Mating:
• Increased investment (several pens needed)
• Need for larger space to house females
• Reduced number of litters per female and per year.
Gestation Period:
Gestation is around five months. After mating, it is recommended to check that the female is pregnant by using a simple test.
Pregnancy Test:
Four to eight weeks after mating, take a swab sample from the female’s
genitals by carefully inserting a cotton bud (for cleaning babies’ ears). If the swab does not discolour, then the female is not in gestation. In contrast, if the swab turns reddish brown, then the female is in gestation.
Birth:
Newborn grasscutters, even when very small, already resemble fully grown
adults. They can move around easily within a few hours. After delivery, special
measures should be taken to ensure that the mother gets sufficient, good quality food, and that she gets plenty of water, which is essential for effective milk production.
Weaning Grasscutters:
Weaning generally takes place 40 days after birth, and should not be extended because the mother will grow weak from prolonged feeding of her young. During weaning, the young males are separated from the females and put together with other males of the same weight. The male can be
identified by the distance between the genitals and the anus, which is twice as large as that of the young female.
Therefore knowledge of how to properly house these animals and the understanding of their reproductive process is very important.
Conditions For Breeding:
In intensive production, grasscutters should be kept in cages or pens inside a secure shed. The location of the shed is critical for successful rearing. The area should be easily accessible, in a flood-free zone, removed from noise, well aired and ventilated, with feed and a water source, as well as being secured. The size of the building will depend on the number of grasscutters kept and production objectives. By way of example, the space required for a group of reproductive grasscutters comprising one adult male and four females is 1.6 to 2 m2.
Materials For The Rearing Shed:
Different types of material are used in the construction of the rearing shed, including bricks or breezeblocks, bamboo, straw and matting. The building should be ventilated and offer enough light to facilitate rearing activities. The long sides of the structure are made of a low wall 1.5m high, with the upper half covered with chicken wire. The roof can be made out of corrugated iron, straw or any other kind of waterproof material.
Materials For The Rearing Pens:
The grasscutters are kept in pens inside the rearing shed. The number of pens depends on the production objectives. It is recommended to have one breeding female per pen. The recommended surface area per adult animal in the pen is 0.2 m2. one possible setup could include:
• A pen for fattening young grasscutters;
• A pen for adults;
• A pen for mating;
• A pen for giving birth and feeding the young.
The layout of the pens depends on the type of material used in their construction. Metal pens can be moved around, whereas brick pens will be fixed. It is not recommended to use materials such as straw, bamboo, wood or
matting because they can be eaten away by the grasscutters. The pens can be open or closed, whichever the producer prefers. There should be room to move around between the pens.
Type Of Pens:
Open Pens: These are enclosures without any covering on top, and with a surface area of about 3 m2 and 1.5 high. There is an opening in the side that gives onto the aisle in order to facilitate easy access for the farmer.
Closed Pens: This are covered by some kind of appropriate roofing material, and may be divided into compartments using partitions. The height of the wall is lower (80 cm) and the surface area can vary between 2 and 3 m2. If there are two compartments, they should have the same surface area. The compartments are separated with partitions, with a 15 cm opening to allow the free movement of the animals from one compartment to another.
The covering can be made from various materials. The floor inside the building should be smooth and even, while the pens can be plastered or not. Feeding and drinking troughs can be made of cement or clay, and should be heavy enough so that the grasscutters cannot knock them over. The producer can make the troughs himself. All that is needed is to make a
mold out of wood or other scrap material. Calculate one trough per three grasscutters.
The squeeze cage : This is used to handle the animals more easily. The dimensions of the cage should be almost the same as the animal to be handled. The producer can make it himself, by building a rectangular cage with fine meshed screening. The producer should base the size of the cage on the average weight of the animals in his production, and will also depend on the animal stock chosen (heavy or light variety). The squeeze cage should be built in such a way that the animal cannot turn around inside the cage.
REPRODUCTION
Below are the basic facts to know about Reproduction in Grasscutters. sexual maturity:
• For the male: 8 months (32 weeks) at a minimum body weight of 2.5 kg;
• For the female: 6.5 months (26 weeks) at a minimum body weight of 1.8 kg.
sex ratio: 1 male for 4 to 10 females.
Ovulation in the female is triggered by the presence of a male.
Gestation period: 5 months (22 weeks) approximately number of litters per year: 2 liters number of young per litter: 4 young suckling period: 40 days (6 weeks) before weaning.
Selection For Breeding:
Selecting a group of animals for breeding should not be done at random.
The farmer can get the best animals from the nearest breeding and multiplication center, or from another breeder. The selection should be made on the basis of weight. The females should all have around the same weight (avoid weight differences of greater than 500 g); in contrast,
The male should be 0.5 to 1 kg heavier than the female. Closely related mating pairs, where the male is related to the females, are also not recommended. The females can, however, be related.
Mating:
The male grasscutter can mate with several females in a single period. The male, who can be identified by his wrinkled, brown genitals, is placed first in the pen so that he can mark his territory and thereby reduce the risk of fights. The female, identified by the closeness of the anus to the genital area, is put in the pen with the male for 24 hours. During the mating session, make sure the male is heavier than the female. There are generally two options for mating in captivity: Each of these options has pros and cons depending on production goals and the degree of organization in the breeding operation.
Permanent mating:
The male and females remain together in the same pen, and only the young are removed after weaning.
Advantages Of Permanent Mating: There is increase in breeding cycles.
Disadvantages Of Permanent Mating:
Difficult to identify the mother of each offspring
• Less control over reproduction
• Risk of cannibalism
• Under-exploitation of the male
• Risk of exhausting reproductive females.
Temporary mating:
The female is placed in the same pen as the male at a particular point in time, and removed once pregnant.
Advantages Of Temporary Mating:
• Reduced risk of adult male killing offspring.
• Clear identification of mother and offspring.
• Excellent management of breeding process.
Disadvantages of Temporary Mating:
• Increased investment (several pens needed)
• Need for larger space to house females
• Reduced number of litters per female and per year.
Gestation Period:
Gestation is around five months. After mating, it is recommended to check that the female is pregnant by using a simple test.
Pregnancy Test:
Four to eight weeks after mating, take a swab sample from the female’s
genitals by carefully inserting a cotton bud (for cleaning babies’ ears). If the swab does not discolour, then the female is not in gestation. In contrast, if the swab turns reddish brown, then the female is in gestation.
Birth:
Newborn grasscutters, even when very small, already resemble fully grown
adults. They can move around easily within a few hours. After delivery, special
measures should be taken to ensure that the mother gets sufficient, good quality food, and that she gets plenty of water, which is essential for effective milk production.
Weaning Grasscutters:
Weaning generally takes place 40 days after birth, and should not be extended because the mother will grow weak from prolonged feeding of her young. During weaning, the young males are separated from the females and put together with other males of the same weight. The male can be
identified by the distance between the genitals and the anus, which is twice as large as that of the young female.
