Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in Ghana

Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter Thryc x8.yr.ia Teasainck as a protein source in Ghana were investigated from July 1970 to June i 973o The grasscutter's diet consisted of 27 grasses and 14 herbs or shrubs* Crops were frequently eaten. Its diet, seasonally related to rainf...

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Main Author: Asibey, Emmanuel Osei Agyeman
Published: University of Aberdeen 1975
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Online Access:http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.592084
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spelling ndltd-bl.uk-oai-ethos.bl.uk-5920842017-04-20T03:34:29ZSome ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in GhanaAsibey, Emmanuel Osei Agyeman1975Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter Thryc x8.yr.ia Teasainck as a protein source in Ghana were investigated from July 1970 to June i 973o The grasscutter's diet consisted of 27 grasses and 14 herbs or shrubs* Crops were frequently eaten. Its diet, seasonally related to rainfall, also met its water requirements. Females produce two litters a year: breeding throughout the year with peaks related to rainfall. The litter size is 1 tc 8 with a mode of 4 and a sex ratio of unity. Litter size and total litter weight are correlated with maternal weight. The gestation period was 155 - 9 days, with a specific foetal growth velocity of 0.04, A post parturn oestrus may occur. Birth weights vary within litter mates and embryos implanted at the cervical end(s) of the uterine horn(s) are usually heaviest, A incidence of embryonic resorption occurred. In captivity, cubs were usually weaned onto adult diet when 4 weeks old and attain sexual maturity at five months. Females had their first litter at a year when they weighed 1 kg. Tooth eruption pattern and eye lens weight together with the appearance of mammae in females and perineal stain in males were useful criteria of age. 39*732 grasscutter carcasses, weighing 181,327 kg. were sold for '?38,517o35o Carcass weights, up to 8.9 kg. in males and 6.9 kg. in females were recorded. About 13% of the .7eight is edible meat. it is the third (to mutton and bushmeat) most expensive meat on the market. It is complementary to beef but substitutive to mutton. It has great demand and its price continues to rise rapidly. The grasscutter is a potential pest whose control must be kept under vigilance, but whose domestication was found to be technically and economically feasible.591.7University of Aberdeenhttp://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.592084http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk/R?func=search-advanced-go&find_code1=WSN&request1=AAIU404390Electronic Thesis or Dissertation
collection NDLTD
sources NDLTD
topic 591.7
spellingShingle 591.7
Asibey, Emmanuel Osei Agyeman
Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in Ghana
description Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter Thryc x8.yr.ia Teasainck as a protein source in Ghana were investigated from July 1970 to June i 973o The grasscutter's diet consisted of 27 grasses and 14 herbs or shrubs* Crops were frequently eaten. Its diet, seasonally related to rainfall, also met its water requirements. Females produce two litters a year: breeding throughout the year with peaks related to rainfall. The litter size is 1 tc 8 with a mode of 4 and a sex ratio of unity. Litter size and total litter weight are correlated with maternal weight. The gestation period was 155 - 9 days, with a specific foetal growth velocity of 0.04, A post parturn oestrus may occur. Birth weights vary within litter mates and embryos implanted at the cervical end(s) of the uterine horn(s) are usually heaviest, A incidence of embryonic resorption occurred. In captivity, cubs were usually weaned onto adult diet when 4 weeks old and attain sexual maturity at five months. Females had their first litter at a year when they weighed 1 kg. Tooth eruption pattern and eye lens weight together with the appearance of mammae in females and perineal stain in males were useful criteria of age. 39*732 grasscutter carcasses, weighing 181,327 kg. were sold for '?38,517o35o Carcass weights, up to 8.9 kg. in males and 6.9 kg. in females were recorded. About 13% of the .7eight is edible meat. it is the third (to mutton and bushmeat) most expensive meat on the market. It is complementary to beef but substitutive to mutton. It has great demand and its price continues to rise rapidly. The grasscutter is a potential pest whose control must be kept under vigilance, but whose domestication was found to be technically and economically feasible.
author Asibey, Emmanuel Osei Agyeman
author_facet Asibey, Emmanuel Osei Agyeman
author_sort Asibey, Emmanuel Osei Agyeman
title Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in Ghana
title_short Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in Ghana
title_full Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in Ghana
title_fullStr Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck (Mammalia, Rodentia, Hystricomorpha) in Ghana
title_sort some ecological and economic aspects of the grasscutter, thryonomys swinderianus temminck (mammalia, rodentia, hystricomorpha) in ghana
publisher University of Aberdeen
publishDate 1975
url http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.592084
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