| dc.contributor.author | Annor S.Y. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kagya-Agyemang J.K. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Abbam J.E.Y. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Oppong S.K. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Agoe I.M. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2022-10-31T15:06:00Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2022-10-31T15:06:00Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2008 | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1213784 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://41.74.91.244:8080/handle/123456789/610 | |
| dc.description | Annor, S.Y., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Kagya-Agyemang, J.K., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Abbam, J.E.Y., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Oppong, S.K., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Agoe, I.M., Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, P.O. Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out to determine the growth performance of grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) when fed on leaf and stem fractions of guinea grass. Eighteen (18) three month old male grasscutters were randomly assigned in equal numbers to three treatment diets consisting of Guinea Grass Leave fraction (GGL), Guinea Grass Stem fraction (GGS) and Whole Plant of Guinea Grass (GGW). The results of the chemical analysis of the treatment diets indicated that the nutritive value of the GGL was better than that of GGS and GGW. There were no significant differences between treatments for mean daily feed intake (P>0.05). However, animals fed GGL performed better than those fed GGS and GGW in terms of total weight gain, mean daily weight gain and feed efficiency (P<0.05). Animals fed GGS produced better lean meat compared to those on GGL and GGW (P<0.05). The mean dressing percentage of animals fed GGL was significantly higher than those on GGW and GGS (P<0.05). The results of this work suggest that the leaf portion of elephant grass is more nutritious than the stem portion. This implies that the current practice in Ghana whereby farmers cut off the leaves of the grass and feed only the stem fraction to the animals is a waste of feed resources, and should be discouraged. | en_US |
| dc.subject | Carcass characteristics | en_US |
| dc.subject | Feed efficiency | en_US |
| dc.subject | Feed intake | en_US |
| dc.subject | Nutritive value | en_US |
| dc.subject | Weight gain | en_US |
| dc.title | Growth performance of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) eating leaf and stem fractions of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) | en_US |
| dc.type | Article | en_US |
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