| dc.description |
Kusi, C., Department of Animal Science Education, College of Agriculture Education, University of Education, Winneba, PO Box 40, Asante Mampong, Ghana; Tuah, A.K., Department of Animal Science Education, College of Agriculture Education, University of Education, Winneba, PO Box 40, Asante Mampong, Ghana; Annor, S.Y., Department of Animal Science Education, College of Agriculture Education, University of Education, Winneba, PO Box 40, Asante Mampong, Ghana; Djang-Fordjour, K.T., Department of Animal Science Education, College of Agriculture Education, University of Education, Winneba, PO Box 40, Asante Mampong, Ghana |
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| dc.description.abstract |
The study aimed to determine the dietary crude protein level required for growing grasscutters (from weaning to sexual maturity) in captivity. Thirty six (36) young grasscutters, between the ages of 2 and 3 months, of both sexes (18 males: 18 females) were fed diets which contained 10%, 12%, 14%, 16%, 18% and 20% crude protein. Parameters measured included daily feed intake, daily water intake, daily weight gain (growth rate), final body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The Completely Randomized Design was used for the study. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Mathematics Statistics (MSTAT) package. The differences between means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD). Daily feed intake (g) differed significantly (P<0.05) between animals fed diets containing 10% (96.9) and 12% (100.6), and those fed 14% (95.1), 16% (90.4), 18% (87.7) and 20% (88.2) crude protein. Dietary protein significantly (P<0.05) influenced daily weight gain, as well as final live weights of the animals. The mean daily weight gain (g/day) of the animals fed the diet 20% (11.1�1.0) was not significantly different from those fed diet 18% (10.1�1.06) but was significantly higher than animals fed 16% (9.92�1.06), 14% (8.72�1.06), 12% (7.45�1.06) and 10% (7.05�1.06) crude protein. The mean feed conversion ratios of the animals fed the diets with 20% (8.05�1.87), 18% (8.87�1.87) and 16% (9.15�1.87) CP were significantly better than those of animals fed diets with 14 (11.2�1.87), 12 (13.8�1.87) and 10 (14.3�1.87) %CP. A 1% increase in percentage protein in the diet led to 0.43g increase in daily weight gain and 0.69 decrease in FCR. It was concluded that the dietary crude protein level required for optimum growth of grasscutters from weaning to reproductive stage is 18%. It was also concluded that the grasscutter could be raised solely on concentrate diet. |
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