Web-based research publications on Sub-Saharan Africa’s prized meat rodent: A global scorecard

Abstract

The paper assessed articles on grasscutter in journals present online. Only articles uploaded by March 2013 were considered. Up to 1969, no article on grasscutter was published online except in the decade 1930-1939. Year 2010-March, 2013 recorded the highest percent mean monthly publications (69.09%) while 1930-1939 and 1970-1979 had the least (0.45%). There was a 1300% increase in the volume of articles between 1970 and 2013. Country-wise, Nigeria and Ghana topped with 49.29% and 27.14%, respectively while Italy, Sweden and Japan recorded the least value (0.71%). Africa produced most of the articles (92.15%) while Asia had the least (0.71%) but none from Australia and South America. Anatomy and Physiology (22.86%) was the most researched area while Economics and Marketing were the least (2.14%). Core areas of veterinary medicine (Anatomy and Physiology, Health and Reproductive Physiology) dominated research interest. Livestock Research for Rural Development published most of the articles (8.57%) while 2.14% was the least output by any journal. Most of the journals published only one article (45.71%). GSI Wogar of Nigeria was the most prolific authority on grasscutter (6.43%) while the least effort by any author was 1.43%. The study confirms Africa’s deep interest in the grasscutter which is not shared by other parts of the world. We recommend increased publication of research on cane rats in web-based journals to quickly spread the food value of this prized meat rodent to other parts of the world and so attract research interest and funding.

Keywords: Grasscutter, research articles, online, global