Determining the optimum combination of palm kernel cake and wheat offal as maintaining ration for matured grasscutters (Thryonomus swinderianus)

Abstract

Twenty (20) female grasscutters at 14 months of age were used for the study, which lasted for ten (10) weeks. The grasscutters were separated into five groups of 4 grasscutters each and fed five (5) diets, which differed in their levels of replacement of wheat offal at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% levels with palm kernel cake. Elephant grass and water were served ad libitum. All data were subjected to the analysis of variance. The results showed that forage intake was significantly (P<0.05) higher on the 100% (i.e. no replacement) wheat diet than on other diets. Concentrate (diet) intake and total feed intake were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the level of replacement of wheat offal with palm kernel cake. The average daily weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) higher among grasscutters fed the 50% replacement diet than among those fed other diets. The results suggest that the synergistic effect of the biological values of wheat offal and palm kernel cake was significantly (P<0.05) higher at the 50% replacement level than at other levels.