Assessment of Male Aggressiveness and Female Receptability in Grasscutter Domestication in Ibadan, Nigeria
[1]
Akinyemi I. G., Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Jericho Hills, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
[2]
Ukpe N. E., Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Eastern Research Station, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
[3]
Ilo S. U., Department of Animal Technology Programme, Federal College of Agriculture, Isiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
A study was carried out for a period of five years to determine the level of aggression in males and the receptability of female grasscutters reared in captivity. A total of one hundred and fifty six (156) grasscutters in the ratio of fifty two (52) males and one hundred and four (104) females were used during the study period in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The initial body weight of the bucks ranged between 2.5kg-3.8kg while that of the does were 1.8kg-2.8kg, respectively. The grasscutters were housed in concrete floor hutches with hutch doors positioned at the top of each compartment. They were served forages ad libitum and concentrate supplement. Twenty six (26) was the highest number of does paired while nineteen (19) was the lowest number paired in years 2011, 2008 and 2010, respectively. Injured does in the pairing group was highest in 2011 where fourty seven percent (47%) out of the twenty six (26) does paired were wounded. This was followed by thirty six percent (36%) in 2010 out of the twenty (20) does paired and lastly six percent (6%) out of the nineteen (19) does paired. No does was injured in years 2007 and 2008, respectively. Similarly, percentage mortality was highest among the does when compared to their male counterpart. With a record of twenty four (24%) in 2010 and lowest in 2007 with a record of four percent (4%). One hundred and fifteen (115) litters were acquired comprising thirty five (35) males and eighty (80) females.
Grasscutters, Aggression, Receptability, Mortality, Litter Size
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