Grasscutter Rearing and Production

 Grasscutter Rearing and Production Origin and physical features  The grasscutter belongs to the order Rodent and family Thryonomidae which contains only genus Thryonomys. This rodent is widely known through Africa, South of Sahara and it is commonly referred to as the grasscutter, cane-rat or cutting grass.  They are heavily built, thick, set with rounded muzzle, small round ears, short tails and harsh bristly fur.  They have a peculiar bristle tail which readily fractures near the base if seized, much like the easily atomized tail of the lizard; a phenomenon that is of tremendous protective value.  The coarse bristly coat has no under-fur, though under magnification some sparsely scattered extremely fine straight under-fur is visible.  The overall appearance is usually dark brown, speckled with yellow or grey above butty white below.  The chin and throat appear white.  The head is a bit small for the size of the body.  The small circular ear is covered strong and well padded and are armed with powerful straight claws.  There are five digits feet.  Females have three pairs of mammary glands on the belly, while the male testes are not rodents.  The total body length (head to tail) ranged from 40 to 60cm and its tail length ranges from 7-25cm.  Grasscutter grows to a considerable weight.  The mature male sometimes reaches more that 9kg, while the female can attain between 5-7kg body weights.  Its growth rate is less than that of rabbit of an improved breed and more than that of the local rabbit in a tropical environment.  The animal has many predators including leopards, mongoose and python in addition to man. Reproduction and Breeding