Cane rat
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Thryonomys gregorianus (Lesser Cane Rat) |
The genus Thryonomys, also know as cane rats, grass cutters, or cutting grass, is a genus of rodent found in Africa south of the Sahara. They are eaten in some African countries and are a pest species on many crops.
Otherwise known as cane rats, these rodents (Thryonomys spp.) are widely distributed and valued in West and Central Africa. Like the guinea pig, the meat is of a higher protein but lower fat content than domesticated farm meat and it is also appreciated for its tenderness and taste. In the past this animal was hunted extensively although, in the savanna area of West Africa, people have traditionally captured wild grasscutters and fattened them in captivity. More recently, intensive production of grasscutters has been undertaken in countries such as Benin and Togo and agricultural extension services in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Zaire have also encouraged farmers to rear these rodents in rural and peri-urban areas. Research carried out over the last two decades has allowed the selection and improvement of stock for captivity and much of the knowledge and techniques for grasscutter production has been determined from work carried out at the Benin-Germany cane rat breeding station, which was established in the mid-1980s. Practical information is now more readily available for farmers interested in grasscutter production but training is still advised.
Unlike other rodent species, the high exploitation of grasscutters in the wild has not had a serious effect on its numbers. They have adapted easily to deforested areas and occur in close proximity to farmlands and people. However, there are areas where the species has been overhunted and savanna habitat is often at risk during the dry season from bushfires, which are lit during bushmeat hunting expeditions. Grasscutters are not the most prolific of rodent species but the high demand, attractive market price and the small amount of investment required makes grasscutters a suitable minilivestock activity for income generation in many parts of West and Central Africa.
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