Starting a commercial Grasscutter farming is a major step towards making a sustainable income. This article will teach you about how to start a commercial grasscutter faming business in the most easy way you can imagine.

Grasscutter is a small-sized livestock (micro livestock) that is known for its adaptability to tropical vegetation and are usually located in mangroves, savannas, rainforests, and swamps. Scientifically, it is known as Thyronomys Swinderianus. In Nigeria, a popular tribe, i.e., the Yoruba’s call it OYA.

The grasscutter, feeds on milk from the Doe for six weeks in it’s early stage of development. Gradually, as it matures, it feeds on elephant grass, cassava roots, maize stem, rice, millet, sugarcane, and other vegetations. Compared to other livestock, They feed on little food and water.

Grasscutter farming is the rearing or breeding of grasscutters; micro livestock, for agricultural and commercial purposes. This farming has proven to be a great source of income both to the individual and the economy as a whole.

Globally, the demand for grasscutter meat is very high. It shouldn’t be surprising that Grasscutter rearing has rapidly expanded over a little period of time in Nigeria.

Grasscutter come from the family of rodent species and are considered to be a great delicacy in many countries. grasscutter meat markets have been around longer than any others.

The majority of these amazing animals are still captured from the wild areas of Nigeria where they are hunted and brought to the table.

These days, more people wish to have a small grasscutter farm of their own. So, a lot of
investors and businessmen are investing in this market.

HOW TO START A COMMERCIAL GRASSCUTTER FARMING.

Choose a target Location
Research and aquire more knowledge
Choose a perfect housing strategy
Know their Medications and disease control strategies.
Develop a marketing strategy.

In starting a grasscutter business, There are some factors which will be considered to make it productive. The grasscutter farming business, while very lucrative, also has its own fair share of challenges, which can either make or break the business.

It is therefore important that anyone looking forward to starting a grasscutter farm must be ready to weigh the prospects and act in accordance with their tolerance and capability. Here are a few things to consider when starting up a grass cutter farm.

1. Target location:

Grasscutter meat is being classified as white meat, there is a high demand for this unique merchandise by hotels and well to do communities who have a greater taste and appreciation for white meat. Situating the farm in close proximity to these locations is a positive strategic move that is definitely geared towards having a positive effect on the business. Grasscutter meat is also growing to become a widely accepted meat in every home irrespective of religion, tribe, and tradition.

2. Research:

Making researches on the estimate of cost of rearing: This factor is very important when it comes to Grasscutter business. Getting real facts in acquiring, maintenance, and breeding of grasscutter in this type of farming is very important for if done wrong, the consequences would be bad. The average
grasscutter farmer would spend a lot to see to the total production process for a small- average scale grasscutter farm.

The average price for a mature buck is a little bit lower than that of a doe. Their prices are different. Also, the cost of feeding should be included too , as well as factoring the cost of their medical maintenance.

3. Housing:

Grasscutter are kept in cages or pens and the number of the cages depends on the number of grasscutter which are being reared. The cage should be metallic, spacious, and well ventilated. Pen layout is dependant on the construction material used in building them. Grasscutter housing is one of the many factors to consider when starting a grasscutter farm, and it is of paramount importance next to its feeding and breeding.

The house must be properly lit and well ventilated and should contain insulation features for cold periods to avoid health casualties among the livestock.A typical grasscutter house consists of well-roofed buildings that contain wire hutches and wood. Feed troughs and drinkers, along with holding and transfer cages should be deftly installed for proper management and productivity.

When creating these cages, it is important to create apartments with openings of smaller
sizes in order to permit movement by the grass cutter from one apartment to the other. Also, the
length, breadths and height should be noted of.

4. Control of disease:

Grasscutter farmers, like every other livestock farmers should always be aware of it’s pests, disease-carrying pathogens, and diseases that are peculiar to their livestock. They must have the knowledge of all these things, and it is also important that they carry out measures to obstruct the penetration of these unwanted visitors around their farm.

There are some common diseases which they suffer from, these are:

A). Staphylococeamia: This is caused by the bacterium- staphylococcus aerus, which leads to nasal and
vaginal discharge and can be treated by antibiotics.

B). Diplococus Pneumonate: This bacteria occurs frequently among grass cutters. It leads to PNEUMONIA which thrives in cold weather. To prevent this from happening, make sure your livestocks are well protected from the harsh cold during cold weather and avoid feeding them with dusty feeds.

C). Coccidiosis: is a bacteria caused by protozoa which belongs to the Eimeria family and it leads to diarrhea, appetite loss, and fatigue. Enterotoxaemia is caused by a bacterial infection that causes paralysis and excessive kicking of the hind leg, and it can be prevented by regular environmental sanitation and proper vaccination of the grass cutter.

D). Parasites: Parasites .e g, Ecto-parasites like flea, lice, and ticks are common amongst grasscutter.
These parasites can be taking care of (removed) by a medical dipping process. Worms on the other hand attack the insides of a grasscutter.They gain entry by hiding in wet and contaminated plants that the livestock feed on, and also by hiding in wilted forage. Worms can be gotten rid of by deworming the grasscutter on a regular basis.

5). Market:

There is always a ready market for grasscutter. Just like every other business, grasscutter
farming in Nigeria can incur good returns or profits if managed well. Following the various health campaign that grasscutter meat has inspired, there is a very high demand for this product in the market.

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