Influence of Varying Elephant Grass-concentrate Ratio on Growth Indices, Respiratoryi Rates /iand Feed Costi /iof Cane Ratsi /ii(Thrynomys Swindarianus/i)

The experiment was carried out using thirty cane-rats in a randomized complete block design to determine the growth performance using varying levels of elephant grass and concentrate feed. The treatments were T1 100% concentrate, T2 - 25%: 70%, T3 - 50: 50%, T4 - 75%: 25% compounded feed and T5 100% grass respectively. Each treatment was replicated twice with 3 animals per replicate. The parameters measured include feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio which was calculated. The respiratory rate was observed. Feed cost was also calculated at the end of the experiment. The results showed that parameter measured were significantly different among the different treatments. Highest total feed intake of 6373.51g was recorded in T3. The Total weight gain TWG showed that T4 (75% grass and 25% concentrate) was significantly (p 0.05) higher than the other treatments with a value of 1410g at reduced cost per weight gain. The best FCR 4.4 was recorded in the diet containing 75% grass and 25% concentrate. The respiratory rate observed did not significantly influence the performance of cane rats, value ranged between 37.31°C to 37.49°C across the treatments. The conclusion from this study is that 25% inclusion of concentrate gave optimum growth performance with reduced cost without any adverse influence on physiological performance of cane rats.