Cane Rat / Grasscutter

The meat of the cane rat a wild rodent, is greatly appreciated in western and central Africa. The station aims to develop cane rat breeding techniques for the production of meat, and to propagate a domesticated breed.

This rodent is one of two species of cane

rats, a small family of African hystricognath rodents. is closer related to the porcupine than to veld rats. The spiny fur on the back and rounded nose distinguish this animal from true rats. A mature animal reaches a length of about 720 mm.

Foraging individuals systematically cut grass with the upper incisors, which results in a tooth-chattering sound. The upper teeth grow continuously. Although it prefers green fodder, it can survive on the dry highveld grasses since it has digestive microbes in the hindgut. The meat of cane rat is regarded as a delicacy, superior to that of rabbit. For this reason some people hunt it for food.

Females gives birth to two litters per year after a long gestation period of 152 days. Litter sizes are mostly four  pups which are well developed at birth.

Social structure normally consists of a male with two or three females.

Previous estimates show that 80 million cane rats are hunted in west Africa annually, yielding the equivalent of 300,000 metric tons of meat ( Jori et al. 1995). Studies in West Africa (Benin, Nigeria and Ghana) have also indicated that cane rat farmers fetch more per kg of cane rat meat than those involved in cattle, goat and pigs production. In Nigeria it was observed that the price of cane rat meat was rising faster than that of other bush meat or domestic animals.

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