Grasscutter farming is in all honesty a business venture that can make one have a settled future if one sincerely applies oneself to it. That is why a lot of interest has been shown by forward thinking farmers nationwide. I wish to inform interested farmers that quality grasscutter breeding stocks of 1-male and 4-females is available for sale to farmers at Jovana Integrated Farms; one of the leading grasscutter producers in Nigeria. Jovana Integrated Farms are technically equipped to meet your order volumes on schedules, no matter the quantity.
A lot of calls, e-mails and SMS messages asking question made me to write replies to some of your questions today. I have in all 33 questions but let’s handle 8 questions first. I want to first encourage those that lost their jobs that it is for good. It may be painful right now but in the long run, it is for good. Please don’t allow the discouragement mode to take you over, the future with you in active control is better than when another is the one determining it for you. So let’s go.
1. WHAT DO I REQUIRE TO START A COMMERCIAL GRASSCUTTER FARMING?
You will require at least half plot of land. You will build on it 30 x 60 feet half wall block. If you go outside the cities to the villages, this may not cost you more than N450,000.00. You also require lighting equipment, that is, two hurricane lamps (alternative to electricity), which will cost you less than N5,000. After land and light, you will require watering equipment, that is, a well, water reservoir, pumping machine, water buckets, and about one hundred casted troughs. All these would in a village cost you about N100,000.00. The next requirement is the housing equipment, which I would suggest should be about 50 wooden cages which should cost about N900,000.00. The last is the feeding equipment which should comprise of a wheel barrow, hand shovels, plastic troughs, which should cost less than N80,000. All the equipment should cost about N300,000. The last is the working capital requirement. To stock six colonies of one male plus five Females at N150,000 per colony should be about N900,000. Then feeding for one-year gestation period of a mixture of 30 breeders, 50 castrated bucks and 200 weaners should be about N7,000,000.00 This is just a small commercial proto-type, it could be scaled down or made bigger depending on your financial capabilities.
2. WITH HOW MANY ANIMALS CAN ONE START A GRASSCUTTER FARM?
This depends on the available fund, land space and desired production capacity. However as a starter on a small scale, one will suggest that you start with two or three colonies, that is, 10 or 15 Breeding Does and 2 or 3 Bucks. Honestly for a man or woman that lost the job and wants to really get involved, six colonies will be a better starting out point.
3. CAN GRASSCUTTER FARM BE SITED IN THE CITY?
The answer is obvious, yes at the backyard in homestead capacity. For this you could handle on a part time basis, once you could adhere to the feeding times of 7 to 10 am in the morning and 5 or 7pm in the evening. However, if you want to have a commercial grasscutter farm, a site outside the city has the overwhelming advantage for expansion purposes, disposal of wastes and the provision of an environment less stressful to the animals for optimal performance.
4. WHERE CAN GRASSCUTTER FEEDS BE OBTAINED IN NIGERIA?
Grasscutter is an herbivorous animal, it feeds mostly on grass. This can be sourced in the wild and possibly have a garden where other feed items could be cultivated. It feeds on leafy/grass items, tubers, fruits, grains, proteins and vitamins from pineapple leaves. It feeds on sugar cane, ground nuts and other farm products. It must be noted that it is a wasteful eater. It eats little and discards of a chunk of whatever is provided, the farmer must come to terms with this.
5. ARE THEY SUSCEPTIBLE TO PLAGUES LIKE POULTRY PRODUCTS?
No. Grasscutter is hardy. It is bullish in its existence, it hardly succumbs to diseases. That is why an investment in it has less risk. It is essential to know that overcrowding into pens could affect them. They are animals that relish in their freedom though they move about in colonies. So, depending on the size of the cages or pens, stocking density of 5 (1 male and 4 females) per colony cages is ideal for breeding animals; 18-24 for weaned grasscutters (of say 6-8 weeks old) and 8-15 for animals that are already up to 3-4 months.
6. HOW MANY TIMES CAN A GRASSCUTTER FEMALE FARROW IN A YEAR AND WHAT IS THE GESTATION PERIOD IN A REPRODUCTION CYCLE?
With proper handling and in a good environment either in the backyard homestead or in the bush, a female grasscutter can farrow twice a year with 5 to 8 litters each. The gestation period is usually 152 days on the averages, while a range of 150 to 160 days is possible.
7. WHERE IN NIGERIA CAN GRASSCUTTER BREEDING STOCK BE OBTAINED?
There are reputable grasscutter farmers in Nigeria, particularly in the Southern part of the country. However, Jovana integrated Farms are technically equipped and has the capacity to supply “top genetics grasscutter foundation stocks to intending farmers nationwide. Here is the address: No 42, Osolo Way, Off Airport Road, by 7 & 8 Bus-Stop, Ajao Estate. Tel: 080 33262 808, E.mail: jovanafarms@gmail.com.
8. ARE THERE PERSONS ONLINE SCAMMING UNSUSPECTING FARMERS IN THE GRASSCUTTER INDUSTRY?
Yes. Scammers are all over the online space-Facebook and other social media, using names of popular farms to dupe the public. Because of the various information reaching us of unscrupulous persons using our name or pictures to scam others, we have put together a few steps that will help our clients prove the authenticity of any offer purported to be from us. Here they are:
• Call our phone number 080 33262 808
• Chat us up on facebook https://www.facebook.com/PrinceArinzeOnebunne
• Write us through our email: jovanafarms@gmail.com. Website: www.jovanafarms.com.ng
• Chat us up on WhatsApp: 080 33262 808
• If anyone is trying to scam you using our name or the name of our farm or businesses. Please contact us immediately.
• Please do not allow yourself to be scammed. Always request for a live video to see who you are dealing with and the animal.
• This is our office address: No: 42 Osolo Way Ajao Estate, off Airport Road, Lagos
CONTACT us for FARM SET-UP or attend JOVANA FARMS interface training SEMINAR nearest to you and discover more opportunities in breeding grasscutters! Can’t attend? Order for Self-tutorial VCD & BOOK N10, 000.
Visit us at www.jovanafarms.com.ng, E-mail:jovanafarms@gmail.com or Call: 080 33262 808, for more details. Choose also the nearest SEMINAR venue from the advert box in this page or from our WEBSITE.