Qualitative characteristics of Thryonomys swinderianus swinderianus and Thryonomys swinderianus gregorianus

Abstract

Cane rat, a micro livestock currently being domesticated has the potential to increase animal protein sources. This study examined the qualitative characteristics of Thyryonomys swinderianus swinderianus (Tss) and Thryonomys swinderianus gregorianus (Tsg). Three hundred and thirty five cane rats were sampled. Seven qualitative characters were coded. These included: Shape of Head (SH), Eye Placement (EP), Ear Shape (ES), Body Pelage (BP), Tail Shape (TS), Tail Colour (TC), Breed (B). The qualitative characters were scored on the individual animals. This measures were analysed using frequency distribution and chi-square analysis. In the Tss population, 89.23% of the animals had broad heads, 10.77% had narrow heads. The broad heads animals had broad tip ear (89.236) have brown and yellow - belly white body colour (89.23%). Their tail is broad base and thin out to tip (87.69%) although a few (1.54%) had broad base and even out to tip. All the broad heads (89.23%) brown and yellow-belly white animals (100.00%) had black and hairy tail. In the Tsg population, 87.06% of the animals had narrow heads, (12,94%) had broad heads. The narrow heads animal (86.67%) had ear with broad tip and have black and yellow-belly white body colour (86.67%). The tail is broad base and thin out is tip (80.39%). All the narrow heads (87.06), black and yellow-belly white (99.61%) animals had black and hairy tail