FEEDING PREFERENCE OF SHORT-TAILED MOLE RAT, NESOKIA INDICA, FOR SOME COMMERCIAL VARIETIES OF SUGARCANE UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted to explore the potential of preference of short-tailed mole rats (Nesokia indica) for the four commercial varieties of sugarcane, namely; BL-4, Gulabi-95, Triton and Thatta-10. Results revealed that BL-4 was the most preferred variety; Sugarcane consumption was 55.86±1.41g as compared to rice consumption 24.46±1.05g/kg body weight by male rats; whereas sugarcane consumption was 66.86±2.60g/kg as compared to rice consumption 21.75±1.45g/kg body weight by female rats. Thatta-10 was found the least preferred variety by showing sugarcane consumption as 23.83±1.04g/kg as compared to rice consumption 28.62±0.44g/kg body weight by male rats; whereas sugarcane consumption was 26.33±1.38 g/kg as compared to rice consumption 22.55±1.71 g/kg body weight by female rats. For the variety Triton, sugarcane consumption was 34.25±1.88 g/kg as compared to rice consumption 11.10±0.65g/kg body weight by male rats; whereas sugarcane consumption was 42.43±1.04 g/kg as compared to rice consumption 24.59±1.33g/kg body weight by female rats. For the variety Gulabi-95, sugarcane consumption was 43.91±1.75 g/kg as compared to rice consumption 18.07±1.17g/kg body weight by male rats; whereas sugarcane consumption was 42.51±1.30 g/kg as compared to rice consumption 19.99±1.52g/kg body weight by female rats.