Context: Sustainable utilization of abundant forage grass species in Nigeria is very crucial in grasscutter domestication programme. Objective: This study evaluates comparative effects of Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus) parts on growth performance of captive-bred juvenile male grasscutters. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted inside Grasscutter Domestication Unit of Federal College of Wildlife Management, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria. The experimental animal comprised of twenty-four juvenile males (JM) with mean live-weight of 410±2.11g fed four basal dietary treatment combinations: Elephant grass stem (EGS), Elephant Grass Leaf (EGL), Gamba Grass Stem (GGS) and Gamba Grass Leaf (GGL) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement for 120 days to obtain data which includes feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), weight gain (WG), nutrient digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and crude fibre (CF). Results: Average daily feed intake (FI) in JM was significantly (p<0.05) higher in experimental animals fed with GGS (107.23g/d) and EGS (106.21g/d) relative to GGL (105.89g/d) and EGL (105.14g/d). EGL exhibited higher (4.45g/d) WG and lowest (23.69) FCR. JM fed EGL recorded highest digestibility of DM (85.64%) and CF (83.84%), respectively. Grass species and parts interaction showed significant variation (p<0.05) on FI, DM and CF of the animals when fed EGL. Conclusion: It was evident that EGL was maximally utilized by captive-bred juvenile male grasscutters for growth performance hence, feeding of captive male grass cutters with EGL as basal food for table meat production is recommended.

Feeding behaviour of captive male olive baboons was studied in a 200 feeding trial using five selected indigenous fruits: Strychnos spinosa (SS), Nuclear latifolia (NL), Piliostigma thonningii (PT), Detarium macrocarpum (DM) and Adansonia digitata (AD), categorized into large, medium and small sizes with a view to foster this animal ex-situ conservation. The fruits were harvested fresh and served on the floor of the cages in-between morning and afternoon routine feeding. Data were collected on fruit choice to determine fruits preference; time spent to remove or break the fruits pericarp; and the position of the animal while eating. This study shows that fruits preference was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced. It followed the order: DM>NL>PT>SS>AD. Experimental Olive baboons picked small fruits ahead of others irrespective of their nutritional quality. Time spent to remove or break the fruits pericarp were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced. On eighty-nine occasions, captive Olive baboons preferred hanging on the cages walls while eaten. For sustainable conservation of this fauna species, more research on its feeding behaviour with respect to these fruits shape, weight and colour is encouraged.