This study was conducted to characterise phenotypically helmeted Guinea fowls in three agro-ecologies in Nigeria using multivariate approach. Eighteen biometric characters, four morphological indices and eleven qualitative physical traits were investigated in a total of 569 adult birds (158 males and 411 females). Descriptive statistics, non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis H test followed by the Mann–Whitney U and Dunn-Bonferroni tests for post hoc, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), Univariate Analysis, Canonical Discriminant Analysis, Categorical Principal Component Analysis and Decision Trees were employed to discern the effects of agro-ecological zone and sex on the morphostructural parameters. Agro-ecology had significant effect (P<0.05; P<0.01) on all the colour traits. In general, the most frequently observed colour phenotype of Guinea fowl had pearl plumage colour (54.0%), pale red skin colour (94.2%), black shank colour (68.7%), brown eye colour (49.7%), white earlobe colour (54.8%) and brown helmet colour (72.6%). The frequencies of helmet shape and wattle size were significantly influenced (P<0.01) by agro-ecology and sex. Overall, birds from the Southern Guinea Savanna zone had significantly higher values (P<0.05) for most biometric traits compared to their Sudano-Sahelian and Tropical Rainforest counterparts. They were also more compact (120.00 vs. 110.00 vs. 107.69) but had lesser condition index (7.66 vs. 9.45 vs. 9.30) and lower long-leggedness (19.71 vs. 19.23 vs. 9.51) than their counterparts from the two other zones. Sexual dimorphism (P<0.05) was in favour of male birds especially those in Southern Guinea Savanna and Sudano-Sahelian zones. However, the MCA and discriminant analysis revealed considerable intermingling of the qualitative physical traits, biometric traits and body indices especially between the Sudano-Sahelian and Tropical Rainforest birds. In spite of the high level of genetic admixture, the Guinea fowl populations could to a relative extent be distinguished using wing length, body length and eye colour. Generally, the birds from the three zones appeared to be more homogeneous than heterogeneous in nature. However, further complementary work on genomics will guide future selection and breeding programs geared towards improving the productivity, survival and environmental adaptation of indigenous helmeted Guinea fowls in the tropics.

The effects of feeding graded levels (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) of Neem leaf meals (NM) to broiler chicks on live weights, carcass and organ weights and blood constituents was investigated. Two hundred and forty (240) 7 days-old unsex broiler chicks (Arbor acres) were randomly allocated to five treatments of 48 birds each, replicated four times with 12 birds each in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were given ad-libitum till 56 days. The results of the live weights and carcass and organ weights decreased with increased NM inclusion in the diets. Haematological constituents were not affected (P>0.05) except the packed cell volume while the serum biochemical indices of birds fed 20 % NM diets were decreased (P<0.05) compared with those fed control, 5 %, 10% and 15% NM diets. Inclusion of 15% NM in broiler chicks' diet had no adverse effects on live, carcass and organ weights and immunity responses. NM needs further treatment to improve inclusion levels beyond 15 % in broilers' diets.

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Current fall in supply of feedstuff and high price of feed ingredients is mainly due to Covid-19 pandemic which has put farmers out of farms. Maize, sorghum and millet the major cereal grains used in poultry feed production have become more expensive and strategies need to be adopted to ameliorate this. Hence a review study was carried out to unravel the potentials of acha grains as a feedstuff which is in the class of maize in poultry feeds. Acha is a tiny cereal grain grown in Northern part of Nigeria which is not popular in poultry feeds. Its starch content (80%) is high, low crude fibre (1.0%), appreciable level of lysine (more than 1.0%) and methionine (0.40%) and higher metabolizable energy (3700 Kcal_ME/kg) compared to maize. Its nutrient digestibility is high in terms of starch, crude protein and crude fibre. Though acha contains anti-nutritional factors such as tannins, saponin and phytic acid, the levels of the anti-nutritional factors are comparable to maize and are tolerated by chickens. Both the polished and unpolished acha grains could be used in place of maize, sorghum and millet. With vast area of land in Northern part of Nigeria, production and supply of acha to feed millers could be sustained, which could lead to a reduction in the price of maize and improved profit maximization by farmers.     La baisse actuelle de l'offre d'aliments pour animaux et le prix élevé des ingrédients alimentaires sont principalement dus à la pandémie de Covid-19 qui a poussé les agriculteurs à quitter les fermes. Le maïs, le sorgho et le millet, les principales céréales utilisées dans la production d'aliments pour la volaille, sont devenues plus chères et des stratégies doivent être adoptées pour y remédier. Par conséquent, une étude de revue a été menée pour démêler le potentiel des grains d'acha en tant qu'aliment qui appartient à la classe du maïs dans les aliments pour volaille. Acha est une minuscule céréale cultivée dans la partie nord du Nigéria qui n'est pas populaire dans les aliments pour volaille. Sa teneur en amidon (80%) est élevée, faible en fibres brutes (1.0%), un niveau appréciable de lysine (plus de 1.0%) et de méthionine (0.40%) et une énergie métabolisable plus élevée (3700 Kcal_ME / kg) par rapport au maïs. Sa digestibilité des nutriments est élevée en termes d'amidon, de protéines brutes et de fibres brutes. Bien que l'acha contienne des facteurs antinutritionnels tels que les tanins, la saponine et l'acide phytique, les niveaux des facteurs antinutritionnels sont comparables à ceux du maïs et sont tolérés par les poulets. Les grains d'acha polis et non polis peuvent être utilisés à la place du maïs, du sorgho et du millet. Avec une vaste superficie de terres dans la partie nord du Nigéria, la production et la fourniture d'acha aux meuniers pourraient être soutenues, ce qui pourrait entraîner une réduction du prix du maïs et une meilleure maximisation des profits par les agriculteurs.

The effects of replacing 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of maize with Acha grains in broiler chicks' diets on growth performance, apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) and carcass and organ weights was studied in a 8 week experiment using 150 unsexed 7 days-old Abor-Acre broiler chicks. The results showed that Acha grains could be used to replaced maize up to 100% without significantly (P>0.05) affecting body weight gain, ADC and percentage carcass and cut-up parts and organ weights of finisher broilers, except the abdominal fat deposit. Acha grains is therefore recommended for use to replace maize as a good energy source in poultry rations.