Comparative growth performance and carcass characteristics of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) and three chicken genotypes

Abstract

A study was conducted to compare the growth performance and carcass characteristics of guinea fowl (GF) with Horro (HR) and Tilili (TL) local chickens, and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) exotic chicken. Seventy-five-day-old chicks from each genotype were used in 3 replications in a completely randomized design. Commercial starter and grower feed was fed ad libitum during the 20 weeks of the study. Daily dry matter intake in g/bird was greater for PK (70) than GF (63), HR (59), TL (61). The final body weight (FBW) g/bird was higher for PK (2022), intermediate for HR (1567) and TL (1539), and low for GF (1286). The average daily weight gain (ADG) was 9 g/bird for GF, 11 g/bird for HR and TL and 14 g/bird for PK. The eviscerated weight g/bird was highest for PK (1679), followed by HR (1323) and TL (1249) and lowest for GF (913). The breast weight (g/bird) was higher for PK (436) than GF (281), HR (311), and TL (284). The thigh weight was higher for PK (303) and HR (252), followed by TL (208) and lowest for GF (157). The abdominal fat content was higher for PK (29 g), followed by HR and TL (12 g each), and low for GF (6 g). The ultimate pH24 h of the breast was higher for GF (6.0) followed by PK (5.8), HR and TL (5.7). GF had higher pH24h thigh meat (6.2), others had 5.8. The meat from GF was darker than normal in color compared to chickens. The GF, HR and TL local chickens could be used as alternate meat-type poultry species with continuous selection.

Effect of Variety and Sex on the Carcass and Meat Quality Traits of Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris L.)

“…Nikolova et al [ 5 ] demonstrated that neither sex nor age affected ( p > 0.05) the pH of breast muscles in guinea fowl, measured 25 min, 4 h and 24 h post mortem. Batkowska et al [ 4 ] and Zelleke et al [ 33 ] found that pH values were higher in leg muscles than in breast muscles, which was also observed in the current study. Previous research conducted by Kiessling [ 47 ] has shown that the lower pH of breast muscles, compared with leg muscles, results from the type and number of muscle fibers.…”

“…The weight of giblets in the above study was higher than that noted in this experiment, which could result from differences in slaughter age. Zelleke et al [ 33 ] reported lower gizzard weight (22.4 g) and similar liver weight (17.1 g) and heart weight (6.7 g) in guinea fowl slaughtered at 20 weeks of age, relative to the values determined in the present study. In the work of Bernacki et al [ 32 ], the total weight of giblets in white and pearl gray guinea fowl (45 g and 46 g, respectively) slaughtered at 14 weeks of age was lower than the values noted in this experiment.…”

“…In the cited study, the proportion of muscles in the carcass was affected by slaughter age, and their percentage was highest ( p ≤ 0.01) in guinea fowl slaughtered at 14 weeks of age. The carcasses of guinea fowl evaluated by Zelleke et al [ 33 ] contained 21.4% breast muscles and 20.7% leg muscles. The cited authors also demonstrated that the proportion of breast muscles in the carcass was higher ( p ˂ 0.0001) in guinea fowl than in chickens of three different genotypes.…”

Comparative Study of Egg and Meat Quality of Guinea Fowl under Different tropical regions: A Review

“…Musundire et al (2017) reported that Guinea fowls outweighed chickens in terms of having higher body weight, carcass weight, cold dressed weight, and breast weight except for dressing percentage for both species (chickens and helmeted guinea fowls); proportions were comparable. A study by Ahaotu et al (2019) in Nigeria and a survey by Zelleke et al (2022) in Ethiopia reported a higher dressing percentage (75.4 and 73.8 %, respectively) for guinea fowl in comparison with a survey by Musundire et al (2017) in Zimbabwe that found that average was (64.1 %) only. The same trend observed for the breast percentage trait.…”

“…These include appearance, texture, and flavor. A study by Camas-Robles et al (2020) in Mexico and a survey by Batkowska et al (2021) in Poland reported higher carcass yield percentage (79.30 and 78.77 %, respectively) for guinea fowl in comparison with a study of Zelleke et al (2022) in Ethiopia that found that an average of (73.8 %).…”