Dietary vitamin E and Selenium yeast supplemented with L-arginine enhanced laying performance and egg quality attributes of Guinea fowls (Numida meleagris)

Abstract

The quest for enhancing the commercialization and popularity of guinea fowl and ensuring better exploitation of the higher nutritional value it has over other poultry species has necessitated the search for feed additives that will enhance its egg laying potential. A 70 days study was carried out to investigate the laying response and egg quality attributes of guinea fowl fed diets containing vitamin E (Vit. E), Selenium (Sel.) yeast supplemented with or without L-arginine (L-arg). A total of two hundred and forty (240), twenty weeks old (average weight of 2,11+ 0,02kg), helmeted guinea fowls were allotted into 8 dietary treatment. Each treatment was replicated thrice with 10 birds each in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments were arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial arrangement of 4 additives (no additive, Sel. yeast (0,3 mg/kg), Vit. E (30 IU/kg), Sel. yeast + Vit. E) supplemented with or without 1g/kg L-arg. Data generated on laying performance and egg quality attributes of the birds were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear model of statistical analysis system. Supplementation of diet with L-arg improved (P<0,05) the number of eggs collected per day (19,73 eggs) and hen day production (65,76 %) compared with diet without L-arg supplementation (17,68 eggs, 58,90 %). Birds fed diet supplemented with Vit. E + Sel yeast had the highest (P<0,05) number of eggs collected per day (19,40 eggs) compared with those fed other diets (P<0,05). Also, Birds fed with various additives had higher (P<0,05) hen day production (63,33 %) when compared with those fed the control diet. Birds fed diet containing Vit. E + Sel yeast supplemented with L-arg had the highest (P<0,05) total number of eggs collected per day (21,00 eggs) and hen day production (70 %). Supplementation of diet with various additives had significant effect (P<0,05) on yolk weight (8,06-12,53 g), yolk height (10,49-16,73 mm), yolk percentage (24,62-35,17 %) and albumen weight (14,04-17,06 g). Supplementation of Guinea fowl diet with various additives led to an increase in the number of eggs produced per day. It was concluded that inclusion of Vit. E and Sel yeast supplemented with L-arg enhanced laying performance and egg quality attributes of guinea fowls. Further studies should be conducted using other poultry species such as turkey, quail and broilers.