Morphostructural Characteristics of Three Varieties of Greybreasted Helmeted Guinea Fowl in Nigeria

Abstract

Three hundred eggs were obtained from settlements around New Bussa, Niger state during the month of August 2006 and transported to Ekiti state by road. 93.33 % of the three hundred (300) eggs collected were selected for hatching. The eggs were hatched at the aviary unitof Ekiti state Agricultural Development Project, Ikole Ekiti, Nigeria. At hatching the keets were separated on the basis of their plumage colours as shown by the distinct difference in the colour of the downy feathers of the keets into three genotypes, pearl, ash and black. The keets of each genotype were randomly allocated to brooder rooms where they were floor brooded using kerosene stove. The keets were fed with diet containing 24% CP, 3000 kcal/kg ME and water ad libitum for the first 8 weeks at the brooder house and fed diets containing 18 % CP, 2850 kcal/kg ME and water ad libitum for the last phase of the experiment. Measurements were taken every fourteen (14) days on body weight and body linear measurements on shank length, drumstick length, keel length, body girth, body length and wing length. The results showed that the birds demonstrated low body weights and small body size in all the parameters examined.

Effect of Age and Sex on Slaughter Value of Guinea Fowl ( Numida Meleagris)

“…As in studies by Fejemilehin [14] and Porwal et al [27], we found that the body weight of guinea fowl increased with age. Guinea fowl kept in different husbandry or bedding systems [23,29] were characterized by lower body weight from 12 to 16 weeks of age compared to birds studied in our experiment.…”

Structural Organization of the Optic Lobe of Grey Breasted Helmeted Guinea Fowl (*Numida meleagris galeata*) at Pre-Hatch Study

“…They are also kept for income generation (Ligomela, 2000), and for the control of snakes, mice and ticks (Cactus, 2001) thus, encouraging its production. The increase in guinea fowl production has led to the development of informal traders who buy and sale the birds for breeding and consumption, especially during festive seasons (Fajemilehin, 2010).…”

Evaluation of Loss in Vigour of the Dual Purpose French Guinea Fowl and Their Mixed Genetic Grade in Katsina, Nigeria

“…The DMFG e had higher mean chest circumference value than the indigenous pearl, ash and black guinea fowls respectively [20] and the range 30.9 -31.3 cm reported for the pearl grey guinea fowl by [21]. The average chest circumference of the DMFG in was shorter than indigenous guinea fowls 35.37 ± 0.35 cm [15].…”

“…Chest circumference of the DPFG cocks and hens were comparatively longer than those of mature indigenous guinea fowls 34.23 ± 0.19 cm [19]; 30.47 ± 0.38, 30.00 ± 0.66 and 30.10 ± 0.40 cm for the indigenous pearl, ash and black guinea fowls [20] and the reported values (31.3 and 30.9 cm) for the pearl grey guinea fowls by [21]. The longer chest circumference of the strain over indigenous birds was due to the genetic improvement for large body size and faster tissue accretion for meat and egg production.…”