Comparison of growth and morphological parameters of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) raised on concrete and earth floor finishes in Botswana

S J Nsoso*, M H D Mareko and C Molelekwa

Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana
^*SNSOSO@BCA.BW

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of floor finish on growth and morphological parameters of guinea fowl keets (Numida meleagris) from 5 to 12 weeks of age in Botswana. Sixty (60) keets of the same age were raised as one mob until 4 weeks of age under intensive system in a typical poultry house. They were fed commercial chick starter mash and water ad libitum. At the beginning of the 5^th week keets were divided into two equal groups based on weight. One group was randomly chosen and housed in a typical poultry house with concrete floor finish while the remaining group was housed in a typical poultry house but with earth floor finish i.e. bare ground. Keets in the house with concrete floor finish were raised under deep litter system using saw dust which was changed every 2 weeks. Both groups were fed grower mash and water ad libitum. The following biometrical measurements were collected weekly from hatching to 12 weeks of age: body weight, neck length, hip width, rump height, metatarsal length, body length and stretched wing length in all keets. The data were analysed using the General Linear Model Procedure in Statistical Analysis System because a few keets died before and after the groups were separated. The reported least squares means were separated using t-test.

Body weight, neck length, hip width, rump height, metatarsal length, body length and stretched wing length significantly (p<0.05) increased from 5 to12 weeks of age, for concrete and earth floor, respectively. Generally, these traits did not differ significantly between concrete and earth floor at the same stage of growth and development.

Keets raised under concrete and earth floor finishes can bring the same output hence for better profit it is better to choose earth than concrete floor finish, which increases production costs because of the purchase of building materials required for the latter floor finish.

Keywords: Botswana, floor finish, growth, guinea fowl, keets, traits

Introduction

Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) can be kept both for meat and egg production (Smith 2001). There are hardly any cultural barriers against consumption of guinea fowl products (Saina et al 2005). The meat of guinea fowl is served extensively in hotels and restaurants because of its wild game flavour (Feltwell 1992). Guinea fowl can be raised under both intensive and extensive management systems. It is profitable to give supplements to guinea fowl for growth from the keets stage to maturity if they are kept under semi-intensive (Alawa and Nwagu 1995). In agreement with Nsoso et al (2006), information on guinea fowl production is rather lacking in Botswana, which hampers rapid development of this industry. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of floor finish on growth and morphological parameters of guinea fowl keets from 5 to 12 weeks of age in Botswana.

Materials and methods

Sixty (60) commercial keets hatched over a period of 2 days from an incubator in January 2006 were used in this experiment. For the first 4 weeks these keets were housed in a poultry house under deep litter system with saw dust used as litter. These were fed commercial chick starter mash and water ad libitum. At the beginning of the 5^th week, keets were randomly divided into two equal groups balancing for weight. One group was chosen randomly and housed in a poultry house with concrete floor finish under deep litter system with clean saw dust. While the other group was housed in a poultry house with an earth floor finish (bare ground). All keets were fed grower's mash and water ad libitum up to 12 weeks of age. Keets were raised under normal day light. Feeding and water troughs were cleaned twice a week to provide good sanitary conditions.

Data collection

The following biometrical parameters were measured on weekly basis; body weight, neck length, hip width, rump height, metatarsal length, body length and length of stretched wings for a period of 12 weeks starting in January 2006.

Statistical analysis

The data was analyzed using the General Linear Model Procedure in Statistical Analysis System (SAS 1999-2000) because some keets died during the experiment. The reported least squares means were separated using t-test.

Results and discussion

The live weight significantly (p<0.05) increased; 0.25±0.02 vs. 1.11±0.03kg and 0.27±0.02 vs. 1.29±0.03kg for concrete and earth floors, respectively from 5 to 12 weeks of age (Figure 1).

Generally, there was no significant difference between the two treatments at the same stage of growth and development. The significant increases in body weight over time is consistent with the findings of Nsoso et al (2003 and 2006) where guinea fowl keets had similar live weights at the same stage of growth and development. These are slow growth rates compared to broilers which reach 1.5 to 2 kg in 6-8 weeks. Ayorinde and Ayeni (1983) also reported that guinea fowls tend to be slow in growing, weighing less than 1 kg at eight weeks of age. Ayorinde et al (1988) also showed low live weight to be a characteristic of guinea fowl. It could be that the low body weight and body structure of guinea fowl suited for rapid flight and fast running are evolutionary adoptions for survival in the wild and that nature has selected against either heavy weight or plumpness (CAB International 1987). Genetic improvement has reduced the slaughtering age of chickens from 12 to 8 weeks of age and increased live weight from 1.5 to 1.7kg. Similar reductions in slaughter age and increases in body weight to those achieved in chicken breeding could be possible, given that the heritability estimates for body weight of the indigenous guinea fowl ranges from 35% at day old to 40% at 16 weeks of age and there was large variation in this trait (Ayorinde et al 1988). Sanjeev et al (1997) also report high heritability estimates of 49% for body weight at 16 weeks of age.

The neck length significantly increased; 7.35±0.09 vs. 16.63±0.19cm and 7.13±0.16 vs. 16.69±0.19cm for concrete and earth floors, respectively from 5 to 12 weeks of age (Figure 2).

This implies that there has been an increase of 9 cm in 7 weeks, which is similar to the 6.45cm growth over 10 weeks reported by Nsoso et al (2006). It can be deduced that neck length is an early maturing trait, which is necessary to enable birds to have good view of their surroundings, to detect any danger and/or see their predators in advance. The keets raised on concrete floor finish had significant longer neck lengths than those on earth floor finish at 7-10 weeks of age (Figure 2). Before and after this time period there was no significant difference between the two treatments at the same stage of growth and development. Such trends are of no economic importance since the two groups end up with the same neck length at the end of the study period.

At 5 weeks of age, the hip width of the keets was 4.93±0.06 vs. 5.17±0.10cm, which was significantly less than 10.23±0.12 vs. 10.14±0.12cm value at 12 weeks of age for concrete and earth floors, respectively (Figure 3).

This implies that the needed body frame size has been nearly reached thus there is no vigorous increase in hip width. Therefore, hip width is an early maturing trait. Rump height at week 5 was 7.03±0.08 vs. 7.34±0.13cm, while at 12 weeks of age it had significantly increased to 12.60±0.16 vs. 12.08±0.16cm age for concrete and earth floors, respectively (Figure 4).

It can be realized that rump height is an early maturing trait. Metatarsal length significantly increased; 4.47±0.05 vs. 8.91±0.10cm and 4.23±0.09 vs. 8.38±0.10cm for concrete and earth floors, respectively from 5 to week 12 of age (Figure 5).

Generally, there was no significant difference in metatarsal length between the two treatments at the same stage of growth and development. Nsoso et al (2006) also reported similar figures for these traits at the same stage of growth and development. Such trends suggest that this trait is also an early maturing trait and this is supported by the fact that the strong legs are needed to support the whole body frame.

The body length significantly increased; 12.39±0.13 vs. 22.79±0.27cm and 12.52±0.22 vs.22.61±0.27cm, for concrete and earth floors, respectively from 5 to week 12 of age (Figure 6).

The stretched wing length significantly increased from 26.39±0.20 vs. 49.00±0.41cm and 27.47±0.35 vs. 47.85±0.41cm, for concrete and earth floors, respectively from 5 to week 12 of age (Figure 7).

These are late maturing traits. The late maturing of wings is a physiological advantage to guinea fowls in that these birds are known to be flighty birds and revert easily to feral conditions. Alawa and Nwagu (1995) reported that guinea fowls have strong wings and can fly at 90 meters above the ground. Generally, there was no significant difference in body and stretched wing lengths between the two treatments at the same stage of growth and development.

There was variation in each trait for example body weight. Such a situation is explained by the fact that within a breed, strain or variety, individual variations are common. Such individuals that are capable of high performance should be exploited in selection and breeding programmes (Alawa and Nwagu 1995). Since guinea fowls are kept for egg and meat production (Ajala et al 1997; Magaga and Haule 1998; Smith 2001), the poultry producer wants birds of minimum possible size and weights that will maximize production at an economic rate and still maintain a market carcass value at the end of production. These can solely be achieved through selection based on biometrical measurements.

Conclusions

• Body weight, neck length, hip height, rump height, metatarsal length, body length and stretched wing length of guinea fowl keets significantly increased from 5 to 12 weeks of age, irrespective of floor finish.

• Keets were slow growing with the least weight of 0.25 and 0.27 kg reported at week 5 and a maximum of 1.11 and 1.29 kg at 12 weeks of age for concrete and earth floors, respectively.

• Generally, for all phenotypic traits measured there was no significant difference between the concrete and earth floor finishes at the same stage of growth and development.

• The similarity between treatments means that farmers should choose the cheaper option of earth floor to minimise costs of production hence maximise profits.

• Further research on biometrical measurements of guinea fowl should be done to help in selection and breeding programmes to enhance commercial production in the country.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Botswana College of Agriculture for providing funds for this study and Ms G.S. Mpapho for comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

References

Ajala M K, Nwagu B I and Osuhor C U 1997 Socio-economic of free-range guinea fowl production among agro pastoral Fulani women in Giwa local government area of Kaduna state, Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Agriculture (India) 15: 37-44.

Alawa C B I and Nwagu B I 1995 Guinea fowl Production in Nigeria. World's Poultry Science Journal 51: 261- 269.

Ayorinde K L and Ayeni J S O 1983 Comparison of the performance of different varieties of indigenous guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) and imported stock (Numida meleagris) in Nigeria. KLRI Annual Report 170-182

Ayorinde K L, Toye A A and Aruleba OA 1988 Association between body weight and some egg production traits in a strain of commercial layer. Nigeria Journal of Animal Production 15: 119-121

CAB International 1987 The technical centre for agricultural and rural co-operation. Manual of poultry production in the Tropics. Cambrian News, Ltd, Aberystwyth, U.K. pp 111-114pp.

Feltwell R 1992 Small-scale Poultry keeping. A guide to free-range poultry production. Faber and Faber Ltd. pp 142-143.

Magaga S L and Haule K S 1998 The domestication of guinea fowl: a case of Morogoro Municipal, Tanzania. Nature-et-Faune (Ghana) 14: 14-28.

Nsoso S J, Ramaabya L A and Mpapho G S 2006 Preliminary phenotypic characterization of guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) kept under intensive system in South-eastern Botswana. Botswana Journal of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (Submitted).

Nsoso S J, Seabo G M, Kgosiemang J, Molatlhegi S G, Mokobela M, Chabo R G and Mine O M 2003 Performance of progeny of wild and domesticated Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) in Southern Botswana. South African Animal Science 4: 46-51; http://www.sasas.co.za/scientific/nsosoB.pdf

Saina H, Kusina N T, Kusina J F, Bhebhe E and Lebel S 2005 Guinea fowl Production by Indigenous Farmers in Zimbabwe. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 17, Article 101. http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd17/9/sain17101.htm

Sanjeev K H, Sharma R D, Kumar S and Singh H 1997 Prediction of annual egg production on the basis of part record egg production in guinea fowl. Indian Journal of Poultry Science 32(2), 122-125.

SAS Institute 1999-2000 SAS^® User's Guide Version 8.1. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC. USA.

Smith A J 2001 Poultry. The tropical Agriculturalist (revised edition). MacMillan with CTA. London, U.K. 242pp.

Received 28 July 2006; Accepted 6 November 2006; Published 6 December 2006

Go to top