Performance characteristics of growing indigenous guinea fowls from upper east, upper west and northern regions of Ghana.

Abstract

A growth performance study on 240, eight week old local guinea fowls from Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions of Ghana was conducted at the University for Development Studies, Tamale. Each treatment consisted of 20 birds per region per cage with four replicates. Birds were fed iso-caloric (2800Kcal/Kg) and iso-protein (20% CP) grower diets. Water was provided ad libitum. Parameters measured were feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, mortality, egg productivity (total number of eggs), egg infertility and egg fertility. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in feed intake of birds. Birds from Northern region had the highest intake of 78.3 ± 3.54 g/bird/day followed by birds from Upper East (74.4 ± 3.54 g/bird/day) and Upper West (62.9 ± 3.54 g/bird/day). Daily weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of the birds from all three regions were not significantly different (P>0.05). Birds from Upper West region suffered the highest mortality (17.5%), with the least being those from Upper East (1.25%). Total eggs laid during the period were 362 eggs for Northern region, 310 eggs for Upper East and 266 for Upper West. These also showed significant differences (P五0.001). Egg fertility levels were satisfactory in birds from all three regions (77.4-81.9%). There were distinctive differences in almost all the parameters measured. This can provide the basis for which they could be classified into breeds.