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Research Article - Research and Reports on Genetics (2017) Volume 1, Issue 1
Evaluation of body weight and body linear measurements of broad and narrow helmeted French broiler guinea fowl in the semi-arid condition of Nigeria.
The study was carried out in Mashi, Jibia, Dutsin-Ma, Charenchi, Batsari, Mai adu’a and Kaita local government areas of Katsina state, Nigeria on the French broiler guinea fowls. About 101 broad helmeted strain and 73 narrow helmeted strain reared under free range management were studied. Data were collected on body weight and body linear measurements. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, the effect of sex and strain was determined. There was a significant (P<0.05) effect of sex on body weight and all body linear measurements. Guinea cocks were superior over guinea hens, except the claw length which showed no significant difference due to sex among the narrow helmeted broiler strain. The claw length in the broad helmeted guinea hens was longer than in guinea cocks. There was a significant (P<0.05) effect of strain on mean body weight. The broad helmeted guinea cocks were higher than the narrow helmeted guinea cocks (2.90 ± 0.04 versus 2.77 ± 0.05 kg.) in body weight. Similar trends on body weight were observed among the broad versus narrow helmeted guinea hens (2.76 ± 0.04 versus 2.45 ± 0.03 kg). The broad helmeted guinea cocks significantly (P<0.05) differ from the narrow-pointed helmeted guinea cocks in shank length, wing span, chest circumference, neck length and helmet width (9.60 ± 0.12 versus 9.02 ± 0.10 cm., 52.78 ± 0.47 versus 50.54 ± 0.60 cm., 38.53 ± 0.20 versus 37.67 ± 0.26 cm., 17.12 ± 0.13 versus 16.47 ± 0.16 cm. and 1.49 ± 0.04 versus 1.31 ± 0.05) whereas all other body linear measurements were statistically the same. Thigh length, wing span, neck length, body length, wattle length, helmet length and helmet width of the broad helmeted guinea hens were higher than those of the narrow helmeted guinea hens (13.20 ± 0.18 versus 12.86 ± 0.14 cm., 49.63 ± 0.54 versus 48.28 ± 0.42 cm, 16.06 ± 0.15 versus 13.55 ± 0.12 cm., 26.43 ± 0.23 versus 25.86 ± 0.18 cm., 2.95 ± 2.06 ± 0.06 cm., 2.58 ± 0.06 versus 2.44 ± 0.04 cm. and 1.17 ± 0.05 versus 1.01 ± 0.04 cm). All other body linear measurements were statistically similar (P>0.05). The Broad helmeted guinea fowl had significantly higher body weight and body linear measurements, and would as such yield more carcass than the narrow helmeted strain.
Author(s): Gwaza DS, Elkana H