Guinea fowl production in Nigeria

Abstract

Research findings on indigenous guinea fowl in Nigeria and the constraints on the local production are discussed. The most pressing problems include low hatchability, high mortality up to eight weeks, lack of reliable advice on veterinary and other problems and a shortage of sources of hatching eggs and young stock. In addition to early mortality, which may be as high as 60%, the characteristic timid, but very active, flighty and noisy temperament probably contributes to poor feed conversion efficiency through high energy output and feed wastage. Nigerian guinea fowl tend to be slow growing, weighing less than 1 kg at 8 weeks of age, and do not come into lay until about 1 year of age. Although monogamous in the wild, a sex ratio of 1:4 can give good fertility. Egg production is confined to the rainy season from April to October. Sex identification presents an enormous problem for most guinea fowl farmers. The nutrient requirements of native guinea fowl have not been established, making it impossible to be sure that balanced diets needed for optimum production are fed. The most important intestinal parasites are Eimeria sp., Ascaridia galli, Heterakis sp. and Capillaria caudiflata. The main external parasites are lice (Damalina sp. and Argus persicus).

Effect of Eggshell Color on the Egg Characteristics and Hatchability of Guinea Fowl (Numida Meleagris) Eggs

“…The average hatchability observed in present study was close to those obtained by several authors (Saina et al, 2005;Nwagu & Alawa, 1995;Galor, 1983;Binali & Kanengoni, 1998;Nwagu & Alawa, 1995;Bessin et al, 1998), but and lower than the findings of Fani et al (2004). The obtained hatchability may be explained by the average egg of 39.99 g, which is consistent with the findings of Moreki & Mothei (2013), who reported higher hatchability of medium-size (39-42 g) eggs.…”

“…It was reported that, for each day of storage, hatchability was reduced in nearly 4% (Nwagu & Alawa, 1995).…”

Comparative Effects of Breed and Sex on Carcass and Organ Profiles of Duck (Anas plantrynychos) and Guinea Fowl (Numidia meleagris) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

“…It was observed in this study that female GF had higher carcass variables than its male counterpart except head and leg which were higher in male GF, while their liver weights are the same. The results could be because the female GF possesses those characteristics to be able to perform the functions of breeding and flight (Nwagu & Alawa, 1995). The results showed that within breed, female duck had higher (P<0.05) bled and defeathered weight percentages, while male had higher (P<0.05) heart and blood weight percentages but the same (P>0.05) liver, gizzard, head and leg as well as dressing weight percentages with its female counterpart.…”

Putative protective antibody response following oral vaccination of multi-age free ranging helmeted guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) with Newcastle disease virus strain I-2 coated on oiled rice

“…Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) sometimes called guinea hen has a wide distribution in Africa where it has become popular among smallholder farmers (Microlivestock 1991;Nwagu and Alawa 1995). The attractive plumage, value as a table bird with game-type flavour and high meat to bone ratio has led the guinea fowls to be widely accepted (Baba et al 2006).…”