<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Commercialisation of helmeted guinea fowl production in Africa is still in its rudimentary stage and there is a dearth of information on the optimal stocking density of the birds. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the physiological responses and performance of guinea fowl. A total of 240 indigenous guinea fowl were used for this study. The birds were weighed and assigned to different stocking densities of 14, 16, 18 and 20 birds/m2 (SD1, SD2, SD3 and SD4, respectively) at four weeks of age. Feed and water were provided <italic>ad libitum</italic>. Data were collected on growth performance, haematochemical profile and plasma triiodothyronine of the birds. The results showed that from the 7th to the 13th week, birds stocked at 14 and 16 birds/m2 were significantly (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) heavier than birds stocked at 18 and 20 birds/m2, while at weeks 14 and 15, body weight of the birds was in the order 14 birds / m2 > 16 birds / m2 > 18 birds/m2 > 20 birds/m2. Feed conversion ratios of the birds increased with stocking densities. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio significantly increased with stocking density. It was concluded that stocking density of helmeted guinea fowl higher than 16 birds/m2 adversely affected growth performance and welfare of the birds.</abstract>

Commercialisation of helmeted guinea fowl production in Africa is still in its rudimentary stage and there is a dearth of information on the optimal stocking density of the birds. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the physiological responses and performance of guinea fowl. A total of 240 indigenous guinea fowl were used for this study. The birds were weighed and assigned to different stocking densities of 14, 16, 18 and 20 birds/m2 (SD1, SD2, SD3 and SD4, respectively) at four weeks of age. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Data were collected on growth performance, haematochemical profile and plasma triiodothyronine of the birds. The results showed that from the 7th to the 13th week, birds stocked at 14 and 16 birds/m2 were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than birds stocked at 18 and 20 birds/m2, while at weeks 14 and 15, body weight of the birds was in the order 14 birds / m2 > 16 birds / m2 > 18 birds/m2 > 20 birds/m2. Feed conversion ratios of the birds increased with stocking densities. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio significantly increased with stocking density. It was concluded that stocking density of helmeted guinea fowl higher than 16 birds/m2 adversely affected growth performance and welfare of the birds.

Growth performance and physiological responses of helmeted guinea fowl (<italic>Numida meleagris</italic>) to different stocking densities in humid tropical environment

Agricultura Tropica et Subtropica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Growth performance and physiological responses of helmeted guinea fowl () to different stocking densities in humid tropical environment

Commercialisation of helmeted guinea fowl production in Africa is still in its rudimentary stage and there is a dearth of information on the optimal stocking density of the birds. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the physiological responses and performance of guinea fowl. A total of 240 indigenous guinea fowl were used for this study. The birds were weighed and assigned to different stocking densities of 14, 16, 18 and 20 birds/m2 (SD1, SD2, SD3 and SD4, respectively) at four weeks of age. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Data were collected on growth performance, haematochemical profile and plasma triiodothyronine of the birds. The results showed that from the 7th to the 13th week, birds stocked at 14 and 16 birds/m2 were significantly (P  16 birds / m2 > 18 birds/m2 > 20 birds/m2. Feed conversion ratios of the birds increased with stocking densities. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio significantly increased with stocking density. It was concluded that stocking density of helmeted guinea fowl higher than 16 birds/m2 adversely affected growth performance and welfare of the birds.

Commercialisation of helmeted guinea fowl production in Africa is still in its rudimentary stage and there is a dearth of information on the optimal stocking...

Growth performance and physiological responses of helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) to different stocking densities in humid tropical environment

Publicado en línea: 12 jun 2020

Páginas: 5 - 12

Recibido: 28 nov 2019

Aceptado: 05 abr 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2020-0001

Palabras clave
Production, physiology, welfare, guinea fowl, haematology, tropics

© 2020 Oyegunle Emmanuel Oke et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Growth performance and physiological responses of helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) to different stocking densities in humid tropical environment

Publicado en línea: 12 jun 2020

Páginas: 5 - 12

Recibido: 28 nov 2019

Aceptado: 05 abr 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ats-2020-0001

Palabras claveProduction, physiology, welfare, guinea fowl, haematology, tropics

© 2020 Oyegunle Emmanuel Oke et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Palabras clave
Production, physiology, welfare, guinea fowl, haematology, tropics