EFFECT OF EGG SIZE AND DAY LENGTH ON REPRODUCTIVE AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE, EGG CHARACTERISTICS AND BLOOD PROFILE OF THE GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris)

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of egg size and day length on reproductive and growth performance, egg characteristics and blood profile of indigenous guinea fowls in Ghana. The study was carried out for a period of ten (10) months. Two hundred and forty day-old keets hatched from three different egg size groups (treatments): small (23-39g); medium (40-42g) and large (43-49g) were used in the experiment. The birds were subjected to artificial light between 6 to 36 weeks and the treatment groups were 12 hours of light: 12 hours of darkness, 14 hours of light: 10 hours of darkness, 16 hours of light: 8 hours of darkness and 18 hours of light: 6 hours of darkness. The control group was 12 hours of light: 12 hours of darkness. Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 20 birds per replicate. A 3×4 factorial design was used for the experiment. Data were analysed using General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS. The results from the study showed that egg size had significant (P0.05) effect on fertility, dead in shell and piped eggs. Egg size had significant (P0.05) on growth rate and feed conversion ratio. Egg size had significant effect (P0.05) effect on Haugh unit, egg diameter, yolk weight, yolk colour, albumen height and albumen weight. Egg size had little (P>0.05) effect on hen-day and hen house egg production. However, egg size had significant (P0.05) effect on fertility, hatchability, dead in shell and piped eggs. The results show that light intensity of 5.60 lux had significant effect (P0.05). Light intensity of 5.60 lux had significant effect (P0.05). Light had little (P>0.05) effect on hen-day and hen house egg production. However, light had significant (P0.05) effect on hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, packed cell volume, neutrophil, lymphocytes, eosinophil, total serum protein, albumin, globulin and cholesterol. Two way interaction effect of egg size and light at all levels of the two factors were not significant (P>0.05) in all traits, except hatchability and feed intake.