Comparison of early growth and survivability in indigenous guinea fowls from Northern Ghana

Three guinea fowl populations from Northern Ghana were compared in terms of their body weight, growth rates, and survivability during the first 11 weeks of life. Keets (n = 865) were hatched from eggs collected from 32 sampling areas divided into eleven subpopulations within three populations in Northern Ghana. Together with an experimental flock maintained at Animal Research Institute (ARI flock), these birds were raised and appraised for weekly body weights, weekly growth rates, and survivability. Weekly body weights did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) among the three populations, although ARI flock were significantly heavier (p ˂ 0.05) compared to the main populations until the fourth week. In contrast, among the subpopulations, significant differences emerged in body weights from the second week and were more pronounced from the sixth week. Growth rates measured as weekly weight gains also differed significantly among subpopulations beyond the second week, although differences in growth rates were not significantly different among whole populations. The mean values for total feed intake, daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) between the populations. Therefore, although the variations in body weight and growth rates were limited among the populations, there existed significant variations among subpopulations, creating opportunities to establish genetically divergent populations for growth rate and to improve early growth rates and body weights in local guinea fowls by selection. High survivability observed in the ARI flock compared to keets from the three populations of Northern Ghana was likely due to good breeder stock management practices despite their common ancestry.

Prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal helminthes among grey-breasted helmet guinea fowls (Numida meleagris galeata) encountered in Gombe state, Nigeria

This cross sectional survey was conducted from July to December 2015 in order to investigate the burden of gastrointestinal helminthes among guinea fowls in Gombe, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of six hundred fowls (viscera) were purchased from six randomly selected slaughter slabs. Out of the 600 birds examined, 479 (79.83%; 95% CI: 76.4, 82.9) were found harbouring one or more gastrointestinal helminthes. Of this, 238 birds (39.7%; 35.8, 43.6) were infected by nematode species and 392 birds (65.3%; 61.4, 69.0) by cestode species. A total of nine nematodes and seven cestodes species were recovered from these birds. There was no any trematode observed among the studied birds. The prevalences of the nematodes identified in descending order were: Ascaridia galli 56.7% (52.7, 60.6); Ascaridia numidae 38.0% (34.2, 42.0); Heterakis gallinarum 17.2% (14.4, 20.4); Heterakis meleagridis 8.3% (6.4, 10.8); Strongyloides avium 3.5% (2.3, 5.3); Subulura brumpti 3.2% (2.0, 5.0); Gongylonema ingluvicola 2.2% (1.3, 3.7) and both Dispharynx spiralis and Tetrameres numidae had 0.7% (0.3, 1.7). While for cestodes: Raillietina tetragona 72.8% (69.1, 76.2); Raillietina echinobothrida 67.3% (63.5, 71.0); Raillietina cesticillus 50% (46.0, 54.0); Raillietina magninumida 25.7% (22.3, 29.3); Hymenolopsis cantaniana 17.3% (14.5, 20.6); Davainea nana 4.2% (2.8, 6.1) and the lowest was observed in Choanotaenia infundibulum with 2% (1.2, 3.5). Infection rates did not differ significantly based on sex (P > 0.05). However, the occurrence of mixed infection as compared with single infection was statistically significant in both cestodes and nematodes (P < 0.001). The results obtained indicated high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes among guinea fowls. These birds may serve as important source of helminthes to other commercial birds in the study area.