Growth performance and slaughter parameters of Guinea fowl keets (numida meleagris) fed different levels of protein and energy

• Published in: International Journal of Sudan Research 2011-01, Vol.2 (1), p.41-55
• Main Authors: Mohamed Elhag, Zohair Magzoub, Mohamed, Aisha Elfaki, Mohamed, Ali Saad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy; Fish; Physical growth; Proteins
• ISSN: 2042-6003; 2042-6011
• DOI: 10.47556/J.IJSR.2.1.2011.3

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the growth performance, carcass and non-carcass components of guinea fowl keets. Design/methodology/approach: One hundred and fifty day-old guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) keets were divided by stratified random sampling into five equal groups. The groups were assigned at random to five rations: A, B, C, D and E, for eight weeks. Five experimental diets were formulated as A (20.5% CP, 2990 kcal ME), B (high protein 26%: high energy 3150 kcal), C (high protein 26 per cent: low energy 2800 kcal), D (low protein 16 per cent: high energy 3150 kcal) and E (low protein 15 per cent: low energy 2750 kcal). Group (A) served as the control ration. Five birds from each group were slaughtered and carcass and non-carcass components at the end of the experiment were assessed. Finding: The final live weight in groups B (656.82±0.01) and C (735.11 ±0.01) and the weight gain in group B (600.98+0.01) and C (678.98+0.01) were not significantly (P>0.05) higher than the other treatment groups. Feed intake in group D (917.47+0.010) was not significantly lower than the other groups. The feed conversation ratios (FCR) of group D (3.035 +0.007) and E (3.06 +0.003) were similar. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) and no variations in dressing-out percentages between the control (72.5±0.9) and the test groups, except for group D (69.8±0.72). Originality/value: The guinea fowl fed with a diet of 26 per cent cp and 2800ME kcal/kg have a higher dressing-out percentage, higher meat protein content and lower fat content. The level of protein had a role in guinea fowl performance and the study indicates that the optimum protein and energy levels for starting guinea fowl is 26 per cent crude protein and 2800 ME kcal/kg. These findings are in agreement with the results of Nahashon, Adefope, Amenyenu and Wright (2005), who conducted a study to assess dietary CP and ME concentrations for optimum growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers. They found that birds on a 25 per cent CP diet consumed about 3-4 per cent more than 23 per cent CP, and 3-6 per cent more than 21 per cent CP.