ABSTRACT

A total of' 92 clay-old native guinea fbwl keets were generated from direct and reciprocal crossing of two colour variants of indigenous guinea fowls (pearl and Lavender) to investigate the effect of genotype on their growth performance. The genetic groups produced were homozygous pearl variants main cross (Pr/Pr), hornozygous Lavender variant main cross (La/La), Pearl variant reciprocal cross (Pr/La) and Lavender variant reciprocal cross (L.a/Pr). The experiment was a randomized complete block design ( RCI3D) with genetic group as treatment and hatch as block. The results showed that the performance of l.aIPr genotypeas regards means daily feed intake (MDFI) feed efficiency (FE) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of Pr/La, Pr/Pr and La/La genotypes. Mortality rate was significantly (NO.05) influenced by genotype at I , 3Id and 4111 weeks of age. There was significant difference in the mean body weight (ME'3WT) of La/Pr and Pr/La genotypes performing better than the Pr/Pr and I a/l a genotypes due to the general combining ability of Lavender sire and pearl dam La/Pr had heavier body weight (420.() I + 0.0!) and showed the highest significant growth rate (0. IS I) coipared to Pr/I a (0. 140), Pr/Pr (0. I 3 I ) and I ja/I a (0, I I 9). Ihere was significant NO.05) effect of general combining ability in breast length ( Uk L ), body girth (BG), thigh length (THL) and shank length (SHL) among the four genetic groups. La/Pr genotype showed the highest performance followed by Pr/I a genetic Group. The results obtained indicated the overall superiority of Lavender sired progeny over the progeny of' other variety and thereby could be used to develop native foundation stock for production of broiler type guinea fowls.