Effect Of Genotype On The Growth Performance Of Indigenous Guinea Fowl In The Rain-Forest Zone Of South-East Nigeria: -Ukpong, Sampson P

ABSTRACT A total ol 92 day-old native guinea fowl 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 homozygous Lavender variant main cross (La/La), Pearl variant reciprocal cross (Pr/La) and Lavender variant reciprocal cross (La/Pr). The experiment-was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with genetic group as treatment and hatch means daily feed intake (MDFI) feed efficiency (FE) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) thigh length (THL) and shank length (SHL) among the four genetic groups. La/Pr progeny of other variety and therefore could be used to develop native foundation stock for production of broiler type guinea fowls. XIV were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of Pr/La, Pr/Pr and La/La genotypes. Mortality rate was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by genotype at Is1, 3ld and 4lh weeks of age. There was significant difference in the mean body weight (MBWT) of La/Pr and Pr/La genotypes performing better than the Pr/Pr and La/La genotypes due genotype showed the highest performance followed by Pr/La genetic group. The results obtained indicated the overall superiority