TITLE:
Carcass Characteristics of Guinea Fowl Raised under Intensive System and Fed Diets Containing Yellow Maize, Millet and White Sorghum as Energy Sources
AUTHORS:
Samuel Uaperendua Tjetjoo, John Cassius Moreki, Othusitse Ricky Madibela
KEYWORDS:
Carcass Yield, Guinea Fowl, Keets, Local Feed Resources
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.12 No.2,
April
20,
2022
ABSTRACT: This
study investigated carcass characteristics of guinea fowl reared under
intensive system and fed
diets containing yellow maize, millet and white sorghum as energy sources
compared to commercial broiler diets (control). A completely randomized design
was used where 160 guinea fowl keets were randomly assigned to four dietary
treatments. Data were analyzed using Procedure General Linear Model in
Statistical Analysis Software (version 9.0). Results showed that dietary
treatment did not (p > 0.05) influence carcass characteristics of guinea
fowl at the same age. However, carcass characteristics significantly (p sorghum diets, respectively. Carcass yield slightly
increased from 69.93% ± 3.67% to 72.81% ± 2.67%; 73.85% ± 3.67% to 76.31% ± 2.67% and 70.55% ± 3.67% to 72.37% ± 2.67% for control, millet
and sorghum diets,
respectively. Carcass yield of guinea fowl on maize diet decreased with age
(76.18 ± 3.67 to 71.68 ± 2.67). Other parameters including empty gizzard,
heart, liver, drumstick, thigh, back and breast increased with guinea fowl age
for all the dietary treatments. Maize, sorghum or millet diets can be used in guinea fowl diets
without affecting carcass characteristics. Further studies on the acceptance of
meat by consumers and cost-benefit analysis of the dietary treatments should be
conducted to enable formulation of guinea fowl diets using local feed
resources.