Growth performance of Guinea fowl fed diets containing yellow maize, millet and white sorghum as energy sources and raised under intensive system

Tjetjoo, S.U. and Moreki, J.C. and Nsoso, S.J. and Madibela, O.R. (2013) Growth performance of Guinea fowl fed diets containing yellow maize, millet and white sorghum as energy sources and raised under intensive system. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 12 (4). pp. 306-312.

[img] PDF - Published Version
Restricted to ICRISAT researchers only

Abstract

This study investigated growth performance of guinea fowl fed diets containing 3 cereal grains as energy sources in comparison to commercial broiler diets. Birds were raised under intensive system from 3 to 16 weeks of age. A completely randomized design was used where 160 keets were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments. Each treatment had 40 birds with 4 replicates of 10 birds each. Data were analyzed using General Linear Model Procedure of Statistical Analysis Software (version 9.0). The results showed that dietary treatment did not (P>0.05) influence body length, body circumference, wing stretch, shank length and neck length of guinea fowl. From 3 to 16 weeks of age feed intake was significantly (P<0.0001) lower for control diet (13714.79±209.65 g) than maize (16085±209.65 g), millet (1609.63±209.65 g) and sorghum (15872±209.65 g) diets. Furthermore, FCR was significantly (P<0.0001) lower on control diet (11.33±0.37) than maize (13.91±0.37), millet (14.90±0.37) and sorghum (13.72±0.37) diets. Average weekly body weight gain was significantly (P<0.05) lower for birds on millet diet (82.98±2.18 g) than birds on control (93.14±2.18 g), maize (89.25±2.18 g) and sorghum (89.03±2.18 g) diets. These results suggest that cereal grains can be used in guinea fowl diets without affecting performance

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Dietary treatment, growth parameters, guinea fowl, intensive system, keets
Author Affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag, 0027 Gaborone, Botswana
Subjects: Plant Production
Plant Protection
Divisions: Sorghum
Depositing User: Mr B Krishnamurthy
Date Deposited: 29 Aug 2013 14:06
Last Modified: 29 Aug 2013 14:06
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/9913

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
EPrints Logo
eprints is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.