COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GROWTH AND SEASONAL INFLUENCE ON SOME REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES AND EGG PRODUCTION IN TWO STRAINS OF GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris)
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GROWTH AND SEASONAL INFLUENCE ON SOME REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES AND EGG PRODUCTION IN TWO STRAINS OF GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris)
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Date
2017-11
Authors
MAS’UD, ABUBAKAR
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Abstract
A comparative study of growth (Body weight and linear body measurements; Neck length,
Body length, Thigh length, Shank length and Breast width) and seasonal influence on some
reproductive hormones (luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) and
egg production in two strains of guinea fowl (Belgie and Pearl) was conducted at the Poultry
Unit, Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of
Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. Body weight and linear body
measurements were taken biweekly from 16 weeks to 28 weeks of age. The year was
classified into four seasons; late dry (January, February and March); early rain (April, May
and June); late rain (July, August and September) and early dry (October, November and
December). Level of reproductive hormones and egg production were assessed in each
season. There was a significant (P<0.05) strain effect on body weight throughout the
experimental period, mean body weight ranged from 488.13 ± 8.84 to 1057 ± 9.3g and
309.35 ± 7.4 to 782.86 ± 7.16g in Belgie and Pearl strains, respectively. There was also
significant (P<0.05) difference in linear body measurements at different ages with Belgie
having the highest value in all the parameters measured. Season had significant (P<0.05)
effect on hormonal level with highest figure obtained in the late rainy season. Means for the
hormonal assay in the late rainy season were LH-4.670 ± 0.25, P4- 1.390 ± 0.11, E2- 2.000 ±
0.2 and LH- 5.060 ± 0.2, P4- 1.970 ± 0.08 and \E2- 1.860 ± 0.19 in Belgie and Pearl,
respectively. There was no egg production in season one; late dry. Total egg produced during
the late rainy season was significantly (P<0.05) higher than what was produced in the other
seasons in the two strains. Correlation coefficients for body weight and linear body
measurements were positive and high in Belgie; BDL 0.804, BRW 0.955, NKL 0.765, THL
0.857, SHL 0.826 while in Pearl, they were positive and high in breast width 0.903, thigh
length 0.884 and neck length 0.892 but low in back length 0.268 and shank length 0.252.
ii
Correlation coefficients for season and hormones were positive and high during the late rainy
season; LH 0.546, P4 0.771, E2 0.828 while that of season and egg number was positive and
low. Belgie strain can be improved upon for better growth traits while Pearl for better egg
production trait.
Description
A DESSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTER DEGREE IN ANIMAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
COMPARATIVE STUDY,, GROWTH,, SEASONAL INFLUENCE,, REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES,, EGG PRODUCTION,, STRAINS,, GUINEA FOWL (Numida meleagris),