Effect of floor density on growth performance of Pearl Grey guinea fowl replacement pullets

Little is known of the optimal floor density for the Pearl Grey (PG) guinea fowl pullet. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of varying floor density on the growth performance of PG guinea fowl pullets. In 3 replicates, 1-d-old guinea keets (n = 786) were weighed individually and randomly assigned to floor pens covered with pine wood shavings at 80, 69, 60, and 53 birds/pen, equivalent to densities of 18, 15.6, 13.6, and 12 birds/m2, respectively. The birds were allowed feeder space of 2.3, 2.7, 3.1, and 3.5 cm/bird, respectively, and water space of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 cm/bird, respectively. The photoperiod was 23 h at 0 to 11 wk of age (WOA) and 8 h at 12 to 16 WOA. Birds were fed diets comprising 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 0 to 4 and 5 to 8 WOA, respectively, and 24% CP. At 9 to 16 WOA, the diets comprised 3,100 kcal of ME/kg and 18% CP. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum consumption. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Overall, BW gains were higher (P \u3c 0.05) and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were significantly lower in birds reared at a floor density of 18 birds/m2 than in birds reared on other treatments at 0 to 8 WOA. However, at 9 to 16 WOA, birds at floor densities of 12 birds/m2 exhibited higher BW gain and feed consumption and lower FCR (P \u3c 0.05) than those at floor densities of 13.6, 15.6, and 18 birds/m2. Therefore, this study suggests an optimum floor density of 18 and 12 birds/m2 at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively, to achieve the highest possible FCR for the PG guinea fowl replacement pullets

Laying Performance of Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Hens as Affected by Caging Density

The caging density required for optimal egg production by various avian species and varieties is highly variable. Even so, little is known of the required cage density for optimum performance of the laying guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). The objective of this study was to assess the effect of varying cage densities on production performance of pearl gray guinea fowl laying hens. In 3 replicates, 270 pearl gray guinea hens [28 wk of age (WOA)] were weighed individually and randomly assigned to laying cages at densities of 1, 2, and 3 birds/cage, equivalent to 1,394, 697, and 465 cm2/bird, respectively. During the experiment, all birds received a 16-h lighting regimen and were fed the same diet, comprising 2,800 kcal of ME/kg of diet and 16% CP (28 to 59 WOA) and 2,800 kcal of ME/kg of diet and 14% CP (60 to 76 WOA). Feed and water were provided for ad libitum consumption. Experimental birds were observed for feed consumption (FC), hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg weight, egg mass (EM), feed conversion ratio, internal egg quality, and shell thickness at the end of each 28-d lay period for 11 consecutive periods. Mean FC and HDEP decreased significantly with increases in cage density, such that 1,394 \u3e 697 \u3e 465 cm2/bird. Mean EM was also higher (P \u3c 0.05) for birds reared in cages at 1,394 cm2/bird than those reared in cages at 697 and 465 cm2/bird (24.8, 17.4, and 14 g/hen per d, respectively). Feed conversion, HDEP, and EM were negatively correlated with cage density (P \u3c 0.05). Mean feed conversion ratio and percentage of mortality were also lower in birds reared in cages at 1,394 cm2/bird than in other treatment groups. Therefore, laying guinea fowl hens exhibited superior performance when raised at a density of 1 bird/cage (1,394 cm2/bird) than those reared at densities of 2 and 3 birds/cage (697 and 465 cm2/bird, respectively)

Effect of Varying Concentrations of Dietary Crude Protein and Metabolizable Energy on Laying Performance of Pearl Grey Guinea Fowl Hens

This study was conducted to evaluate optimum dietary concentrations of ME and CP for egg production performance of the Pearl Gray guinea fowl laying hens. In a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, 360 Pearl Gray guinea fowl replacement pullets (22 wk of age) were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,800 and 2,900 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 14, 16, and 18% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Experimental birds were raised in laying cages and received 16 h of light throughout the study period. The birds were observed for feed consumption, hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg weight (EW), egg mass (EM), feed conversion ratio, internal egg quality, shell thickness (ST), and BW at the end of each 28-d lay period at 26 to 50 wk of age and at 62 to 86 wk of age. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Mean HDEP, EW, EM, and ST were higher (P \u3c 0.05) in hens receiving diets with 2,800 kcal of ME/kg of feed than those fed diets containing 2,900 kcal of ME/kg of diet. Hens on 14% CP diets also exhibited higher (P \u3c 0.05) HDEP, EM, and ST than those fed diets containing 16 and 18% CP diets. Mean feed conversion ratio of birds on 2,800 kcal of ME/kg of diet and 14% CP diets were significantly lower than those of hens on other dietary treatments. Differences in feed consumption, EW, internal egg quality, BW, and mortality among dietary ME and CP concentrations were not significant (P \u3e 0.05). Overall, diets composed of 2,800 kcal of ME/kg of diet and 14% CP were utilized more efficiently by the Pearl Gray guinea fowl laying hens at 26 to 50 and 62 to 86 wk of age

Modeling Growth Characteristics of Meat-Type Guinea Fowl

This study was conducted to describe the growth pattern of the French guinea fowl, a meat-type variety. Using BW data from hatch to 9 wk, 2 nonlinear mathematical functions (Gompertz and logistic) were used to estimate growth patterns of the French guinea fowl. The French guinea fowl did not exhibit sexual dimorphism for growth characteristics. From the Gompertz model, the asymptotic BW, growth rate, and age at maximum growth were 2.05 kg, 0.25 kg/wk, and 5.74 wk in males, respectively, and 2.03 kg, 0.25 kg/wk, and 5.72 wk in females, respectively. The ages at maximum growth were 5.75 and 5.74 wk for males and females, respectively, using the logistic model. Differences in asymptotic BW between males and females were not significant in both Gompertz and logistic models. However, the average asymptotic BW of about 1.50 kg for both sexes predicted by the logistic model was below the average predicted BW from the Gompertz model (2.04 kg) at 9 wk. Also, the logistic model overestimated hatching weight (0.06 kg) more than the Gompertz model (0.03 kg), suggesting that the growth pattern of the French guinea fowl is Gompertz. The inverse relationship between the asymptotic weight and age at maximum growth of the French guinea fowl is similar to that of the pearl gray guinea fowl, chickens, quail, and ducks. Understanding the growth characteristics of French guinea fowl will contribute to the efforts of improving production efficiency of this least studied avian species

Effect of Varying Metabolizable Energy and Crude Protein Concentrations in Diets of Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Pullets 1. Growth Performance

This study was undertaken to assess dietary ME and CP concentrations for optimum growth performance of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets. In a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, 540 one-day-old Pearl Gray guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,900, 3,000, and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet, each containing 20, 22, and 24% CP, respectively, from 0 to 8 wk of age (WOA). From 9 to 16 WOA, these diets were adjusted to contain 3,000, 3,100, and 3,200 kcal of ME/ kg, and each had 17, 19, and 21% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Overall, feed consumption was higher in birds on 2,900 and 3,000 kcal of ME/kg of feed and the 24 and 21% CP diets than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. When compared with other dietary treatments, cumulative BW gains were higher (P \u3c 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,000 and 3,100, and 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 2 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Pullets receiving 24 and 21% CP diets also exhibited higher BW gains than other dietary treatments at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Feed conversion ratios were lower (P \u3c 0.05) in birds fed 3,000, 3,100, and both 3,100 and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 1 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively, than other dietary treatments. Pullets fed 24% CP diets and either 17 or 19% CP diets exhibited lower (P \u3c 0.05) feed conversion ratios than other dietary treatments at 1 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively. Thus, diets comprising 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg were utilized more efficiently by the Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets at 0 to 5 and 5 to 16 WOA, respectively. Also, these birds more efficiently utilized diets containing 24 and 17% CP at 0 to 8 and 9 to 16 WOA, respectively

Effects of dietary metabolizable energy and crude protein concentrations on growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers

This study was undertaken to assess dietary CP and ME concentrations for optimum growth performance and carcass characteristics of French guinea broilers. In a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, 396 1-d-old French guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 3,050, 3,100, and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg of diet; each contained 21, 23, and 25% CP, respectively, from 0 to 4 wk of age (WOA). From 5 to 8 WOA, experimental diets had 3,100, 3,150, and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet, and each contained 19, 21, and 23% CP, respectively. Each dietary treatment was replicated 3 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly, whereas carcass characteristics were evaluated at 8 WOA. For the most part, birds on 3,100 and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 0 to 4 WOA exhibited greater (P \u3c 0.05) BW gain, greater carcass and breast weights (P \u3c 0.05), and lower (P \u3c 0.05) feed consumption and feed conversion ratios (FCR) than those on a diet with 3,050 kcal of ME/kg. Mean feed consumption of birds fed 25% CP diets was higher (P \u3c 0.05) than those on other dietary CP concentrations. Mean BW gain, FCR, and carcass and breast weights of birds fed 25 and 23% CP diets from 0 to 4 WOA were not different (P \u3e 0.05), but they were better (P \u3c 0.05) than those of birds on 21% CP diets. Positive correlations (P \u3c 0.01) were noted between live weight and weight of carcass, breast, thigh, drumstick, and wing of guinea broilers. Thus, diets with 3,100 kcal of ME/kg and 23% CP or with 3,150 kcal of ME/kg and 21% CP at 0 to 4 WOA and 5 to 8 WOA, respectively, were used more efficiently by French guinea broilers

Effect of Varying Metabolizable Energy and Crude Protein Concentrations in Diets of Pearl Gray Guinea Fowl Pullets. 2. Egg Production Performance

The effect of ME and CP concentrations during the growth phase of Pearl Gray guinea fowl pullets on their egg production performance was evaluated. In a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, five hundred forty 1-d-old Pearl Gray guinea keets were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 2,900, 3,000, and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet; each contained 20, 22, and 24% CP, respectively, from 0 to 8 wk of age (WOA). From 9 to 16 WOA, experimental diets had 3,000, 3,100, and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet, and each contained 17, 19, and 21% CP, respectively. At 17 to 22, 23 to 27, and 28 to 56 WOA, experimental diets were composed of 3,000, 2,900, and 2,800 kcal of ME/kg, and each had 18, 17, and 16% CP, respectively. Dietary treatments were replicated 4 times, and feed and water were provided ad libitum. Body weights were measured weekly from 0 to 22 WOA, and at 28 to 56 WOA the birds were observed for feed consumption, age at first egg, hen-day egg production (HDEP), egg weight, egg mass (EM), feed conversion ratio (FCR), internal egg quality (IEQ), shell thickness (ST), and BW at the end of each 28-d lay period for 7 consecutive periods. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Overall, BW gains were higher (P \u3c 0.05) in birds fed 3,000 and 3,100 Kcal of ME/kg and 24% CP from 0 to 8 WOA than other dietary treatments. Percentages HDEP, EM, and IEQ were higher (P \u3c 0.05) and FCR was lower (P \u3c 0.05) in pullets fed 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg diet at 0 to 8 WOA than those fed 2,900 kcal of ME/kg. Birds on 22 and 24% CP diets at 0 to 8 WOA also exhibited higher HDEP, EM, and lower FCR than those on 20% CP diets. Thus, feeding 3,000 to 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet and 22 to 24% CP at 0 to 8 WOA and 3,100 to 3,200 kcal of ME/kg of diet and 19 to 21% CP at 9 to 16 WOA improved HDEP, EM, IEQ, and FCR of Pearl Gray guinea fowl laying pullets at 28 to 56 WOA

An initial map of chromosomal segmental copy number variations in the chicken

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chromosomal segmental copy number variation (CNV) has been recently recognized as a very important source of genetic variability. Some CNV loci involve genes or conserved regulatory elements. Compelling evidence indicates that CNVs impact genome functions. The chicken is a very important farm animal species which has also served as a model for biological and biomedical research for hundreds of years. A map of CNVs in chickens could facilitate the identification of chromosomal regions that segregate for important agricultural and disease phenotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ninety six CNVs were identified in three lines of chickens (Cornish Rock broiler, Leghorn and Rhode Island Red) using whole genome tiling array. These CNVs encompass 16 Mb (1.3%) of the chicken genome. Twenty six CNVs were found in two or more animals. Whereas most small sized CNVs reside in none coding sequences, larger CNV regions involve genes (for example prolactin receptor, aldose reductase and zinc finger proteins). These results suggest that chicken CNVs potentially affect agricultural or disease related traits.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>An initial map of CNVs for the chicken has been described. Although chicken genome is approximately one third the size of a typical mammalian genome, the pattern of chicken CNVs is similar to that of mammals. The number of CNVs detected per individual was also similar to that found in dogs, mice, rats and macaques. A map of chicken CNVs provides new information on genetic variations for the understanding of important agricultural traits and disease.</p

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Pathogenic Bacteria in Chicken and Guinea Fowl

This study was conducted to compare the presence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter, Salmonella spp., and other enteric bacteria between chickens and guinea fowls. Birds were reared on enclosed concrete floor housing covered with pine wood shavings litter material. Chicken (n = 40) and guinea fowl (n = 40) carcasses, drinking water (10 mL; n = 40), and litter (10 g; n = 40) were aseptically collected randomly from a poultry farm and analyzed within 1 h of collection. Individual pens served as experimental units and were replicated twice. Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and other enterobactericeae were isolated and identified using standard selective media and biochemical tests. Isolates were tested for sensitivity to tetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, gentamicin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, cefoxitin, and colistin using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. were isolated from 28 and 35% of whole carcass rinses of chickens and from 18 and 23% of whole carcass rinses of guinea fowl, respectively. Although only Salmonella spp. were recovered from drinking water, both Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. were recovered from litter material. Campylobacter upsaliensis was recovered only in the guinea fowl, whereas Klebsiella oxytoca and Enterobacter sakazakii were recovered only in chickens. Although no antibiotic resistance was determined in Campylobacter upsaliensis, most Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli isolates from both chickens and guinea fowl were resistant to antibiotics such as ampicillin, kanamycin, erythromycin, and nalidixic acid

Gompertz-Laird model prediction of optimum utilization of crude protein and metabolizable energy by French guinea fowl broilers

This study was conducted to assess the influence of dietary CP and ME on growth parameters of the French guinea fowl, a meat-type variety. In a 2 × 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, 297 one-day-old French guinea keets (162 females and 135 males) were randomly assigned to experimental diets comprising 3,050, 3,100, and 3,150 kcal of ME/kg, each containing 21, 23, and 25% CP from hatch to 4 wk of age (WOA), and 3,100, 3150, and 3,200 kcal of ME/kg, each containing 19, 21, and 23% CP at 5 to 8 WOA. Using BW and G:F data from hatch to 8 WOA, the Gompertz-Laird growth model was employed to estimate growth patterns of the French guinea fowl. Mean differences in exponential growth rate, age of maximum growth, and asymptotic BW among dietary CP and ME levels were not significant. However, instantaneous growth rate and weight at inflection point were significantly higher (P \u3c 0.05) in birds on the 25% CP diet than those on the 21% CP diet at hatch to 4 WOA (1.12 kg/wk and 0.79 kg vs. 1.04 kg/wk and 0.74 kg, respectively). The exponential growth rate was also higher (P \u3c 0.05) in birds fed the 3,050 kcal of ME/kg diet with either 23 or 25% CP than those fed diets containing 3,050 kcal of ME/kg and 21% CP. Mean G:F was higher (P \u3c 0.05) in birds fed diets containing 3,050 kcal of ME/kg and either 21 or 23% CP than those in other dietary treatments. Therefore, based on the Gompertz-Laird growth model estimates, feeding 21 and 23% CP and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg at hatch to 4 WOA and 19 and 21% CP with 3,150 kcal of ME/kg at 5 to 8 WOA can be recommended as adequate for growth for the French guinea fowl broilers