Guinea fowl fertility, hatchability and embryonic mortality in an intensively managed farm in Ashanti Region of Ghana

A study was conducted to investigate the reproductive performance of Guinea fowls on a commercial farm in the Ashanti region of Ghana. This study reported for the first time in Ghana, the reproductive performance of Guinea fowls reared under an intensive production system. The birds were intensively reared on deep litter with a mating ratio of one male to ten females for the production of day-old keets. Eggs were collected dailyand stored for seven days at temperatures between 16 – 20º Celsius and selected for incubation in an automated Petersime incubator. Data on incubated Guinea fowl eggs for the period 2011 – 2018 were obtained from the hatchery unit records and analyzed using Graph Pad Prism version 5.00 for Windows. The percentage overall fertility, total hatchability, fertile hatchability, embryonic mortality, viable keets and non-viable keets were 50.7 ± 13, 30.5 ± 14, 50.4 ± 15, 22 ± 10, 91.7 ± 5.4 and 8.3 ± 6.3 % respectively. Fertility and fertility hatchability were low on this farm, while embryonic mortality was high. The study recommends a change in the mating ratio to one male Guinea fowl to four females, improvement of hygienic  conditions in egg processing, regular fumigation of the farm and improved incubator management. Keywords: Guinea fowl, Fertility, Hatchability, Embryonic mortality, Ghan

Intersex piglet with bilobed urinary bladder in Kumasi, Ghana: A case report

This paper reports a case of a true intersex in a pig in Kumasi, Ghana. The diagnosis was based on gross and histomorphological assessment of the genital organs which consist of a left ovary, two uterine horns and body of uterus, along with a right testis without an epididymis. Vagina and vulva were also absent. A perineal scrotal pouch and a tubular tract connection with an intra-abdominal urinary bladder conducting urine through a miniature paraphimotic sigmoid shaped penis were observed. A rectal prolapse was consequent to rectal compression by the inadequately voided urinary bladder. Gonadal hormonal profiles were analysed and compared in the true intersex and those of the males and female siblings using standard techniques. The embryologic, reproductive, and swine production cost implications of intersex were discussed.Keywords: Intersex pig, Gross histology, Genital organs, Hormonal profil