Comparative Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Fertility and Hatchability of Guinea Fowl with Tilili, Horro and Potchefstroom Koekoek Chicken Breeds

A study was conducted to compare laying performance, fertility, hatchability, and egg quality of guinea fowl (GF) with Horro (HR) and Tilili (TL) local chicken and Potchefstroom Koekoek (PK) exotic chicken. Forty five layers from each genotype and 6 cocks from each chicken genotype and 9 cocks from GF were used in 3 replications in a completely randomized design. Commercial layer feed was used ad libitum for the study that lasted 29 weeks. Daily DM intake per hen was 85, 114, 103 and 137 g (SEM = 3.1) for GF, HR, TL and PK, respectively, and was in the order of GF < TL < HR < PK. Final body weight of hens was highest for PK (2490 g), intermediate for HR (1983 g) and lowest for TL (1671 g) and GF (1641 g). Egg number per production week followed a similar trend like that of DM intake and was 71, 101, 75 and 121 (SEM = 0.5) for GF, HR, TL and PK, respectively. Both fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs for GF were 57%, which were lower than the mean of chicken genotypes by 41% and 34%, respectively. Embryonic mortality was higher for GF (early, middle and late was 15.8%, 10.0%. and 17.4% respectively) compared to chicken genotypes. Chick weight was highest for PK, intermediate for HR and TL and lowest for GF;while chick length was in the order of PK > HR > TL > GF. Average egg weight was higher for PK eggs (46.4 g), intermediate for HR (43.5 g) and TL (42.3 g), and lowest for GF (35.9 g). Eggshell weight and thickness were higher for GF than chicken genotypes. Haugh unit was similar among genotypes. Such differences among poultry genotypes could be reflection of previous selection and breeding interventions, which are apparently more in chicken genotypes than GF. A possible more stressful condition of the confined environment for GF versus chicken genotypes could have also contributed to such differences. This study highlighted the need of implementing future selection and breeding schemes to improve the performance of GF and TL birds to the level achieved by other genotypes.

Serum Biochemical and Meat Fatty Acid Profiles of Different Chicken Genotypes

Serum biochemical and meat fatty acid profile of different chickens were studied. A total of 144 mixed sex matured chickens of Cosmopolitan (C), Improved Horro (H), Cosmopolitan♂*Improved Horro♀(CH), Improved Horro♂*Cosmopolitan♀ (HC), Indigenous (L) and Koekkoek (KK) were used to determine serum biochemical, of which 36 chickens were also used for fatty acid profile study. Completely randomized design in 6 × 2 factorial arrangements was set up. Serum biochemical and fatty acid profiles were determined by Roche/Hitachi cobas c 501 and gas liquid chromatography (GC) procedures, respectively. There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) in Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) among genotypes and between sexes. HDL was inversely related with TC, TG and LDL. Male had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.001) TC, TG, LDL but lower HDL than female. SFA, (Myristic, Pentadecanoic and Palmitic acids) had significantly (P < 0.05) varied among genotypes. However, Margaric (P ≤ 0.01) and stearic (P ≤ 0.001) acids were significantly different between sexes. Myristoleic and Palmitoleic acids significantly vary (P ≤ 0.05) among genotypes and between sexes. Oleic (P ≤ 0.01) and Eicosenoic (P ≤ 0.001) significantly influenced by sex. Moreover, Linoleic had significantly (P ≤ 0.01) affected by genotypes. Nevertheless, α-linolenic acid significantly (P ≤ 0.01) varied between sexes. The serum biochemical differed across genotypes and between sexes. The difference in the number of carbons, double bond and position of the double bond could affect fatty acid profile among genotypes and between sexes. Chicken products with higher level TC, TG, LDL and SFA might affect human health problems. It could also be interesting topic for future studies.

Sensory Characteristics, Nutritional Composition, and Quality of Eggs from Different Chickens

The present study evaluated the sensory, composition, and quality of eggs from Cosmopolitan (C), Improved Horro (H), ♂ Improved Horro * Cosmopolitan ♀ (HC), ♂ Cosmopolitan * Improved Horro ♀ (CH), Indigenous(L), and Koekoek (KK) genotypes. A completely randomized design was used in the study. A total of 108 (18/genotype), 180 (30/genotype), and 90 (15/genotype) eggs were used for the sensory, composition, and egg quality tests, respectively. All data were analyzed following the GLM model using SAS software. The boiled and scrambled eggs from L, H, and C were (P ≤ 0.001) preferred followed by CH, HC, and KK. Results showed that KK, HC, CH, and C eggs were higher in moisture, crude fat, crude ash, and crude fiber, but these traits were found lower in H and L genotypes. A significantly highest crude protein was observed in L (21.19 ± 0.19) genotype, with higher in H (20.62 ± 0.26), intermediate in HC (19.96 ± 0.29), C (19.85 ± 0.10), and CH (19.40 ± 0.37), whereas the eggs from KK genotype had the lowest crude protein content (18.69 ± 0.20). The egg quality was (P = 0.001 - 0.01) affected across traits except for eggshell indices (P > 0.05). The genotypes with a negative significant correlation with crude protein had a positive significant correlation with almost all composition and egg external quality traits. The genotypes with positive significant correlations of egg weight had positive significant correlations with most internal egg quality traits except that of yolk weight ratio, yolk albumen ratio, and yolk color. Conclusively: the eggs of L, H, and C genotypes were best favored followed by CH and C, but the KK genotype was the least favored, and these differences were deemed due to genetic variations, and interventions. Furthermore, the eggs laid from genotypes with deep yellow yolk color might be the most nutritious. It could also necessitate future breeding and dietary studies.