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.

Comparison of Nutritional Composition of Bird Egg Varieties Found in Southern Nigeria: A Preliminary Study

This study was aimed at comparing nutrient composition of some bird eggs in their raw and boiled forms. The different varieties were exotic chicken, local chicken, turkey, quail and guinea fowl eggs. The eggs were shelled and their contents (boiled and raw) lyophilized. Standard AOAC methods were used for determination of proximate, mineral and vitamin compositions. Results showed the boiled eggs having higher nutrient concentrations than the raw eggs across all species. Guinea fowl egg had significantly higher (p < 0.05) content of protein, fat and most micronutrients. The eggs were rich in microelements, with guinea fowl egg having the best sodium-potassium ratio (0.66). Turkey eggs had significantly (p < 0.05) higher iron content in the raw and boiled samples (7.2 ± 0.09 mg/100g and 9.6 mg/100g, respectively). This study showed some “less-popular”/underutilized eggs having certain nutrients in significantly greater quantities;hence exploiting these may greatly improve diet quality and nutritional status of consumers.

贵妃鸡蛋、珍珠鸡蛋及商品鸡蛋品质差异性分析

对贵妃鸡蛋、珍珠鸡蛋及商品鸡蛋的品质及营养成分含量进行测定,并对各指标进行比较分析。结果表明,贵妃鸡蛋和珍珠鸡蛋的蛋白质及脂肪含量略高于商品鸡蛋,商品鸡蛋蛋黄卵磷脂的含量仅为贵妃鸡蛋的59.3%,珍珠鸡蛋的62.6%,建议儿童和老年人多食用贵妃鸡蛋及珍珠鸡蛋。

珍珠鸡蛋与海兰褐鸡蛋蛋品质及营养成分比较分析

珍珠鸡是从国外引进,经人工驯养育成的一个特色品种,其蛋用性能获得了显著进展,为加快蛋产品的开发力度,增加其附加价值,对珍珠鸡蛋和海兰褐鸡蛋蛋品质及营养成分进行比较分析。试验随机抽取新鲜珍珠鸡蛋、海兰褐鸡蛋各100枚,测定其蛋外、内在品质及主要营养成分,采用Duncan新复极差法、皮尔逊相关系数进行比较分析。研究表明,在外部品质方面,海兰褐鸡蛋蛋重高于珍珠鸡蛋15.54g(35.61%),有极显著差异(P<0.01);珍珠鸡蛋蛋壳厚度比海兰褐鸡蛋的蛋壳厚0.14mm(40%),差异极显著(P<0.01);由于蛋重的差异,两种鸡蛋蛋黄比例、蛋白比例、蛋壳比例也均有极显著差异(P<0.01)。在内在品质方面,两种鸡蛋蛋清pH、蛋黄高度、蛋黄系数均无明显差异;珍珠鸡蛋浓蛋白高度比海兰褐鸡蛋的低3.02mm,有极显著差异(P<0.01);浓蛋白系数比海兰褐的高0.87,有显著差异(P<0.05);珍珠鸡蛋蛋黄颜色比海兰褐鸡蛋的颜色大一个罗氏比色值,有显著差异(P<0.05)。在营养成分上,以g/枚为单位,珍珠鸡蛋的主要营养成分除胆固醇高于海兰褐鸡蛋外,其他均低于海兰褐鸡蛋。以g/100g为单位,珍珠鸡蛋水分含量明显低于海兰褐鸡蛋,相差12.62(20.21%),差异极显著(P<0.01),脂肪含量也低于海兰褐鸡蛋,差异显著(P<0.05),相差1.34(4.4%),其它营养成分均高于海兰褐鸡蛋。珍珠鸡蛋是较海兰褐鸡蛋小、壳厚、水分含量低、营养丰富的浓缩型蛋,为珍珠鸡蛋的蛋品开发创造了条件。

珍珠鸡源IBDV的分离鉴定及其卵黄抗体的制备

从一群发病的珍珠鸡中分离到1株病毒,经鸡胚接种、琼脂扩散试验、PCR快速检测试验和病毒基因序列的测定,证实了所分离的病毒为IBDV。将该病毒制成灭活疫苗,接种开产的蛋鸡制备卵黄抗体。结果显示该卵黄抗体经免疫扩散试验测定抗体效价可达1∶256,符合无菌标准,对雏鸡也没有任何不良反应。临床试验表明:该卵黄抗体对该养殖场珍珠鸡的传染性法氏囊病的治疗有效率达91%、预防有效率达100%。

适宜蛋氨酸含量对珍珠鸡产蛋性能的影响

试验取样250只30～32周龄、健康无病、体重基本一致的产蛋珍珠鸡,随机均分为5组,1个对照组(Ⅰ组),蛋氨酸水平为0.27%,4个试验组(Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组),每组设10个重复,每个重复5只珍珠鸡。每组基础日粮相同,蛋氨酸水平为0.27%,各组蛋氨酸添加量分别为0、0.05%、0.10%、0.15%、0.20%(每组添加量递增0.05%),试验期3个月。结果表明:日粮中添加适宜的蛋氨酸不仅能够显著地提高产蛋量和蛋重,而且还能提高饲料报酬,同时种蛋的孵化性能也有所提高。试验结果表明:珍珠鸡产蛋期日粮中最适宜的蛋氨酸水平为0.42%。