Kl Ayorinde

Guinea fowl ( Numida meleagris ) as a protein supplement in Nigeria

Research efforts made to evaluate the production potential of the indigenous helmeted guinea fowl in Nigeria are highlighted, together with the possibility that guinea fowl could supply the population with more meat and eggs. The encouragement of large-scale production is justified because both the meat and eggs of guinea fowl are acceptable to the majority of Nigerians. The growth rate of unimproved local birds remains very low with 12-week body weights of around 530 g. The comparable 12-week weights for improved local and exotic stocks are about 770 and 1200 g respectively. The carcase yield and meat quality of guinea fowl surpass those of the domestic fowl. Egg production is seasonal and low in the wild (12–20 per bird), but domesticated stocks start to lay at 28–32 weeks of age and yield 60–90 eggs per reproductive female per season.

Identification of hematological markers suitable for improving productivity of helmeted guinea fowl Numida meleagris.

ABSTRACT The research was designed to estimate variations in hematological variables between sex and varieties of extensively reared helmeted guinea fowl with the objective of recommending parameters that are suitable as markers during selection. The study was carried out in the Teaching and Research farm of Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between May and July 2012. Five varieties of helmeted guinea fowl (45 males and 45 females) that were clinically healthy were sampled for white blood cells (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, platelets, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV). The results showed that there were no significant ( P> .05) effect of sex on WBC, MCHC, RBC, hemoglobin, PCV and MCH, but it influenced MCV ( P =.05) and platelets ( P =.05). On the other hand, there were significant ( P =.05) effects of varieties on all the hematological parameters determined in this study. Therefore, the study of variations in hematological parameters, as well as their association with economic traits, could be used to develop marker assisted technology which can be incorporated into the traditional animal breeding methodology to fast track improvement to aid selection, improve efficiency and speed of selection in breeding programs.

Multivariate analysis of morphological traits of the Nigerian Muscovy ducks (Cairina Moschata)

This study was designed to investigate the possibility of classifying Nigerian Muscovy ducks into distinct ecotypes using stepwise discriminant analysis and Euclidean distance. Data were collected on ten morphological traits (body weight, body length, body girth, wing length, shank length, shank circumference, thigh length, total leg length, bill length and bill width) of one thousand and twenty (1020) adult Muscovy ducks comprising 203, 598 and 289 randomly sampled ducks from the rain forest, derived savanna and Guinea savanna ecotypes, respectively. The results of the descriptive statistics revealed highly (p<0.001) significant effects of ecotype on eight of the morphological traits except bill width and body length. Stepwise discriminant analysis indicated that bill length and body length had highest discriminating powers among the six distinguishing variables. Result of the cross validation of the correct assignment of ducks into distinct ecotypes was low; 53.7, 41.8 and 42.3 % of samples drawn from the rain forest, derived savanna and Guinea savanna ecotypes were correctly classified into their expected ecotypes. Euclidean distance between ecotypes was small; shortest distance was between rain forest and derived savanna ducks (2010) while the longest distance (3758) was between rain forest and Guinea savanna ducks. It is evident that due to the low classification success rate of discriminant analysis and short Euclidean genetic distance between ecotypes, they could not be classified into distinct ecotypes on the bases of morphostructural traits and appre-ciable heterosis is practically impossible from crossing Nigerian Muscovy ducks originating from different ecotypes.

Biochemical characterization of the nigerian indigenous guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

Blood protein polymorphism has been extensively used for characterization and estimation of genetic diversity in farm animals. A study on biochemical characterization and estimation of genetic diversity of Nigerian indigenous guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) was conducted using four blood proteins {Haemoglobin (Hb), Carbonic anhydrase (CA), Transferrin (Tf) and Albumin (Alb)}. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis indicated that all the protein markers were polymorphic; expressing two co-dominant genes and two genotypes at their respective locus. Heterozygouse genotypes were prevalent at Hb, Tf and Alb loci while homozygoutes were more frequent for CA. Allelic constitution was similar (A and B) for Hb, Tf and Alb while F and S were typed at CA locus. Gene A had higher frequency of occurrence at Tf and Alb loci while gene F and B was prevalent at CA and Hb locus, respectively. Average estimated genetic diversity (heterozygosity) across the genetic systems was 0.40 and moderate. Prevalence of genes F, A and B at their respective locus is suggestive of their relevancies to the survival and adaptability of the studied population to its natural habitat.

Blood protein polymorphism and genetic diversity in locally adapted Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) in Nigeria

Characterization and genetic diversities among members of a species are fundamental to their improvement and conservation. This study was conducted to characterize and estimate genetic diversity in the ecotypes of the locally adapted Muscovy duck in Nigeria using blood proteins (haemoglobin, transferrin and albumin) and enzyme (carbonic anhydrase) markers. Blood samples collected from 20, 40 and 20 adult Muscovy ducks sampled randomly from the Rain Forest, Derived Savanna and Guinea Savanna ecotypes, respectively, were typed for blood proteins and enzyme polymorphism with cellulose acetate paper. Genetic variability in the studied population was accessed using heterozygosity (H), effective number of allele (ne) and polymorphism (percent P). All the 13 allelic variants expressed at the four loci were expressed in the Derived Savanna ecotype but 12 each in the Rain Forest and Guinea Savanna ecotypes. Results showed that all the four loci were polymorphic (100 percent) and the estimated heterozygosity among them was similar (0.424–0.481). Similarity in the estimated genetic variability parameters among ecotypes indicate that the subpopulations understudy was under similar evolutionary forces and there were no appreciable differences among them.