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Commercialisation of helmeted guinea fowl production in Africa is still in its rudimentary stage and there is a dearth of information on the optimal stocking density of the birds. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of stocking density on the physiological responses and performance of guinea fowl. A total of 240 indigenous guinea fowl were used for this study. The birds were weighed and assigned to different stocking densities of 14, 16, 18 and 20 birds/m2 (SD1, SD2, SD3 and SD4, respectively) at four weeks of age. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Data were collected on growth performance, haematochemical profile and plasma triiodothyronine of the birds. The results showed that from the 7th to the 13th week, birds stocked at 14 and 16 birds/m2 were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than birds stocked at 18 and 20 birds/m2, while at weeks 14 and 15, body weight of the birds was in the order 14 birds / m2 > 16 birds / m2 > 18 birds/m2 > 20 birds/m2. Feed conversion ratios of the birds increased with stocking densities. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio significantly increased with stocking density. It was concluded that stocking density of helmeted guinea fowl higher than 16 birds/m2 adversely affected growth performance and welfare of the birds.

This study was conducted to investigate the behaviour, selected physiological indicators and body mass changes in Nigerian indigenous broody hens. The times spent by the hens sitting on eggs and on ingestive behaviours (feeding and drinking) were monitored between 14:00 and 18:00 h twice per week for three weeks. The growth and physiological indicators monitored were body mass, rectal temperature, breast temperature and blood glucose concentration. Data collected were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA of SPSS having week as the repeated factor. The time spent by hens sitting on the eggs (88.09 ± 5.38 – 92.91 ± 2.35 %) and on ingestive behaviours (0.06 ± 0.03 – 0.11 ± 0.07 %) were similar at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd week of brooding. The blood glucose concentration was reduced at the 1st and 2nd but increased at the 3rd week while the breast temperature (BT) increased at the 1st and 2nd but dropped at the 3rd week. The rectal temperature and body mass did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) during the three weeks of the brooding process. In conclusion, natural brooding of embryos by hens under tropical conditions was accompanied by changes in body metabolism required for generation of heat which is transferred through the breast region of the hens to the eggs without necessarily resulting in higher rectal temperature of the hens.

Wood shavings is the most common material used as litter in commercial broiler production in many areas in Nigeria. It is, however, becoming scarce and expensive. Therefore this study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of other bedding materials on organ weights, meat quality, footpad and breast dermatitis of Marshall broiler chickens under hot humid climate. One hundred and eighty broiler chicks of mixed sexes (Marshal strain) were randomly assigned to three treatments of wood shavings (WS), maize cobs (MC) and chopped Panicum maximum (PM) as bedding materials replicated four times with 15 birds each in a Completely Randomized Design. Feed and water were provided to birds ad libitum throughout the study. Data were collected on the relative body and organ weights, meat quality, breast and footpad dermatitis. The results showed that footpad and breast lesion of the birds were not significantly influenced (P > 0.05) by different litter materials. Similarly, most of the organ weights, including spleen and bursa of Fabricius were not influenced by litter materials. However, the relative weight of thigh of the birds reared on PM and MC were similar but higher (P < 0.05) than those raised on WS. The intestinal weight of the birds raised on PM was significantly higher than those of the other treatment groups whose weights were similar. Birds reared on chopped PM had higher (P < 0.05) relative weight of liver than those reared on MC. There was no significant (P > 0.05) effect of bedding materials on meat quality. It was concluded that chopped PM could serve as a replacement for WS as a bedding material for broiler chickens under hot humid climate.

This study was undertaken to investigate how social facilitation between two chicken breeds could affect their welfare. Sixty chicks each of a commercial broiler (CB) and Nigerian indigenous chicken (NIC) breed were used for this study. At four days of age, the birds were randomly assigned into three treatments namely: T1 – singlestrain CB (10 birds), T2 – single-strain NIC (10 birds) and T3 – mixed-strain (5 CB and 5 NIC) each having three replicates. Feed intake and weight gain were measured from the 1st to the 4th week of age. Behavioural observations were undertaken between 09:00 h – 10:00 h for three consecutive days per week from the 2nd to 7th week of age. At the end of the 7th week, six birds per treatment were randomly selected for test of fear (tonic immobility) and level of stress (heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, H:L). Data collected were subjected to multivariate analysis using SPSS (version 21). A higher percentage (P < 0.05) of the CB displayed feeding, drinking and sitting compared to the NIC. However, higher percentage (P < 0.05) of the NIC displayed preening, foraging and standing behaviours compared to the CB. The percentage of birds drinking was greater in the mixed-strain (MS) compared to single-strain (SS). Also, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in breed × flock structure (FS) interaction on feeding and sitting behaviours specifically for NIC, where the percentage of NIC feeding was greater in the MS compared to SS. However, percentage of NIC sitting was greater (P < 0.05) in the SS compared to MS. CB were more fearful (P < 0.05) than NIC and chickens in the MS were less fearful (P < 0.05) compared to SS. The level of fear was reduced (P < 0.05) in the CB and NIC reared in MS compared to SS. H:L ratio was similar in CB and NIC reared either as SS or MS. Feed intake followed this trend T1 > T3 > T2. CB gained more weight compared to NIC. Body weight gain was similar in the SS compared to MS. In conclusion, MS management system had a positive influence on the welfare of both breeds.

Nineteen West African Dwarf (WAD) goats were used to investigate the physiological and behavioural responses of dams and kids to short-term separation. The dams were naturally mated with bucks and after parturition the kids remained with their respective dams for 5 weeks. Thereafter, the dams were separated from their kids for 10 minutes / week for three weeks (week 5 – 7). Physiological indicators, namely, eye temperature (ET), heart rate (HRT) and blood glucose (GLUC) were taken from each dam, while the ET and HRT were taken from the kids before and after the separation. The behaviours of the dams and kids were recorded during the separation period at the 7th week. Changes (before minus after) in the physiological parameters (ET, HRT and GLU) for the three weeks were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA while the behavioural data were analysed using non parametric test (SPSS statistical package). The ΔGLUC of WAD dams was greater at the 5th than 7th week. At the 5th week also, the ΔET was greater in dams with single kids than those with twins. Litter size did not influence the behaviour of the dams during separation. A significant correlation was established between ΔHRT and urination in dams. Although sex of the kids had no significant effect on both the physiological and behavioural indicators monitored, negative correlations were established between vocalization bouts and escape attempts (r = −0.516, P < 0.01), duration of vocalisation and escape attempts (r = −0.427, P < 0.05). In conclusion, only WAD dams showed physiological responses indicative of stress during the period of separation.