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1. The effects of age and sex on body weight, carcass traits, physical and chemical properties of breast muscle from chickens and helmeted guinea fowls managed under village free-range conditions were assessed in random samples of 48 guinea fowls and 48 chickens obtained from local markets. 2. Guinea fowls had higher body weight, hot carcass weight, cold dressed weight and breast weight than chickens. 3. Guinea fowls had more dry matter, protein and less fat than chickens. Ash content did not differ between guinea fowls and chickens. Protein and fat increased, whereas dry matter and ash decreased with age (P 0.05) 4. Chicken meat was lighter, less red and more yellow than guinea fowl meat. Cooking loss was higher in guinea fowls, male and grower birds than chickens, females and adult birds, respectively. Shear force was affected by age, as mature birds had a higher value than growers. 5. Guinea fowl carcasses contained more meat that was leaner, higher in protein and redder compared with chicken meat. As age increased the meat increased in protein and fat content and shear force, whereas colour became darker, redder and yellower.

1. Nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy values (AMEN) of three varieties of sorghum (white-low tannin, brown-medium tannin and red-high tannin) were measured in three species of poultry (cockerel, guinea fowl and Japanese quail) by a practical diet replacement (total collection) method. 2. Each variety of sorghum was tested at two concentrations (200 and 400 g/kg of reference diet) in 6 replications with one cockerel or guinea fowl or two quails per replication. The duration of the trial included a 10 d preliminary feeding period (on conventional grower diet) followed by a 12 d adaptation period (on reference and test diets) and a 3 d balance period (with recording of feed intake and excreta output). 3. The calculated AMEN values of different sorghum varieties were: white--12.9, 12.8 and 12.7; brown--12.7, 12.3 and 12.6; and red--11.4, 11.1 and 11.6 MJ/kg for cockerels, guinea fowls and quails, respectively. The mean AMEN value of red sorghum (11.3 MJ/kg) was significantly lower than those of brown (12.5 MJ/kg) or white sorghum (12.8 MJ/kg). A negative correlation was observed between tannin concentration and AMEN. 4. There was no significant difference in the AMEN values of white, brown and red sorghum varieties to the different poultry species. AMEN values of sorghum for the cockerel could, therefore, be used in practical feed formulation for guinea fowl and quail.

1. The aim of our study was to analyse the effect of genotype (label and standard), sex and rearing temperature (simulating daily outdoor in the summer or winter) on the carcase and meat quality of guinea fowl. Using 20 animals per treatment, slaughtered at 96 d of age we measured the breast angle and the thickness of the skin on the wing membrane. Carcases were weighed and cut into parts according to a standardised procedure to determine the percentages of abdominal fat, breasts, wings and thighs with shanks. 2. At slaughter, standard guinea fowl were heavier than label guinea fowl and for both genotypes, the females were heavier than the males (+5.6%). The mean value of breast angle was 85 degrees. This value was significantly higher for the standard guinea fowls and for the females of both genotypes compared with males. Thus, female carcases, particularly standard females, were more compact. The skin was thicker for the standard guinea fowls (0.84 mm vs 0.77 mm) which could be due to more subcutaneous fat. 3. Carcase yield was higher for the males (68.7% vs 68.2%). The percentage of abdominal fat was higher for the standard guinea fowls (2.8% vs 2.4%) and for the females of both genotypes compared with males. The label guinea fowls had higher yields of breasts and thighs with shanks. For both lines, the breast and thigh meat of females was judged more tender and less stringy. 4. Low rearing temperature decreased growth performance but had no significant effect on carcase quality.

1. Domestic fowl and free-living birds were examined for the presence or absence of antibodies against hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) using an indirect haemagglutination assay. 2. Two-hundred and eighty serum samples of commercial (45 broilers, 20 adult layers and 15 Fayoumi fowl) and wild birds, including 65 peafowl, 45 pigeons, 10 crows, 30 house sparrows, 10 doves, 15 ducks, 10 parrots and 15 guinea fowl, were collected and examined. 3. The percentage of HPS-positive serum samples was 80% in house crows, 78% in pigeons, 7% in house sparrows and 6% in peafowl. 4. The sera obtained from parrots, doves, ducks and guinea fowl were all negative. 5. This study suggests that crows and pigeons could be carriers of the HPS agent.

1. Physical characteristics of eggs of the domestic guinea fowl, Numida meleagris galeata, were measured and compared with those of its wild counterpart and with other birds using allometric relationships. 2. The shell thickness increased and the area density of pores decreased from the blunt to the pointed end of the egg. During incubation, shell thickness decreased, but the shell diffusive conductance to water vapour (GH2O) remained constant. 3. Fresh egg mass (m0), length and breadth of the egg, GH2O and specific water vapour conductance, spGH2O (GH2O per g of m0 ), were affected by the age of the laying flock. 4. Eggs of the domestic guinea fowl were bigger and heavier than eggs of the wild one. 5. Allometry showed that guinea fowl eggs differ from those of the other birds by their greater shell thickness and density of pores. However spGH2O was normal, the thickness of the shell being compensated for by a greater density of pores for gas exchanges.

1. Mucuna pruriens var. utilis is a legume, the seeds of which are scarcely used in animal diets owing to their high content of 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-Dopa). 2. Experiments were conducted on guinea fowl to assess the effects of two types of heat processing (cooking and toasting) on chemical composition and nutrient digestibility of Mucuna seeds offered alone or incorporated at three concentrations (40, 120 or 200 g/kg) in complete diets. 3. Diets containing 200 g/kg seeds had more crude fibre and less ether extract. L-Dopa content increased with the amount of Mucuna inclusion. Cooking reduced markedly L-Dopa content while toasting had no effect. When fed alone, Mucuna seeds dramatically decreased feed intake. 4. Feed intake (FI) and body weight gain (BWG) were not influenced by the complete diets. Cooking significantly increased crude fibre digestibility. 5. It is suggested that cracked and cooked Mucuna bean can be incorporated at a safe level of 120 g/kg in complete diets for guinea fowl production.

1. The performance of the crossbreds of local unimproved Pearl (RBC) and improved local Pearl (SLP) with improved exotic Pearl (EP) were compared with that of the 'purebreds' of the RBC, SLP and EP to 18 weeks of age. 2. The crossbreds of SLP and EP (SLEP) and RBC and EP (RBEP) had higher body weight and efficiency of food utilisation than the local parents. Heterosis was 5.3, 24.3, 1.6 and 1.6% at 0, 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age, respectively, for RBEP and 3.7, 30.8, 11.5 and 8.6% at 0, 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age, respectively, for SLEP. RBEP was 14.5, 98.8, 35.1, and 36.2% superior to RBC at 0, 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age, respectively. SLEP was also 22.0, 98.7, 41.7 and 41.1% superior to SLP at 0, 6, 12 and 18 weeks of age, respectively. Efficiency of food utilisation improved by 20.4% in RBEP and 24.2% in SLEP. The crossbreds were however inferior to EP in terms of weight gain and efficiency of food utilisation. 3. Evidence from this study indicated that crossing the local Pearl guinea fowl with the faster-growing exotic stock is capable of rapidly improving the body weight of the indigenous guinea fowl and hence its usefulness as a source of meat in Nigeria.

(1) The nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AME(N)) content of solvent-extracted rapeseed and sunflower seed (un-decorticated) meals in relation to species (chicken, guinea fowl and quail) and dietary addition of feed enzymes (0 or 0.5 g/kg diet) was evaluated by a diet replacement method in a 3 x 2 factorial design. (2) The metabolism trial was conducted at two substitution levels (200 and 400 g/kg diet) of each meal with or without supplementation of commercial enzyme preparation in 6 individuals or 6 groups of cockerels, guinea fowls and quails. (3) The experimental diets were fed for a period of 12 d followed by a 3-d collection period during which total feed consumed and droppings output were quantitatively recorded. (4) The AME(N) values of rapeseed meal for cockerels, guinea fowls and quails were 8.4, 8.7 and 8.8 MJ/kg, respectively, while the corresponding values for sunflower seed meal were 6.1, 6.1 and 6.2 MJ/kg dry matter, without enzyme supplementation. (5) The AME(N) value of rapeseed meal did not improve with enzyme supplementation. However, AME(N) values of sunflower seed meal significantly increased with enzyme supplementation, from 6.1 to 6.5 MJ/kg dry matter. (6) Since AME(N) values of rapeseed meal and sunflower seed meal were similar in chicken, guinea fowl and quail, values reported for chicken could, therefore, be used for guinea fowl and Japanese quail.

1. We measured the distribution and depletion of residues of flubendazole and its major metabolites in breast muscle, thigh muscle and liver of guinea fowls during and after oral administration of the veterinary medicine Flubenol 5% at two doses. 2. The guinea fowls were treated orally with normal feed, medicated at doses of 56 and 86 mg per kg feed for 7 successive days. Afterwards, depletion was observed for 8 d. Just before slaughter, body weights were measured. Thigh muscle, breast muscle and liver of three female and three male birds were sampled. The concentrations of the flubendazole-derived residues were determined by a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method. 3. The highest residue concentrations were obtained for the reduced metabolite. With the therapeutic dose, the maximum mean residue concentrations obtained for this compound in thigh muscle, breast muscle and liver were 312, 288 and 1043 microg/kg, respectively. The values for flubendazole, the parent molecule, were 114, 108 and 108 microg/kg, respectively. The residues of the hydrolysed metabolite were negligible in the sampled muscle tissues. After 24 h of depletion, the sum of the residues of parent and metabolites in muscle tissue still exceeded 50 microg/kg. After 8 d of depletion, flubendazole-derived residues at low concentrations could still be measured in both muscle tissues and liver. Generally, the disposition of residues in breast and thigh muscle was comparable. 4. The European Union has not established a maximum residue limit (MRL) for flubendazole in edible tissues of guinea fowl. In contrast, the existing MRLs for other bird species are expressed as the sum of parent flubendazole and its hydrolysed metabolites. An estimated withdrawal period of three days will assure residue safety in the edible tissues of guinea fowl treated with flubendazole at therapeutic dose. After this withdrawal period following treatment of the guinea fowl, the residues were approximately constant, very low and far below the established safe MRL level for other bird species.

1. The primary antibody response to sheep erythrocytes was determined by haemagglutination test in guinea fowl. The effects of various genetic and non-genetic factors on immune response to sheep RBCs in guinea fowl were also estimated. 2. The immune response to sheep RBCs was normally distributed in guinea fowl with mean titre at 1.534 +/- 0.014. 3. In guinea fowl, effects on titre values of sire and variety (feather colour) were significant whereas sex and sex x variety interaction effects were non-significant. 4. The estimate of heritability for immune response to sheep RBCs in guinea fowl was 0.35 +/- 0.17.

1. Studies were conducted to determine the effects of anticoagulants and storage (4°C) on the PCV of blood samples from Nigerian domestic fowl (DF) and the guinea fowl (GF). 2. Citrate significantly reduced pre‐storage PCV of the DF in comparison with the effect of ethylenediamine tetra‐acetic acid (EDTA). 3. It further decreased (P

1. During artificial incubation of 8000 guinea fowl eggs, the effects of temperature, relative humidity, rate of inflowing air and age of the laying flocks were determined. 2. Total duration of incubation was divided into setter (0 to 24 days) and hatcher (25 to 28 days) periods. Eggs transferred at the end of the setter period, (ET, % of fertile eggs) and hatching rate (HR, % of transferred eggs) were calculated, as well as the total hatching rate expressed as percentage of fertile eggs. 3. In the range 36 to 39 degrees C, temperature affected significantly (P < 0.001) ET and HR, with optima at 37.2 and 37.0 degrees C +/- 0.1 degrees C respectively. 4. During incubating period, relative humidity in the range 40 to 64% (water vapour partial pressure, PH2O = 17 to 34 Torr at 36 to 39 degrees C), significantly (P < 0.001) affected the total diffusive water loss and hatchling mass, both expressed as percentage of fresh egg mass. ET was significantly affected by water loss, the highest ET being for water loss of 13.3 +/- 0.5%. Optimal relative humidity was calculated to be 48 to 52% (PH2O = 23 to 25 Torr at 37.2 degrees C). 5. The rate of inflowing air significantly (P < 0.001) affected HR, with an optimum at 3.1 LSTPD/(h.egg). 6. The age of the laying flock significantly (P < 0.001) increased water loss; this was explained by a parallel increase of the mass specific shell conductance to water vapour. 7. Finally optimum incubation conditions were deduced, giving total hatching rates of 78 to 81% of fertile eggs, improving by 5 to 8% the best results obtained routinely in commercial practice.

1. The growth of the chemical components of the body of the Pearl Grey guinea fowl from hatching till 127 days of age was evaluated in this study. 2. The Gompertz equation is suitable to describe the growth of the different chemical components over time. 3. Body and feather fat, respectively, were estimated by subtracting the predicted weights of all other components from those of body and feather weights. This leads to an overestimation of body fat content, and erroneous estimated values for feather fat.

1. Guinea-fowl of both sexes and female chickens were fed from 1 to 12 weeks on diets the energy concentration of which was constant at either 2-6, 2-9 or 3-2 Mcal/kg (10-8, 12-1 or 13-4 MJ/kg) while the calorie to protein ratios were changed, for some groups, from 124 to 157 or 200 at 4 and 8 weeks. 2. Guinea-fowl, but not chickens, were unable to overconsume when the protein concentration was low with the result that the body fat content was not reduced when the protein concentration was increased. 3. In the second trial the ME level of the diets was fixed at 12-6 MJ/kg while the protein content was varied, from 21 to 28% in the diets fed to 6 weeks of age and from 15 to 24% in those fed from 6 to 12 weeks. 4. It is concluded that for the growing guinea-fowl the diet should contain 12-6 MJ ME/kg, the protein concentration reducing from 24 to 26% in the period 0 to 4 weeks to 19 to 20% in the period 4 to 8 weeks and to 16% or less in the period 8 to 12 weeks.

1. Studies on the egg laying pattern of the semi-domesticated helmeted guinea fowl showed that the birds laid eggs between 06.00 and 20.00 h local time (05.00 to 19.00 h GMT). 2. More (67.9%) were laid in the evenings (15.00 to 20.00 h) than at any other period. 3. There were two distinct periods in the reproductive cycle: a breeding season which began in April and ended in September, and a resting or non-breeding period between October and March. 4. Sequence length was predominantly of 4 eggs and July was the month of peak egg production.

1. The effects of feeding diets containing 54 mg, 60 mg, 65 mg or 70 mg manganese/kg to Guinea fowls on fertility, hatchability and the occurrence of malformed embryos were studied. 2. Dietary manganese affected fertility slightly, but significantly affected hatchability and the occurrence of malformed embryos. 3. Hatchability was most significantly depressed at the lowest dietary concentration of manganese, which also caused a highly significant increase in the proportion of malformed embryos. 4. Although increasing manganese to more than 54 mg/kg improved hatchability and reduced embryonic malformations, the increase did not completely eliminate the latter condition.

1. Alkaline phosphatase activity in the plasma of different strains of guinea fowls showed considerable variation both within and between sexes as well as within and between strains. 2. The enzymes from different strains of wild guinea fowls had different mobilities on disc polyacrylamide electrophoresis but each was characterised by a single band. 3. When the enzyme was purified 163-fold from the plasma of a domesticated grey breasted strain, both ion-exchange chromatography and gel-filtration purification steps yielded a single band of enzyme. 4. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 79,400 +/- 3,000 and was stable up to 60 degrees C at the optimum pH of 9.6. 5. Evidence is provided that guinea fowl alkaline phosphatase is a metalloenzyme.

Synopsis The cuticle is the principal barrier to water uptake by the eggs of mallard, guinea fowl and the domestic fowl. The fat present in the cuticle of mallard eggs makes a large contribution to repelling water dropped on to the shell but only a small contribution to resisting water movement into eggs exposed to hydrostatic pressure. Although the thickness of the shells of the eggs of the birds mentioned above varied extensively, there was no obvious correlation of the length of the pore canal with the amount of water taken up by an egg.

Synopsis The strength of guinea fowl egg shells has been studied by piercing and snapping methods and the results were compared with those from the domestic hen. Guinea fowl egg shells are stronger and thicker than egg shells from the domestic hen and the shells are stronger even after allowing for their greater thickness. The difference in snapping strength between shells of the two species is far greater when the shells are snapped inwards than when they are snapped outwards. Studies of the crystal structure, histological structure and chemical analysis revealed interesting differences between the two types of shell but it was not possible to say which of these differences accounted for the differences in strength.

1. Sixty‐three female guinea fowl were examined macro‐scopically and microscopically for the presence of right oviducts. One bird had a right oviduct that measured 105 mm in length and weighed 1.85 g. 2. The lumen of the oviduct was patent as far as the caudal one‐third of the vagina, but had no opening into the cloaca. 3. The uterus submucosa had no tubular glands and the sperm host glands were absent in the vagina. Fat cell deposits were prominent between the muscular layers of the caudal vagina.