Growth and Carcass Characteristics of Helmeted Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) FED Varying Levels of Phane Meal (Imbrasia belina) as Replacement of Fishmeal Under Intensive System

Goitseone Nobo, John Moreki, Shalaulani Nsoso

Department of Animal Science and Production, Botswana College of Agriculture, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

*Corresponding author’s email: jcmoreki@gmail.com

Accept Date: June 24, 2012 23:34

Abstract :

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding varying levels of Phane meal (Imbrasia belina) as a protein source on growth performance and carcass characteristics of guinea fowl reared under intensive system up to 13 weeks of age. A total of 96 day old keets were randomly allocated to 4 treatment diets, which were replicated 4 times (n=6/replicate). The inclusion levels of Phane meal in the diets were 4.5%, 9% and 13.5%. Control diet contained 3% fishmeal. Keets were fed 24% CP guinea fowl starter diet from day 1 to 6 weeks and 17% CP guinea fowl finisher from 7 to 13 weeks of age. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Birds were vent sexed at 8 weeks of age. Parameters measured were FI, average daily gain (ADG), body weight (BW), carcass dressed weight, dressing percentage and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Keets were slaughtered at 13 weeks of age and carcass dressed weight and dressing percentage determined. The present results showed that FI and BW increased significantly (p<0.05) with age. Dietary treatment had no influence on FI. Although ADG and FCR did not differ among treatments, guinea fowl on control diet tended to have higher ADG (0.0138±0.0003 kg) and lower FCR (3.98). Dressing percentage was not affected by dietary treatment; however, birds on control and 4.5% Phane diets tended have higher values compared to other treatments. Also, final live weight and dressing percentage of females and males were not significantly (P>0.05) different. These results suggested that Phane meal can be included in guinea fowl diets up to 4.5% without affecting growth.