SELECTIVE BREEDING TO IMPROVE GROWTH AND REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF WHITE GUINEA FOWL

Abstract

To improve the production performance of white Guinea fowl, selective breeding was carried out continuously for six generation. A total 1000 Guinea fowl hatching eggs were procured from various government institutions and private entrepreneurs, and subsequently keets were hatched out and base population was created. The production traits were given due importance during selective breeding for six generations to improve both body weight and egg production. The traits such as hatch weight 4^th, 8^th, 12^th,16^th and 24 week body weight (g), FCR, livability, age at sexual maturity (days), Hen – Day Egg Production (HDEP) and Hen - Housed Egg Production (HHEP), annual egg number, egg weight (g), adult livability, total and fertile hatchability (%) were studied in all six generations. The day-old chick weight of all six generations ranged from 26.46 to 28.10 g. The 4^th and 8^th week mean body weight of the first generation white Guinea fowl was 180.85g and 481.69 g respectively, which increased to 220.95 g and 494.13 g, respectively in 6^th generation. Similarly, the 12^th and 16^th week body weights in 1^st generation increased from 767.12 g to 805.29 g and 951.04 g to 1079.15 g, respectively, at 6^th generation. The linear regression analysis of 4^th and 8^th week body weight over generations revealed significant increment of 7.59 g and 7.72 g, respectively, per generation. Similarly, the 12^th and 24^th week body weight in each generation had a positive change with high degree of goodness of fit. The 12 and 16^th week FCR showed a positive change of high magnitude over generations. The hen day and hen housed egg production (29-51 weeks) from 1^st generation to 6^th generation increased from 39.26 to 40.55 % and 37.53 to 38.83 %, respectively, during the course of selection. The total and fertile egg hatchability also showed marked changes due to selection with values varying from 49.52 to 53.14 % and 71.37 to 72.38 % across the generations. This study concluded that the multi stage short-term selection can improve both body weight and egg production in white Guinea fowl.