Comparative Productive Performance of Indigenous and Exotic Guinea Fowl Populations Under Semi-Intensive Management in North West Nigeria

This study compares the productive performance and adaptability of indigenous Nigerian guinea fowl populations with exotic French Guinea fowl breeds under semi-intensive management conditions in North West Nigeria, generating performance benchmarks for improved production system development. Guinea fowl occupies an important niche in northern Nigerian livestock systems, providing culturally valued meat and eggs, but the relative merits of indigenous versus exotic breeds for semi-intensive production have not been documented. This study establishes replicated production trials at Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero using three guinea fowl populations: indigenous grey-breasted keets from Kebbi State, indigenous helmeted guinea fowl from Kano State, and imported French Pearlhenner breed, each replicated in four pens of 25 birds each. Growth performance from 4 to 22 weeks including live weight, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio are measured under standardised semi-intensive management. Reproductive performance including egg production onset, hen-day egg production, fertility, and hatchability are measured during the egg production phase. Stress resilience is assessed through haematological response to a standardised transport stress challenge. Findings reveal that the French Pearlhenner breed achieves 18 percent higher body weight at 22 weeks than indigenous populations, but shows 28 percent higher mortality during the first 8 weeks, indicating adaptation limitations. Indigenous Kebbi State birds show the best stress resilience and lowest feed conversion ratio. A cross between French Pearlhenner males and indigenous females shows the best combination of growth and survival. The study recommends crossbreeding as the optimal productive improvement strategy for semi-intensive guinea fowl production in North West Nigeria.

Keywords: guinea fowl, indigenous breeds, exotic breeds, semi-intensive management, North West Nigeria.