Research Article

Effect of age and sex on body weight and body dimensions of pearl grey guinea fowl (Numida meleagris L.)

Daria Kasperska, Henryka Korytkowska, Dariusz Kokoszyński

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 10(3), 2011, 39‒44

Abstract. Sixty pearl grey guinea fowl were investigated. Birds were kept in a closed facility without regard to sex. For the first three weeks, guinea fowl were kept in boxes on plastic mesh floor, and then in straw-bedded pens. They were fed commercial mash diets for turkeys or hens. At the end of 13 and 52 weeks of age, body weight was determined and birds selected for slaughter were subjected to body measurements.As guinea fowl aged, their body weight and body dimensions increased except for lower leg length in males. Compared to 13-week-old males, males aged 52 weeks had significantly higher body weight and highly significantly higher sternum length and chest circumference. As females aged, their body weight, lower leg length and chest circumference increased highly significantly, and sternum length and shank length increased significantly. Males compared to females were characterized by lower body weight at both evaluation times, and by significantly shorter lower leg at 52 weeks of age. The body conformation indices of massiveness, compactness and long-leggedness were higher in older birds.

Keywords: age, body conformation, body weight, guinea fowl, sex