Innovation for sexing guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) at day one of hatching using biometric and morphometric traits

Abstract

All over the world it is almost impossible to determine the sex of Guinea keets at day one of hatching. The aim of this study was to determine the sex of Guinea fowls at day old. A total of 1176 eggs were set in an incubator. The study was conducted at the Poultry Unit of the Department of Animal Science, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong Campus, (Ghana) from April, 2015 to March, 2016. Hatchability of fertile eggs (728) was 44.6%. Keets were reared from day-old to four months. Differences between males and females were observed (confirmed) using morphometric and biometric traits at four months old. Data obtained from both traits were analyzed using the General Linear Model Procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and Chi square test. Males and females did not differ (P˃ 0.05) in all morphometric traits measured at day one of hatching, indicating that sexual dimorphism had not taken place at that age. However, at four months, neck, body, shank and wattles lengths in males were longer (P˂0.01) than in female counterparts. The helmet in males was also thicker than in females. However, females had wider (P˂0.01) pelvic inlet than males. At day old, swollen leg technique indicated 52% and 48% expected males and females, and at four months there were 52.8% and 47.2% observed males and females, respectively (P˃ 0.05). Results from stretched leg technique showed 56% and 44% expected males and females at day old, and 52.8% and 47.2% males and females, respectively, were observed at four months (P˃ 0.05). In conclusion, the swollen and stretched leg techniques are effective in sexing Guinea fowls at day-old. Farmers should use both swollen or non-swollen and stretched and non-stretched leg techniques to reduce cost of feeding males till four months before sexing and maximize profit.