Abstract:
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on keet mortality, growth performance and blood profile of indigenous Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) in Ghana. The study was carried out for a period of two months. Three hundred and sixty day old keets of the Pearl breed of Guinea fowl were used under a completely randomized design divided into four groups (VC0, VC10, VC20 and VC30) each with 3 replications of 30 keets. s. The experimental birds were supplemented with Vitamin C dissolved in drinking water at a dose of 0, 10, 20 and 30 mg/bird/day for groups VC0, VC10, VC20 and VC30, respectively. Feed consumption increased with an increase in vitamin C vitamin supplementation. Birds supplemented with 30 mg/bird/day of vitamin C gained most weight and had the best feed conversion. The values for hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cells and white blood cells were higher in birds fed supplementary vitamin C. Survivability increased with vitamin C supplementation. � 2018, Fundacion CIPAV. All rights reserved.
Description:
Poku, P.A., Jr., Department of Animal Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, P O Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Kyere, C.G., Department of Animal Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, P O Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Seidu, H., Department of Animal Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, P O Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana; Twumasi, G., Department of Animal Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture Education, University of Education Winneba, P O Box 40, Mampong-Ashanti, Ghana