Effect of different lighting regime on growth and reproductive performance of the Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of different lighting regime on reproductive and growth performance of the pearl Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) in Ghana. A total of five hundred (500) eggs were collected from an ongoing photoperiod experiment which were hatched and used for the study. The experimental birds were randomly assigned to a lighting programme of 12 hours of light: 12 hours of darkness (12L: 12D), 14 hours of light: 10 hours of darkness (14L: 10D), 16 hours of light: 8 hours of darkness (16L: 8D), and 18 hours of light: 6 hours of darkness (18L: 6D). A total of two-hundred and forty (240) day one old keets were divided into four treatment groups and each treatment was replicated three times in a Completely Randomize Design (CRD). The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GenStat version 11.1 (2008). Least significant difference (LSD) at 5 % was used to separate the means. Results from the study revealed that, Percentage fertility, hatchability and hen-day egg production was highest (P<0.05) among Guinea fowls subjected to 16L: 8D photoperiodic lighting schedule. Egg weight, dead in shell and piped eggs were highest (P<0.05) among Guinea fowls subjected to 12L: 12D photoperiodic lighting schedule. Guinea fowls subjected to 18L: 6D lighting schedule had the highest (P<0.05) body weight, body weight gain, feed intake with better feed conversion ratio. This study concludes that 16L: 8D improves fertility, hatchability and hen-day egg production while 18L: 6D ensures rapid growth with better feed conversion.