GUINEA FOWL (NUMIDA-MELEAGRIS) AS A PROTEIN-SUPPLEMENT IN NIGERIA

Research efforts made to evaluate the production potential of the indigenous helmeted guinea fowl in Nigeria are highlighted, together with the possibility that guinea fowl could supply the population with more meat and eggs. The encouragement of large-scale production is justified because both the meat and eggs of guinea fowl are acceptable to the majority of Nigerians. The growth rate of unimproved local birds remains very low with 12-week body weights of around 530 g. The comparable 12-week weights for improved local and exotic stocks are about 770 and 1200 g respectively. The carcase yield and meat quality of guinea fowl surpass those of the domestic fowl. Egg production is seasonal and low in the wild (12-20 per bird), but domesticated stocks start to lay at 28-32 weeks of age and yield 60-90 eggs per reproductive female per season.