The growth performance and slaughter characteristics of guinea fowls (Numida meleagris galeata) fed malted Negro Coffee (Senna occidentalis) seed meal

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the growth and carcass characteristics of wild guinea fowl (Numida meleagris galeata) fed graded levels of malted Negro Coffee (Senna occidentalis) seed meal. One hundred and ninety day old guinea fowl keets were randomly allotted to four dietary treatment groups of 45 birds each. Each treatment group was further replicated three times with 15 birds per replicate. The treatments weredesigned as T1, T2, T3 and T4 representing 0,6.50, 13.50 and 19.50 % malted Senna occidentalis meal (MSOM) at the starter phase (0-10 weeks) and 0, 5.5,11.0 and 16.5 % at the finisher phase(11-20 weeks) . At the end of the 20th week,two birds each from each replicate were slaughtered to measure their slaughter characteristics. The results from the experiment revealed that only the final live weight showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between treatment groups. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the slaughter weight,de-feathered weight, eviscerated weight and the dressed weight. Therefore, MSOM can be included up to 11 % in the diet of guinea fowl without any detrimental effect on the growth and slaughter characteristics.