Influence of Graded Levels of Dietary Calcium on Growth Performance, Blood Profile and Carcass Characteristics of Helmeted Guinea Fowl.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the growth response of grower helmeted Guinea fowls to different levels of dietary calcium. The experiment utilized a total of 150 unsexed day-old Guinea keets. On 16 days post hatch, 150 unsexed Guinea keets were weighed and then placed into 15 floor pens in a completely randomized design. Each pen was composed of 10 birds, and there were three dietary treatment groups with 5 replicates in each of the treatment groups. The birds were grouped into three groups and each group was given a different treatment with calcium concentrations of 0.36 %, 0.6 %, and 0.9 %. The diets were fed to the birds for a period of 10 weeks. The parameters measured include growth performance, gut pH, carcass traits, bone traits, haematology, and lipid profiles of blood. The results revealed that there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) observed among all the treatment groups for all the parameters. The dietary calcium amounts studied did not have a significant impact on the growth performance, gut pH, carcass characteristics, bone traits, haematology, and lipid profiles. The results indicate that varying dietary calcium levels of 0.36 %, 0.6 %, and 0.9 % do not cause any noticeable changes in the assessed physiological parameters of helmeted Guinea fowls during a 10week period. Thus, the study suggests that Guinea fowl may not be affected by inadequate dietary calcium in the grower phase of production. A variety of calcium levels within the examined concentrations could be satisfactory for preserving their general well-being and performance.