Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of  Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 (7), pp.585-591, July 2013.

 ISSN: 2276-7770  

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 062513689

 

Effect of Dietary Protein on the Performance of Local Guinea Keets in the Northern Region of Ghana

 

F.K. Avornyo*¹, S. Salifu¹, A. Moomen², A.A. Agbolosu²

 

¹Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Animal Research Institute, P.O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana.

²University for Development Studies, Department of Animal Science, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana.

 

*Corresponding Author’s Email: favornyo @ yahoo.com,

Tel: +233 24 217 9596

Abstract:

An experiment was conducted on 524 guinea keets to test the effect of four dietary protein levels on general performance. The four levels evaluated were 0.22, 0.23, 0.24 and 0.25g dietary protein/g feed. Data were collected on feed intake, weight gains and mortality. Partial cost-benefit analysis was also done. The results showed significant feed intake differences between treatments (P<0.05). Keets on 0.22 protein feed recorded the highest feed consumption followed by 0.23, 0.25 and lastly 0.24. Mean daily weight gain was highest among keets on the 0.24 protein feed and lowest among keets on the 0.22 protein feed; however, these differences were not statistically significant. The 0.25 DP feed also appeared to perform better than 0.23 DP feed in terms of daily weight gain. Mean cost of feed per kilogram live weight gained seemed to be lowest for the 0.24 protein diet followed by keets on 0.25, 0.23 and then 0.22 protein feed. Mortality was highest in keets on 0.22 protein diet and least in keets on 0.24 protein diet. The 0.24 protein diet may therefore be the most economical diet to feed to growing indigenous keets between 0 and 8 weeks.
 
Keywords: Energy, feed, guinea fowl, performance, profitability, protein.
                

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