Evaluation of indigenous Nigerian guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) keet based on different dietary energy and protein inclusion levels.

The growth and development of the guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) depend on the quality of feed given to meet their nutrient requirements. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary energy, protein and their interaction on the growth performances of indigenous Nigerian guinea fowl keets; 270 keets were assigned into treatments of nine diets replicated three times with 10 keets each in a 3 x 3 factorial design (crude protein, CP, at 22, 24 and 26% and metabolisable energy, ME, levels of 2650, 2750 and 2850 kcal/kg). The interactions of protein and energy for average daily gain (ADG) and final body weight (FBW) were both significant (P = 0.05) with the combination of 24% CP and 2650 kcal/kg ME giving the highest ADG of 6.41 g; this treatment also gave the highest FBW of 504 g at the end of the ninth week of age. The interaction for average daily feed intake (ADFI) was significant (P = 0.05) with the combination of 26% CP and 2750 kcal/mg ME having the highest ADFI of 16.66 g. The interaction for feed conversion ratio was not significant (P > 0.05) with values ranging between 2.59 - 2.65. The interaction effects for digestible crude protein (DCP) and digestible nitrogenfree extract (DNFE) were both significant (P = 0.05) with the highest value of DCP being 59.37% for 26% CP and 2850 kcal/kg ME; the highest value of DNFE was for 24% CP and 2650 kcal/kg ME. The interaction for digestible ether extract was significant (P = 0.05) with 22% CP and 2650 kcal/kg ME having a value of 54.69%. The interaction for digestible crude fibre was significant (P = 0.05) with 24% CP and 2750 kcal/kg ME having a value of 65.30%. Based on final body weight diet 24% CP and 2650 kcal/kg are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]