Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea Fowls

This study was conducted to compare the fertility and hatchability performance of the Nigerian indigenous and exotic helmeted guinea fowls and predict egg weight from egg indices in Nigeria. A total of 300 randomly selected 8-month-old guinea fowls, comprising 150 indigenous (30 males and 120 female...

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Main Authors: Praise Jegede, Abdulmojeed Yakubu, Ibrahim S. Musa, Samuel T. Vincent, Ayoola J. Shoyombo, Olayinka O. Alabi, Mathew Wheto, Ayotunde O. Adebambo, Mustapha A. Popoola
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Poultry
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1164/4/1/1
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author Praise Jegede
Abdulmojeed Yakubu
Ibrahim S. Musa
Samuel T. Vincent
Ayoola J. Shoyombo
Olayinka O. Alabi
Mathew Wheto
Ayotunde O. Adebambo
Mustapha A. Popoola
author_facet Praise Jegede
Abdulmojeed Yakubu
Ibrahim S. Musa
Samuel T. Vincent
Ayoola J. Shoyombo
Olayinka O. Alabi
Mathew Wheto
Ayotunde O. Adebambo
Mustapha A. Popoola
author_sort Praise Jegede
collection DOAJ
description This study was conducted to compare the fertility and hatchability performance of the Nigerian indigenous and exotic helmeted guinea fowls and predict egg weight from egg indices in Nigeria. A total of 300 randomly selected 8-month-old guinea fowls, comprising 150 indigenous (30 males and 120 females) and 150 exotic birds (30 males and 120 females), were utilized in this study. Consequently, a total of 240 randomly selected eggs (120 per genotype) were used separately for the reproductive and egg quality assessments. The fertility and hatchability parameters were subjected to descriptive statistics (numbers and percentages), while the 17 egg quality parameters were analyzed using a T-test, phenotypic correlation, principal component analysis, multiple linear regression, and a CHAID decision tree. Percentages of fertility (90.0 and 73.3%) and hatchability (66.7 and 56.8%) were higher in the exotic birds compared to their indigenous counterparts. The egg quality parameters of the exotic birds were higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) than those of the indigenous birds, with the exception of egg shell index (18.88 ± 0.79 versus 16.41 ± 0.69) and Haugh unit (92.37 ± 3.13 versus 91.09 ± 3.22). However, the mean yolk/albumen ratio was similar (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The phenotypic correlation coefficients between egg weight and egg quality indices in both genetic groups ranged from low to high values [−0.05–0.95 (indigenous); −0.19–0.96 (exotic birds)]. Three principal components sufficiently accounted for the variations in the egg quality traits of both genetic groups. The CHAID algorithm was more consistent in egg weight prediction, with egg width as the primary explanatory variable. The present information may guide breeding and management strategies geared towards the improvement of the reproductive and egg quality traits of the helmeted guinea fowls.
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spelling doaj-art-5ef7e2b5ad7f4ae2a4173305060bbc072025-08-20T01:49:01ZengMDPI AGPoultry2674-11642024-12-0141110.3390/poultry4010001Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea FowlsPraise Jegede0Abdulmojeed Yakubu1Ibrahim S. Musa2Samuel T. Vincent3Ayoola J. Shoyombo4Olayinka O. Alabi5Mathew Wheto6Ayotunde O. Adebambo7Mustapha A. Popoola8Department of Animal Science, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia 950101, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Science, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia 950101, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Science, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia 950101, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Science, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Shabu-Lafia Campus, Lafia 950101, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Science, Landmark University, Omu-Aran 251101, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Science, Landmark University, Omu-Aran 251101, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, NigeriaDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, NigeriaFederal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Abuja 904101, NigeriaThis study was conducted to compare the fertility and hatchability performance of the Nigerian indigenous and exotic helmeted guinea fowls and predict egg weight from egg indices in Nigeria. A total of 300 randomly selected 8-month-old guinea fowls, comprising 150 indigenous (30 males and 120 females) and 150 exotic birds (30 males and 120 females), were utilized in this study. Consequently, a total of 240 randomly selected eggs (120 per genotype) were used separately for the reproductive and egg quality assessments. The fertility and hatchability parameters were subjected to descriptive statistics (numbers and percentages), while the 17 egg quality parameters were analyzed using a T-test, phenotypic correlation, principal component analysis, multiple linear regression, and a CHAID decision tree. Percentages of fertility (90.0 and 73.3%) and hatchability (66.7 and 56.8%) were higher in the exotic birds compared to their indigenous counterparts. The egg quality parameters of the exotic birds were higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) than those of the indigenous birds, with the exception of egg shell index (18.88 ± 0.79 versus 16.41 ± 0.69) and Haugh unit (92.37 ± 3.13 versus 91.09 ± 3.22). However, the mean yolk/albumen ratio was similar (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The phenotypic correlation coefficients between egg weight and egg quality indices in both genetic groups ranged from low to high values [−0.05–0.95 (indigenous); −0.19–0.96 (exotic birds)]. Three principal components sufficiently accounted for the variations in the egg quality traits of both genetic groups. The CHAID algorithm was more consistent in egg weight prediction, with egg width as the primary explanatory variable. The present information may guide breeding and management strategies geared towards the improvement of the reproductive and egg quality traits of the helmeted guinea fowls.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1164/4/1/1guinea fowlreproductionegg qualitypredictiontropics
spellingShingle Praise Jegede
Abdulmojeed Yakubu
Ibrahim S. Musa
Samuel T. Vincent
Ayoola J. Shoyombo
Olayinka O. Alabi
Mathew Wheto
Ayotunde O. Adebambo
Mustapha A. Popoola
Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea Fowls
Poultry
guinea fowl
reproduction
egg quality
prediction
tropics
title Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea Fowls
title_full Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea Fowls
title_fullStr Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea Fowls
title_full_unstemmed Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea Fowls
title_short Fertility, Hatchability, and Prediction of Egg Weight from Egg Quality Indices of Nigerian Indigenous and Exotic Helmeted Guinea Fowls
title_sort fertility hatchability and prediction of egg weight from egg quality indices of nigerian indigenous and exotic helmeted guinea fowls
topic guinea fowl
reproduction
egg quality
prediction
tropics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1164/4/1/1
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