article · East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology
A study conducted in the Western Highlands of Cameroon evaluated how egg size affects the subsequent laying performance of first-generation guinea hens. Eggs were grouped into small, medium, and large weight categories prior to incubation. Keets hatched from these groups were raised to maturity on standard diets, and their laying performance was recorded from 32 to 56 weeks of age over a 26-week rainy season period. Across all groups, the average weight of eggs laid by the offspring was 44.12 grams, with an average shape index of 77.92 percent. Hens originating from the small egg category achieved the highest egg yield, averaging 87.75 eggs per hen with a hen-day-egg production of 43.04 percent. In comparison, hens hatched from medium and large eggs laid fewer eggs, demonstrating that hens originating from smaller eggs can deliver superior egg-laying performance under intensive rearing systems.
Guinea fowl production provides an alternative poultry source in many regions, but baseline breeding and performance metrics remain limited. By demonstrating that keets from smaller eggs mature into hens with higher overall egg yields, this work offers clear practical guidance for flock management and breeding selection under intensive farming conditions in highland tropical environments.
This research provides applied insights for commercial poultry farmers and guinea fowl breeders selecting eggs for incubation to optimise egg yield. Because the findings are derived from real-world rearing trials and standard feeding regimes, the breeding selection criteria are near-market and could be readily implemented by agricultural producers seeking to improve flock productivity without specialised equipment.
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To evaluate the effect of egg characteristics on subsequent egg laying performance by F1 guinea hens (Numida meleagris) in the Western Highlands of Cameroon, a study was carried out from March to September 2024. Keets obtained from the incubation of eggs grouped into three categories; small (40-45 g); medium (46-49 g) and large (>50 g) categories were collected at hatch and raised on a maintenance diet until the onset of lay in March (at 32 weeks of age) followed by a layer diet containing 17.5% CP and 2,800 Kcal ME/kg throughout their laying period. Eggs from F1 guinea hens were collected, counted, and weighed. Egg lengths and widths were measured and used to compute egg shape indices from 32 WOA up to 56 WOA. Average egg yields per hen and hen-day-egg production (HDEP%) in 26 weeks (March to September) were evaluated. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistical procedures and One-way ANOVA. Results showed that F1 egg weights ranged from 13 g to 56 g, with a mean egg weight of 44.12 g, and egg shape indices ranged from 70.30% to 85.10 with a mean shape index of 77.92% across all categories. Shape indices of F1 eggs from the small and medium categories showed no significant differences but were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the large category. Likewise, eggs from the small and large categories showed no significant differences in average egg weights, but both had higher (p<0.05) weights than eggs from the medium category. Average egg yield per hen per category in 26 weeks (March to September) were 87.75, 73.00 and 80.50 for hens from small, medium and large categories respectively. Hen-day-egg production (HDEP %) in 26 weeks (March to September) were 43.04±3.27, 39.15±3.56 and 42.99±2.7 for the small, medium and large categories respectively. In conclusion, helmeted guinea fowls could lay up to 87 eggs with over 43% HDEP in a 26-week laying period (rainy season; March to September), under intensive rearing conditions. Hens from smaller eggs have better egg laying performance than hens from large eggs.
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DOI: 10.37284/eajab.8.1.3099
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