Indigenous Breeding Practices in Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) as Influenced by Plumage Features in Northern Cameroon  

作　　者：Jean Massawa Dongmo Djiotsa Francis Gustave Simo Alexis Teguia Jean Massawa;Dongmo Djiotsa Francis;Gustave Simo;Alexis Teguia(Biotechnology and Bio Informatics Research Unit, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon;Doctoral Training Unit, Animal Genetic Improvement, Department of Breeding and Biostatistics, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon;Molecular Parasitology & Entomology Sub-Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon;Animal Nutrition and Feeding Research Unit, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon)

机构地区：[1]Biotechnology and Bio Informatics Research Unit, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon [2]Doctoral Training Unit, Animal Genetic Improvement, Department of Breeding and Biostatistics, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon [3]Molecular Parasitology & Entomology Sub-Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon [4]Animal Nutrition and Feeding Research Unit, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

出　　处：《Open Journal of Animal Sciences》2023年第4期443-457,共15页动物科学期刊（英文）

摘　　要：The objective of this work was to draw up an inventory of environmental and anthropogenic factors linked to indigenous breeding practices of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) influenced by plumage characteristics. The information was collected using the snowball technique and using a formal questionnaire developed (AU-IBAR, 2015). The dominant plumage is pearl gray with a frequency of 38.89% followed by black (13.85%). In total, 154 adult animals were lost by operators with a frequency of 22.95%. According to plumage, white comes first with a frequency of 51.61% followed by Lavender plumage (36.58%). Predation is the major constraint with a frequency of 35.72%. The guinea fowl most targeted by predators are the white guinea fowl with a frequency of 56.25%, while predation is low for black plumage (25%), royal purple (33.34) and pearl gray (34.69). The pearl gray guinea fowl and the royal purple guinea fowl appear to have a more developed wild instinct, which explains the frequency of recorded escapes. White plumage is perceived as being more docile during breeding and tends to exhibit better resistance to heat stress compared to other phenotypes, making it more valued for traditional rituals. Dark plumage seems more sought after in breeding for its supposed prolificacy, its resistance to infections and its weight. According to breeders, the dominance relationship mainly depends on the number of individuals of the same plumage. Dark plumage in significant numbers in most flocks seems to have dominance in terms of food and choice of sexual partners, which would explain their large numbers.The objective of this work was to draw up an inventory of environmental and anthropogenic factors linked to indigenous breeding practices of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) influenced by plumage characteristics. The information was collected using the snowball technique and using a formal questionnaire developed (AU-IBAR, 2015). The dominant plumage is pearl gray with a frequency of 38.89% followed by black (13.85%). In total, 154 adult animals were lost by operators with a frequency of 22.95%. According to plumage, white comes first with a frequency of 51.61% followed by Lavender plumage (36.58%). Predation is the major constraint with a frequency of 35.72%. The guinea fowl most targeted by predators are the white guinea fowl with a frequency of 56.25%, while predation is low for black plumage (25%), royal purple (33.34) and pearl gray (34.69). The pearl gray guinea fowl and the royal purple guinea fowl appear to have a more developed wild instinct, which explains the frequency of recorded escapes. White plumage is perceived as being more docile during breeding and tends to exhibit better resistance to heat stress compared to other phenotypes, making it more valued for traditional rituals. Dark plumage seems more sought after in breeding for its supposed prolificacy, its resistance to infections and its weight. According to breeders, the dominance relationship mainly depends on the number of individuals of the same plumage. Dark plumage in significant numbers in most flocks seems to have dominance in terms of food and choice of sexual partners, which would explain their large numbers.

关 键 词：Indigenous Breeding Guinea Fowl Plumage Features 

分 类 号：R33[医药卫生—人体生理学]