In vivo prediction of live weight and carcass traits using body measurements in indigenous guinea fowl

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between live measurements and carcass traits, and develop linear regression models to predict live weight and set of carcass traits in an indigenous guinea fowl. Twenty eight adult indigenous birds of both sexes were used for the study. Live weight and body measurements were obtained before slaughter while carcass traits were taken on hot carcass. Result obtained from descriptive statistics showed that, mean performance were 1208?6.86 g, 22.17?0.13 cm, 8.94?0.07 cm, 2.96?0.03 cm, 34.23?0.19 cm, 850.15?7.18 g, 267.23?1.69 g, 72.39?0.64 g and 70.38% for body weight, body length, thigh length, keel length, chest circumference, carcass weight, breast weight, thigh weight and dressing percentage. All the traits except for keel length were positively (P<0.001) correlated to body weight. Chest circumference had the highest predictive power in live weight estimate (R2 .558), while body weight stand out as the single most important variable in carcass weight and breast weight prediction (R2 .820 and .902) This suggest that that carcass weight and breast weight prediction can best be obtained using body weight, providing direction in developing model for selection and improvement of guinea fowl for meat production.