Response of Growing Guinea Fowls Fed Diets Containing Different Dietary Protein Sources and Effect on Age at First Lay

The study examined the effect of different dietary protein sources on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, haematology, serum biochemistry and age at first lay on guinea fowl.A total of 40 growing guinea fowls were use to evaluate the effects of different dietary protein sources on performance and blood profile. The birds were grouped into four dietary treatments of 10 birds and 2 replicates of 5 birds with varying combinations of protein sources: groundnut cake (GNC), soya bean meal (SBM), and fish meal (FM), were used to formulate diets to provide equal crude protein levels (18–22%) and 2800 kcal/kg of energy. Four experimental diets (T1, T2, T3, and T4) were compounded to contain different dietary protein sources and fixed energy source (i.e., maize), with Treatment 1 serving as the control, combining all three (3) protein sources (Fish meal, Groundnut cake and Soyabean meal), Treatments 2-4 contained only two different protein sources each. Data were collected on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, haematology, serum and age at first lay; they were analyzed using one – way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The highest (p<0.05) total feed intake (1395.67g) was recorded with bird fed combining all three (3) protein sources (Fish meal, Groundnut cake and Soya bean meal), while bird fed with diet containing Groundnut Cake and Fish Meal recorded the lowest intake (1377.40g). The best FCR (3.17) observed in the birds placed on GNC and fish meal, while the poorest value (4.87) was recorded in birds placed on SBM and GNC. The highest (p<0.05) percentage crude protein (56.08%) was observed in birds fed with GNC and SBM while birds placed on GNC and Fish meal based diet recorded the lowest value (52.28%). Highest (p<0.05) Packed Cell Volume (47.00%) was recorded with the birds fed diet containing GNC and FM while the birds placed on SBM and FM had the lowest value of 34.00. The highest (P<0.05) white Blood cell (173.00) was recorded in the birds placed on the three test ingredients GNC, SBM and FM has while birds placed on GNC and SBM has the least value of 124.00. The highest (p<0. 05) age at first lay (188. 0000) recorded in the diet containing GNC and SBM while diet containing all the three test ingredients (GNC, SBM and Fish Meal) had the lowest value of (154. 6000). The research concluded that different combination of dietary protein sources influenced feed intake and growth parameters, improve egg production as well as potentially preserving and enhancing the health of the birds.