eprintid: 283
rev_number: 8
eprint_status: archive
userid: 3
dir: disk0/00/00/02/83
datestamp: 2022-05-23 18:21:34
lastmod: 2022-05-23 18:21:34
status_changed: 2022-05-23 18:21:34
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Orounladji, B. M.
creators_name: Tozo, S. K.
creators_name: Chrysostome, C. A. A. M.
creators_id: oromib@gmail.com
title: Morphobiometric Characteristics and Biodiversity of Indigenous Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) in Benin
ispublished: pub
subjects: Q1
subjects: SF
divisions: j10
full_text_status: public
keywords: Benin, Biodiversity, Climatic zone, Indigenous guinea fowl, Phenotypic characteristic.
abstract: The present study aimed to describe the morphobiometric characteristics of indigenous guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) populations in Benin. The current study was carried out on 1320 (529 males and 791 females) adult (at least 24 weeks old) indigenous guinea fowls from three climatic zones (Sudanian, Sudano-Guinean, and Guinean) of Benin. Each guinea fowl was subjected to a direct phenotypic description, biometric measurements, and photography. The results showed that the plumage coloration of indigenous guinea fowl in Benin was significantly diverse, but the most widespread plumage colors were pearl grey (30%), black (29.5%), and cinnamon (9.8%). The most common beak colors were grey (64.9%) and yellow-orange (24.8%). The eyes were predominantly black-white (67.1%). Grey-orange (33.7%), grey (32%), and black-orange (21%) colorations were more represented on the shanks with wattles relatively dominated by red-white (59.4%) and white-red (30.5%). The average live weight of guinea fowl was 1.34 kg in males which was 4.38% heavier than females. All the biometric measurements were significantly higher in males. The live weights of guinea fowl in the Sudanian zone (1.40  0.18 kg) were higher than those of guinea fowl found in the Sudano-Guinean zone (1.27  0.24 kg) and Guinean zone (1.33  0.28 kg). Principal Component Analysis indicated that three distinct groups of guinea fowl can be formed based on their biometric measurements (live weight, chest circumference, body length, drumstick length, shank length, shank diameter, and wingspan). The phenotypes’ diversity was relatively abundant (1-Hill: 0.69) in all climatic zones. The phenotypic biodiversity observed in the populations of indigenous guinea fowl in Benin can guide farmers to select specific phenotypes to meet consumer preferences.
date: 2021-03-25
publication: Journal of World's Poultry Research
volume: 11
number: 1
publisher: Scienceline Publication, Ltd
pagerange: 136-150
id_number: 10.36380/jwpr.2021.18
refereed: TRUE
issn: 2322455X (ISSN)
official_url: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85104243044&doi=10.36380%2fjwpr.2021.18&partnerID=40&md5=914906c179fd432c690b8e43f0a7c665
j_index: scopus
citation:    (2021)     Morphobiometric Characteristics and Biodiversity of Indigenous Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) in Benin.   Journal of World's Poultry Research.  pp. 136-150.  ISSN 2322455X (ISSN)   
document_url: http://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/283/1/JWPR%2011%281%29%20136-150%2C%202021.pdf