English Sexual Dimorphism in Growth Traits, blood parameters and Protein Polymorphism of Adult Helmeted Guineafowl (Numidia Meleagris) found in Kwara State Nigeria.

Effects of sex on growth traits, blood parameters and heamoglobin types in Adult helmeted guinea fowl

Authors

  • O Chimezie Victoria Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • T Yusuff Afolabi Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • I Alli Oluwasayope Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • M Okukpe Kehinde Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • H Ajao Babatunde Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • M Adeshina Oluwasegun Department of Animal Production, Fishery and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • A Yusuf Opeyiemi Department of Animal Production, Fishery and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • A Abubakar Ibrahim Department of Animal Production, Fishery and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • T Bajomo Eunice Department of Animal Production, Fishery and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • Y Adedeji Rukayat Department of Animal Production, Fishery and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • U Oladipo Uthman Department of Animal Production, Fishery and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • B Abayomi-Sule Department of Animal Production, Fishery and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria
  • A Adeola Charles State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
  • Foluke Sola-Ojo Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46325/gabj.v9i2.430

Keywords:

Guinea fowl, Growth traits, Blood profile, Haemoglobin polymorphism, Sexual dimorphism

Abstract

Phenotypic and biochemical characterization are useful tools necessary for genetic improvement and continuous breeding of available poultry species. This study characterized one hundred and twenty (120) adult guinea fowl found in Kwara State Nigeria based on sex using quantitative traits, blood parameters and protein polymorphism. The results revealed that males were 40% significantly (p<0.05) bigger in bodyweight value than their female counterparts while the female studied had a higher value in Wing length compared to the male (16.12 vs 15.86).  The values obtained for blood parameters were within the normal range reported for guinea fowl with a higher total cholesterol value obtained for female than their male counterparts (216.25 vs. 193.88). The frequency distribution of haemoglobin types were 25, 62.5 and 12.5% for  AA, AB and BB for male guinea fowl, the female studied had no AA with 75 and 25% for AB and BB, respectively. This study showed that there is variation in body weight and some growth and blood parameters as well as the haemoglobin types among the Guinea fowl studied, indicating room for future genetic improvement.

References

Adedibu II. Ayorinde KL and Musa AA. 2014. “Identification of Hematological Markers Suitable for Improving Productivity of Helmeted Guinea Fowl Numida Meleagris.” American Journal of Experimental Agriculture 4: 1186–1196.

Fajemilehin SOK. 2010. “”Morphostructural Characteristics of Three Varieties of Greybreasted Helmeted Guinea Fowls in Nigeria.”.” International Journal of Morphology 28: 557–562. doi:10.4067/S0717-95022010000200036.

Fajemilehin, SOK. 2014. “Morphological and Genetic Characterization of Domesticated Guinea Fowl in Sokoto State, Nigeria.” A Ph.D. thesis in the Department of Animal Science Submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. 144.

Musundire MT. Halimani, TE and Chimonyo M. 2018. “Effect of Age and Sex on Carcass Characteristics and Internal Organ Weights of Scavenging Chickens and Helmeted Guinea Fowls.” Journal of Applied Animal Research 46: 860–867.

Oguntunji AO. Ayorinde K.L. and Aremu T.O. 2014. “Biochemical Characterization of the Nigerian Indigenous Guinea Fowl (Numida Meleagris).” Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 32: 271–284.

Pagot J. 1992. Animal Production in the Tropics. 1st ed., 15–45. Basingstoke, UK: Macmillian Education Limited.

Penkov D. Arnaudov A and Nikolova M. 2019. “Dynamics of Some Basic Blood Indices in Guinea Fowl (N. Meleagris) Depending on the Egg Laying Period.” Trakia Journal of Sciences 17: 323–328.

Soara AE. Talaki E. Dayo GK Tonak 2020. Morpho-Biometric Characterization of indigenous Guinea fowl (Numida Meleagris) populations in Northern Togo.

Shoyombo AJ. Yakubu A. Adebambo AO. Popoola MA. Olafadehan OA. Wheto, OO, Alabi O.O. Osaiyuwu HO. Ukimg, CI Olayanju A and Adebambo OA 2021. Characterisation of indigenous helmeted guinea fowls in Nigeria for meat and egg production. World Poultry Science Journal 1038-1058.

Sola-Ojo FE. and Ayorinde KL. 2009: The Fulani Ecotype chicken: Growth and Feed Utilization Potentials. World Journal of Applied Science and Technology WOJAST. 1 (1): 37-44.

Sola-Ojo FE. Afolabi- Balogun NB Adeniyi CA. Adeyemi KD. Ayorinde KL. Alli OI. Oni OA Okeke CU. Momoh EO. Adewara J. and Abdulkareem I. 2021. Molecular Sexing and Taxonomic Classification of Nigerian Guinea Fowl using Chromo Helicase DNA Binding Gene and 12S Mitochondria, RNA gene Journal of Animal Breeding and Genomics 5(2). : 59-70

Sola-Ojo FE. Ibiwoye DI Asogwa NT. Abubakar IA Yusuf OA. Babalola FA and Babatunde AO 2020a. Effects of genotypes on Body weight and Morphometric body parameters in some adult Nigerian Local Chickens based on Normal and Rare feather types. Journal of Animal Breeding and Genomics 4(4) 83-89.

Sola-Ojo FE. Adeniyi CA. Yusuf OA. and Abiola J. 2020b. Phenotypic, Physiological and Blood Profile Characterization of Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata) In North Central Nigeria. Genetics and Biodiversity Journal. 4 (1): 30-39.

Uko OJ. and Ataja AM. 1996. “Haematological Studies of Pure Indigenous Domestic Fowls (Gallus Domesticus) Guinea Fowls (Numida Meleagris) in North-West Nigeria.” Revue D’élevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des pays Tropicaux 49: 257–262.

Downloads

Published

07/16/2025

Issue

Section

Review Article

How to Cite

English Sexual Dimorphism in Growth Traits, blood parameters and Protein Polymorphism of Adult Helmeted Guineafowl (Numidia Meleagris) found in Kwara State Nigeria.: Effects of sex on growth traits, blood parameters and heamoglobin types in Adult helmeted guinea fowl. (2025). Genetics & Biodiversity Journal , 9(2), 101-106. https://doi.org/10.46325/gabj.v9i2.430

Most read articles by the same author(s)