Determination of most suitable methodology for measuring docility in guinea fowls (<i>Numida meleagris</i>) in Ghana

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study the effect and most suitable methodology in measuring docility of Guinea fowls in Ghana. The study was carried out at the Poultry Section of the Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, Mampong- Ashanti campus in Ghana. Docility was measured on a 4-point scale as docile (1), flighty (2), restless (3) and aggressive (4). Seventy-nine (79) Guinea fowls of local varieties of average age 10 months were consecutively tested for docility twice a week for four weeks. The birds were tested for behavioural docility in a Completely Randomised Design experiment. Data were analysed using SAS and separation of means was done using LSD. The research revealed that the test criterion had significant (p<0.05) effect on docility. Based on this observation, each individual criterion was unique and can be used independently for the assessment of docility status of the birds. The Human Presence Test (HPT), Novel Object Test (NOT), Contact Test (CT), and Handling Test (HT) produced consistent docility. The HPT, NOT and CT were similar in effect. The method that produced the greatest impact on the birds was HT and hence not suitable for assessing docility of birds. If the test methods are to be used individually, HPT, NOT and CT will be ideal. The most suitable pair of methods that assesses the underlying docility trait very effectively was HPT with NOT and is therefore recommended as the best suitable pair for cage docility scoring. The research revealed that the test criterion of docility (method of assessment) has to be chosen carefully to be used to assess or measure docility of birds.