Identification of Hematological Markers Suitable for Improving Productivity of Helmeted Guinea Fowl Numida meleagris

Abstract

ABSTRACT The research was designed to estimate variations in hematological variables between sex and varieties of extensively reared helmeted guinea fowl with the objective of recommending parameters that are suitable as markers during selection. The study was carried out in the Teaching and Research farm of Department of Animal Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between May and July 2012. Five varieties of helmeted guinea fowl (45 males and 45 females) that were clinically healthy were sampled for white blood cells (WBC), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, platelets, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV). The results showed that there were no significant ( P> .05) effect of sex on WBC, MCHC, RBC, hemoglobin, PCV and MCH, but it influenced MCV ( P =.05) and platelets ( P =.05). On the other hand, there were significant ( P =.05) effects of varieties on all the hematological parameters determined in this study. Therefore, the study of variations in hematological parameters, as well as their association with economic traits, could be used to develop marker assisted technology which can be incorporated into the traditional animal breeding methodology to fast track improvement to aid selection, improve efficiency and speed of selection in breeding programs.