Indigenous Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) production in West Africa: inventory, performances and constraints – a review

Abstract

Abstract In West Africa, traditional poultry farming plays an important role in the provision of livelihoods for the rural population. One of the major species of traditional poultry farming is Guinea fowl ( Numida meleagris), which is very valued for its meat and eggs. Despite some attempts to improve the performance of Guinea fowl in this region, the full potential of the birds is not yet well exploited and the birds are still managed under extensive or semi intensive systems. Feed supplementation remains low and insufficient and animals scavenge for feed (insects, worms, plants, etc.) in the field and in the area around the villages. These breeding and feeding conditions contribute to the poor productivity of the birds. However, some studies show that the growth performance of Guinea fowl under an intensive system was not better than that seen under a traditional system despite the use of improved feed. On the other hand, the performance is better with the improvement of the production conditions resulting in early laying and increased number of laying cycles. These results could be due to nutritional or genetic changes. Unfortunately, the genetic characteristics of indigenous Guinea fowl populations are poorly documented. The few studies available are based on the plumage colour and have identified several varieties of Guinea fowl with different growth performances. Comprehensive studies are needed to highlight the specific characteristics of local varieties or strains for proper management and improvement of the West-African indigenous Guinea fowl.