ABSTRACT

A total of 60 day old keets comprising of 30 Pearl and 30 Lavender guinea fowl

were generated from the eggs hatched to evaluate their physical body traits and

carcass characteristics in a randomized completely block design experiments. The

result obtained showed that Pearl show significantly (P<0.05) higher performance

traits and linear body measurements than Lavender. In carcass characteristics

especially Live weight (LW), Slaughter weight (SLW), Carcass weight (CAR),

Plucked (PLU), Gizzard, Liver, Kidney, Heart, Lungs, Bile, Intesiine, Crop, Spleen

and Dressing percent, Pearl show clear significant (P<0.05) different than

Lavender in the above mentioned carcass weight measured. In feed conversion

ration was also, equal among the two varieties studied. But, in production traits of

the two varieties, there was significant (P<0.05) different in the two varieties. For

example, at three weeks of age, Pearl differed significantly (P<0.05) with the value

± 0.04 in body weight gain than Lavender with the value 25.05' ± 0.04. At

five weeks of age, Pearl still topped with 47•91b 0.03, while Lavender had 40.

62a

± 0.03 and at seven weeks of age, still Pearl topping. But, at nine weeks of age,

Pearl and Lavender showed no significant (P<0.05) different among varieties

studied. Also, in cut parts measured Pearl, showed significantly (P<0.05) higher

than Lavender in Shank, Thigh, Breast, Proventriculus, Drumstick, wings, Back

and Neck. In conclusion, it is clear that Pearl variety has high economic traits than

Lavender counterparts in the humid tropical environment.