| Jacques Léonce K. Yao 1, 2*| Jean Pierre Boga 1| Kouakou Koffi Roger 1 | Jean Baptiste Gnélié Gnahoua 3 | and | Félicia Johnson 1, 2 |
Affiliation.
1. Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University (UPGC) | Faculty of Biological Sciences | Korhogo | Côte d’Ivoire | 2. National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA) | Animal Breeding Station | Bouaké | Côte d’Ivoire | 3 International Centre for Research and Development on Livestock in-Subhumid Areas (CIRDES) | Bobo Dioulasso | Burkina Faso | This article is made freely available as part of this journal's Open Access: ID|Etienne–Ref13-ajira201021 |
ABSTRACT Background: Meleagriculture occupies the second place in the production of poultry heads in Côte d'Ivoire. Objectives: In order to contribute to the development of local guinea fowl, a phenotypic and morphometric characterization study on this local poultry was conducted in northern Côte d’Ivoire. Methods: This work was carried out through a one-way survey conducted in August and September 2017 in five localities (Katia, Tiekelezo, Zanakpokaha, Kassirimé and Lahata) in the Department of Korhogo. Phenotypic and morphometric data were collected on 70 local guinea fowls. They were subjected to basic and multivariate descriptive analyses. Results: The results revealed three varieties of guinea fowl defined by the drawings and coloration of their feathers. Panache guinea fowls (88.57%) were the largest followed by chamois guinea fowls (8.57%) and purple guinea fowls (2.86%). The height of the helmet (2.16 vs 1.85 cm) and the length of the barbels (2.65 vs 1.75 cm) allowed the male to be distinguished from the female. Seven of the quantitative variables (weight, helmet length, helmet height, barbels length, body length, chest perimeter, tarse tower) best characterized the morphology of these guinea fowls. Two guinea fowl groups, one with superior conformation and one with normal conformation, were determined using the seven quantitative variables. Conclusions: For any selection program, weight and chest perimeter are the best indicators. Keywords: local guinea fowls; morphobiometric characterization, Côte d’Ivoire.
