Genetic Parameter Estimates of Guinea Fowl (Numida Meleagris) in South-South Region of Nigeria

This study aimed at estimating heritability and repeatability of body weight and somebody parameters of Nigerian guinea fowls. Forty eight dams mated to specific sires in a nested experimental design produced offspring identified sire lines. Data collected at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age respectively were subjected to analysis of variance. The body traits were: body circumference, thigh length, shank length and breast length. Results showed that heritability for BWT ranged from 0.40 ─ 0.81, while repeatability estimates were at a range 0.20 ─ 0.40 at 8 -12 weeks of age respectively. Body circumference was estimated to be 0.66 ─ 0.84 heritable and 0.33 ─ 0.42 repeatable. Heritability for body weight and linear body traits generally increased with age. It was concluded that mass selection can be employed from eight weeks of age for the improvement of the guinea fowl given the high estimates obtained in this study.