Production Studies of a Guinea Fowl Variety of Hungarian Origin in the Tropical Regions of Vietnam

Guinea fowl is considered a Hungarian poultry species, which adapted a long time ago, with excellent meat quality, very good ability to acclimatise to different conditions, resistance, wild and seeking habits with low costs of keeping, which make guinea fowl one of the best poultry species for natural production. In 2002, the Association of Hungarian Small Animal Breeders for Gene Conservation (MGE) and Institute for Small Animal Research, previously named HaGK ? Research Centre for Farm Animal Gene Conservation (KÁTKI) exported the first guinea-fowl population to Vietnam for adaptation study with regards to the indigenous animal genetic conservation. At first, the guinea fowl was experimentally reared in the Poultry Research Centre (POREC), located in the subtropical region of North Vietnam. Following the success of this adaptation experiment, the present study aimed to contribute to the expansion of the old Hungarian guinea fowl to tropical regions in South Vietnam (Dong Nai and the Mekong Delta). During the 13th week rearing period the mortality rate of guinea fowls was lower than 3% in both regions. The average body weight and the feed conversion of guinea fowls recorded in Dong Nai and the Mekong Delta, during the 13rd week were 1269±64g (n=487) vs 1610±64g (n=489; P<0.05) respectively and 3.43 vs 2.92kg feed/kg body weight gain (P<0.001) respectively. In Dong Nai, the egg production reached 71% (1205 eggs/242 hens/week) and hatchability ranged between 31% (61/200) and 72% (495/690). Despite differences of performance between groups, results show successful adaptation of guinea fowls to underprivileged regions of South Vietnam. This study could be the first step for further integrating the Hungarian guinea fowl into the local poultry production and could also help the Vietnamese farmers raise extra income as well as improve their living standard sustainably.