PAPER TITLE :PHENOTYPIC CORRELATIONS BETWEEN SOME EXTERNALAND PCTERNAL EGG QUALITY TRAITS IN THE NIGERIAN HELMETE

APPLIED TROPICAL AGRICULTURE | VOLUME 14 NUMBER 1 2009

Paper Details

  • Author(s) : S.O.K. FAJEMILEHIN, O.O. ODUBOLA AND M.O. AKINYEMI
  • Abstract:


            This study was aimed at determining the external and internal quality traits of the guinea fowl eggs as well as the phenotypic correlations within and between these traits. The seven hundred 700 guinea fowl eggs used in this study were obtained from a population of 100 birds of mixed genotypes comprising the pearl, the grey breasted and the white kept on deep litter pens and all at 6 months in la y at Ekiti State Agricultural Development Project ADP, Ikole Ekiti, Nigeria. The birds were given diet containing 17.5percent crude protein and 2850 kcal per kg metabolizable energy and water ad libitum. The values related to the egg weight, egg length, egg width, average shell thicb2ess, shell weight, egg surface area, unit shell surface weight, shell ratio, shape index and  haugh unit were found as 38.66 g, 4.90 cm, 3.20 cm, 0.48 cm, 4.16 g, 4.73 cm', 8.16 mm/cm 2, 10.80 percent, 65.63 9'6, and 63.86percent respectively. Also, the values related to the yolk diameter:: yolk height, yolk weight, albumen height, albumen weight, yolk ratio., yolk index and albumen ratio were 4.07 cm, 1.67 cm, 12.50 g, 4.31 cm, 22.00 g 32.43 9/(9, 41.03percent and 53.12percent respectively. According to the results of the study, almost all the external and internal quality traits of the eggs examined did not show any linear relationship at the different levels of signO7cance p less than a 01,0.05 considered. However; in very, few cases there were linear relationships when the traits were examined within and between themselves. As a result, it was concluded that it was possible to use the egg weight and width in determining the shell ratio and shape index. Albumin and yolk weight could also be determined from the yolk ratio and yolk diameter, from yolk height