Fitting analysis on growth curves of body mass and size of Guinea fowl

Objective To provide basic data for selective breeding and improving of reproduction performance of Guinea fowl.

Method The growth and development patterns of one-to nine-week-old G. fowl were studied. Three different models including Logistic, Gompertz and Bertalanffy models were compared to identify the best model fitting G. fowl growth.

Result Growth traits including body mass, keel length, shank length and shank girth showed no significant differences between male and female G. fowl (P > 0.05) and exhibited similar trends. The growth rate of body size was the highest with a straight ascending trend at the age of two weeks. The body mass of G. fowl was positively correlated with its body size. For male ones, the correlation coefficent (r=0.752, P < 0.01) between body mass and shank length was the largest. For female ones, the correlation coefficent (r=0.600) between body mass and keel length was the largest, followed by the correlation coefficent (r=0.509) between body mass and shank length. In addition, the correlation (r=0.477) between shank length and keel length was significant (P < 0.01). All three models could be used for fitting G. fowl growth, among which the Gompertz model was the best for body mass and the Bertalanffy model was the best for body size.

Conclusion There are similar trends in growth and development of body mass and body size between male and female G. fowl. The Gompertz and Bertalanffy models are the best for fitting body mass and body size, respectively. Improving the shank length of G. fowl may help to increase its keel length, pectoral production as well as body mass.