BREEDING CHARACTERISTICS OF FARM GUINEA FOWLS

Abstract

 The time at which poultry reaches sexual maturity affects the economic profitability of the farm. The timing may vary under the influence of feeding, lighting and other conditions, the stability of which in individual farms is difficult to maintain at the same level. Tests of poultry for productive qualities and breeding indicators were carried out in 2021–2022 at the K.A. Zhdanov peasant (farming) economy, (Voronezh region, Ramonsky district, Novopodkletnoye village) on guinea fowl of the selection core line VBA-1 (Volga white autosex). Studies have shown that early selection of laying hens and breeding males before the start of flock reproduction increases the proportion of highly productive birds. The maximum number of fertilized eggs (90.42±4.29 – 92.71±3.07%) was obtained from early and mid-ripening laying hens that reached the age of puberty at 231-244 days. Early-ripening guinea fowl had a significant (P<0.05) superiority over late-ripening ones in most qualitative and quantitative indicators of sperm (ejaculate volume 0.097 – 0.1 cm³, concentration – 4.01 – 4.45 billion/cm³). Selection of poultry based on early maturity will improve the composition of the parent flock of guinea fowl, increase the farm profitability by improving the quality of the eggs obtained from them and increasing the number of young animals hatched.