Sexual Dimorphism in Dressing Yield and Carcass Traits of Indigenous Guinea Fowl in Humid Tropics

Abstract

The sexual dimorphism in the dressing yield and carcass traits was evaluated in male and female guinea fowl at the poultry unit of Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko Nigeria. Thirty (30) male and female indigenous guinea fowl were raised under the same management condition for twelve weeks, slaughtered and carcass traits data collected. Results showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the dressing yield of male and female guinea fowl. However, there was sexual dimorphism in thigh weight of guinea fowl. Female had higher thigh weight (99.33±111.09g) than male guinea fowl (89.06 ±12.74g). Female guinea fowl also had higher gizzard weight than their male counterparts. Although male guinea fowl had higher values in slaughter weight, carcass weight and edible carcass compared with female guinea fowl, the relative percentage of the plucked weight to the pre-slaughter weight (live weight) were statistically similar in both male and female. The wing weight (52.89 ± 6.50g) and relative percentage (4.76±0.05%) were higher in male than in female guinea fowl.  In conclusion, there was no variation in the dressing yield of male and female guinea fowl, however, sexual dimorphism exists in some internal organs and carcass traits of guinea fowl.