Influence of trimming on the reduction in fledging power of guinea fowl (Numida Meleagris) on traditional farms in the commune of Kar-hay (far north, Cameroon)

Lack of control over fledging power and poor husbandry practices have resulted in poor production and reproductive performance of guinea fowl on traditional farms in North Cameroon. With a view to controlling the fledging power of guinea fowl and improving this breeding method, a trial was carried out in the commune of Kar-Hay with the aim of evaluating the influence of wing trimming on the reduction in fledging power. To do this, the wings of 4-week-old local breed guinea fowl were clipped by cauterising and shearing the wings. After 210 days of monitoring, six parameters were studied: healing, average live weight, mortality rate, fledging height, laying period and wingspan. The results showed that the mortality rate was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the control subjects than in the subjects who had undergone wing clipping. The mortality rate was 0.55 ± 0.78% for shearing, 0.62 ± 0.78% for cauterisation and 0.93 ± 0.74% for control subjects. The healing rate was significantly (p<0.001) higher in subjects S1 to S5 who had undergone cauterisation (0.857 ± 0.832; 2.142 ± 0.989; 2.857 ± 0.832; 2 ± 0.755; 0.285 ± 0.451 and 0.142 ± 0.349) than those subjected to shearing, with the exception of S1 (0.00 ± 0.00 with a plus-value of 0.008). The average live weight was lower in the controls (1770 ± 110.32 g) than in the cauterised (1775.5 ± 112.01 g) and sheared (1785.5 ± 122.21 g) birds. The wingspan was also greater in the control subjects (40.26 ± 18.21 cm) than in the cauterised (39.66 ± 23.33 cm) and sheared (37.45 ± 2.48 cm) subjects. Flight height was lower in sheared (153.05 ± 5.93 cm) and cauterised (154.15 ± 8.18 cm) birds than in control birds (280.8 ± 47.215 cm). Consequently, wing trimming by shearing or cauterising the wings reduces the fledging power of guinea fowl on traditional farms. It would be interesting to use this technique in traditional guinea fowl rearing systems to set up a controlled rearing system.