Study of Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) Production System in the Urban Commune of Madarounfa, Niger

Abstract

The local guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) is native to Africa and belongs to the Gallinaceae family. A study was conducted among guinea fowl breeders in the urban commune of Madarounfa to determine the constraints of guinea fowl production in the area. Sixty (60) breeders were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in six (6) villages 15km apart to collect information on the conduct and practice of guinea fowl breeding. Results revealed that the guinea fowl breeders from this study are men. The production purpose of the guinea fowl in the urban commune of Madarounfa is for selling (53%), self-consumption (32%), and gift/donation (10%). Scavenging is the feeding system (100%) which is mostly used. Constraints related to guinea fowl production as identified by the study are mainly diseases (32%), lack of training (22%), lack of feed (17%), and lack of funding (17%). It is clear that the development of the sector necessarily involves strengthening the surveillance of avian diseases, coupled with veterinary monitoring and supervision of producers.