Comparative evaluation of long term selected guinea fowl for high juvenile body weight and an indigenous guinea fowl population for general immune-competence

An improved and the indigenous guinea fowl populations were evaluated for general immune-competence by estimating the humoral antibody response to Sheep Red blood Cells (SRBC) and in vivo T-cell mediated immune response to Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA-P). A total of twenty 10 week old birds of either type were used. The mean Total Haem Agglutination (THA) titre on day 0, 5 dpi, 10 dpi and 15 dpi were 0.25±0.09, 7.01±0.16, 7.61±0.21 and 5.89±0.12, respectively in improved population, while in indigenous population, the respective estimates were 0.59±0.15, 6.93±0.15, 7.50±0.19 and 5.65±0.14. The mean response in THA titre at 5 dpi, 10 dpi and 15 dpi were 6.76±0.24, 7.36±0.27 and 5.64±0.16, respectively in indigenous population; and 6.34±0.22, 6.91±0.25 and 5.06±0.18 in improved population. Either the THA titre or response in THA titres did not differ significantly between the populations at any stage, however, within each population, both parameters differed significantly among the different stages. In both the populations, the THA titre was maximum at 10 dpi, while the responses were maximum between 5 dpi to 10 dpi. The in vivo CMI response to PHA-P, estimated as foot index were 0.60±0.021 and 0.59±0.229 in indigenous and improved population, respectively and differed non-significantly between the populations. These results revealed that mild selection for high 12^th week body weight, though improved the 12^th week body weight significantly, but did not influenced the general immune-competence in guinea fowl.