Effects of temperature on reproduction in guinea fowl.

The effects of four temperature regimens on the onset and maintenance of semen and egg production, fertility, hatchability, and feed consumption by guinea fowl were examined. Temperatures of 26.7 and 21.1 C hastened the onset of egg and semen production in guinea fowl. However, egg and semen production rates of guineas exposed to ambient or 15.6 C minimum temperatures eventually increased to the level of those exposed to the higher temperatures. This suggests that it may be possible to initiate production by exposure to a warm environment and then reduce the environmental temperature after egg and semen production has been well established. There were no statistically significant differences in fertility or hatchability. Differences seen in feed conversion were mainly due to delayed onset of egg production in the lower temperature regimens. Thus, it appears that proper winter management of guinea breeders would involve exposure to a warm temperature for some period of time.