A note on the use of Saccharina in Creole guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) hens

One hundred and twenty Creole guinea fowls of second laying cycle were distributed in 24 paddocks under semi-confinemet conditions. at a rate of 4 females and 1 male per paddock. A ration with or without 20% Saccharina was assessed with 12 paddocks per treatment The number of eggs/bird (76.4 and 80.0 units), average egg weight (41.5 and 41.7 g), eggs layed in the first month (6.4 and 5.9 units) and mortality (0 and 1.6%), respectively were not significantly different, but daily feed intake differed (95.2 and 83.3 g/bird/day) producing a reduction in the consumption of traditional raw materials (76.2 and 83.2. bird/day), in spite of a higher total intake when Saccharina was used. It is considered that Saccharina could constitute another feeding source for guinea fowl hens reared under semi-confinement conditions.