A multi-disciplinary approach to maximise sustainability and welfare of small holder Guinea fowl farms in sub-Saharan Africa

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Guinea fowl are a fundamental mainstay of nutrition in many African countries, particularly Ghana. Importantly many fowl are reared under extensive systems, mostly by low-income farmers, including women and children. Families produce both eggs and meat within these systems and products are used for both feeding the farm family and are sold to pay for items such as school fees, farm materials and food in the lean season.However, there is a major issue: juvenile (keet) survival is low, with estimates across Ghana of between 60-100% mortality within the first eight weeks of life. Work in other poultry species suggests that the environmental conditions experienced during both pre- and early post-natal development have a powerful influence on an individual's ability to cope with challenging environments. These differences in resilience can lead to altered health, fecundity and survival in later life. To date there has been no systematic exploration of how developmental conditions impact guinea fowl. This project aims to address this gap in our knowledge. The importance of guinea fowl to the nutrition of farmers and their families cannot be understated. The proposed project therefore represents an opportunity to carry out novel research, to have a significant impact on the welfare of animals and the sustainability of a fragile but essential way of farming.