Evaluation de la qualité externe et interne des œufs de cinq variétés de pintades locales élevées au bénin.

The study aimed to evaluate the external and internal qualities of eggs from local varieties of guinea fowl (Common breed, Bonaparte, White, Grey and Black) of Benin. Twenty –four (24) guinea fowl of guinea fowl of each variety aged of 38 weeks were reared in station and five new-laid eggs were collected daily and analyzed weekly by variety during 8 weeks. It appears that White guinea fowl lay the heaviest eggs while Bonaparte laid the smallest (P<0.05). According to the egg size, White guinea fowls were the best followed by Black guinea fowl, Common guinea fowl and Grey guinea fowl. Eggshell color was mostly red bright and dark red. The predominant bright red eggs were obtained in black guinea fowl (55%), Bonaparte (42.5%) and Common (40%), while the dark red were mostly recorded in White (45%) and Grey guinea fowls (42.5%). The slight red shell eggs with grits were only obtained in White variety (2.5%) and mottled eggs were produced by the Grey guinea fowl (25%) followed by Bonaparte guinea fowl (20%). Furthermore, egg from white guinea showed the best physical quality that are egg white thickness, egg yolk thickness, egg white weight and egg yolk weight (respectively 6.82 mm 17.8 mm; 13g and 22g). The most colored egg yolk was found in black guinea fowls while the less colored was observed in the common greed. In short, it appears from this study that qualities of eggs depend on genetic type and could be used for characterization and genetic improvement by selection and crossing.