This study was designed to determine the effects of anti-helmintics and Newcastle disease vaccine on plasma LH concentration in female guinea fowl kept under natural photoperiod in the sub-humid region of Burkina Faso.Two groups of 30 guinea fowl female chicks from the same hatch were kept in the same brooding house. One group (T1) received no preventive medical treatment while the second (T2) was vaccinated against NCD and treated with an anti stress, anti trichomona and a dewormer.Plasma LH concentration was measured each week on 5 females of each group between 12 and 68 weeks of age. LH concentrations were similar for the 2 groups mainly because the individual variations were relatively high. Even thought peak’s levels were higher in T2 group, mean values (ng/ml) were only numerically higher for T1 group, 1.19 ± 0.19 vs. 1.00 ± 0.62 before laying, 1.50 ± 0.26 vs. 1.49 ± 0.55 during laying, and 0.86 ± 0.59 vs. 0.59 ± 0.14 after the laying period. Mean value over the period of measurements were therefore only numerically higher in T, 1.16 ± 0.57 vs. 0.92 ± 0.80 ng/ml.
In conclusion, preventive medical treatment sharpened plasma LH secretion by increasing peaks levels and relatively reducing non peaks levels.

Keyword:guinea fowl, female, LH, laying, growth

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