Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds

Agriculture

Virgínia Ribeiro¹  José V. Leite¹  Rui Dantas¹  Júlio Cesar Lopes²  Nuno V. Brito² 

[1] AMIBA—Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Barrosã, 4730-260 Vila Verde, Portugal;NUTRIR/CISAS—Technological Center for AgriFood Sustainability/Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Monte de Prado, 4960-320 Melgaço, Portugal;

关键词: poultry;    local resources;    laying hens;    productive performance;    small-scale;    selection program;   

DOI  :  10.3390/agriculture11090818

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Biodiversity concerns and the sustainability of agroecological systems, together with consumer demand for higher quality products from alternative and extensive farming methods, have reinforced interest in local breeds that are well adapted to low-input environments. The first reference to Portuguese poultry breeds appeared in the 1930s, with registration and breeding programs of native breeds only being implemented in the last ten years. Portuguese chicken breeds (Pedrês Portuguesa, Preta Lusitânica, Amarela, and Branca) are almost extinct and are currently bred on small-scale farms for egg and meat production. This study aimed to characterize the performance of laying hens, evaluating the influence of genotype, age, and season on egg production over four years in farm conditions. The results highlight the Pedrês Portuguesa as the most productive breed regarding egg production and reveal a tendency for an increase in egg production performance by the Branca in contrast with the lower productive capacity of the Preta Lusitânica. Older hens start laying earlier in consecutive laying periods, present a shorter peak, and an inferior number of total eggs/cycle. There is a need to establish breeding goals and to evaluate and revise breeding programs to increase productivity in autochthonous Portuguese chicken breeds.

【 授权许可】

Unknown