Data di Pubblicazione:
2010
Citazione:
Breeding performance in the Italian chicken breed Mericanel della Brianza / S. Cerolini, M. Madeddu, L. Zaniboni, C. Cassinelli, M.G. Mangiagalli, S.P. Marelli. - In: ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 1594-4077. - 9(2010), pp. 370-373. [10.4081/ijas.2010.e72]
Abstract:
In Italy, 90 local avian breeds were
described; the majority (61%) were classified
as extinct and only 8.9% as still widely spread.
Therefore, efforts for conservation of Italian avian breeds are urgently required. The aim of this study was to record the breeding performance of the Italian breed Mericanel della Brianza to multiply a small population, in order to develop a conservation programme.
Fourteen females and eight males were available at the beginning of the reproductive season in 2009 and organised into eight families (1 male/1-2 females) kept in floor pens. Birds
received a photoperiod of 14L:10D and were
fed ad libitum. Breeding performance was
recorded from March to June. Egg production
and egg weight were recorded daily; eggs were
set every two weeks and fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability were recorded. Mean egg production was 37% and mean egg weight was 34±3.49 g. High fertility values from 94% to 87% were recorded in the first three settings and the overall mean fertility value was 81.6%. Overall hatchability was only 49.6% owing to a high proportion of dead embryos.
Embryo mortality occurred mainly between
days 2 and 7 of incubation and during hatching.
The highest hatchability values were
recorded in settings 1 and 2, 69% and 60%
respectively, and a large decrease was found
in the subsequent settings. Marked variations
in egg production, fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality were found among families. The present results represent the basic knowledge of reproductive parameters necessary to improve the reproductive efficiency of the breed within a conservation plan.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Breed conservation; Chicken; Egg production; Fertility; Hatchability
Elenco autori:
S. Cerolini, M. Madeddu, L. Zaniboni, C. Cassinelli, M.G. Mangiagalli, S.P. Marelli
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