CONSERVAZIONE DI RAZZE AVICOLE: CARATTERIZZAZIONE E CAPACITA' DI ADATTAMENTO

The aim of the present thesis was to characterize local turkeys and chicken breeds from a morphological, reproductive and genetic point of view. Two chicken breeds, Mericanel della Brianza and Valdarnese, and four turkey breeds, Nero d’Italia, Brianzolo, Bronzato dei Colli Euganei and Narragansett, were considered. Furthermore, the adaptation ability of commercial chickens was studied. The results stress the importance of the different activities of characterization in a breed conservation plan to increase and preserve local biodiversity.