Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds
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 Portugues...
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doaj-cd031e7c468d4999a941e55242c0e8402021-09-25T23:33:27ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722021-08-011181881810.3390/agriculture11090818Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken BreedsNuno V. Brito0Júlio Cesar Lopes1Virgínia Ribeiro2Rui Dantas3José V. Leite4NUTRIR/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, PortugalNUTRIR/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, PortugalAMIBA—Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Barrosã, 4730-260 Vila Verde, PortugalAMIBA—Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Barrosã, 4730-260 Vila Verde, PortugalAMIBA—Associação dos Criadores de Bovinos de Raça Barrosã, 4730-260 Vila Verde, PortugalBiodiversity 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/9/818poultrylocal resourceslaying hensproductive performancesmall-scaleselection program |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nuno V. Brito Júlio Cesar Lopes Virgínia Ribeiro Rui Dantas José V. Leite |
spellingShingle |
Nuno V. Brito Júlio Cesar Lopes Virgínia Ribeiro Rui Dantas José V. Leite Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds Agriculture poultry local resources laying hens productive performance small-scale selection program |
author_facet |
Nuno V. Brito Júlio Cesar Lopes Virgínia Ribeiro Rui Dantas José V. Leite |
author_sort |
Nuno V. Brito |
title |
Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds |
title_short |
Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds |
title_full |
Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds |
title_fullStr |
Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds |
title_full_unstemmed |
Small Scale Egg Production: The Challenge of Portuguese Autochthonous Chicken Breeds |
title_sort |
small scale egg production: the challenge of portuguese autochthonous chicken breeds |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Agriculture |
issn |
2077-0472 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
poultry local resources laying hens productive performance small-scale selection program |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/9/818 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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