Evaluation of the Production Performances of an Endangered Local Poultry Breed, the Famennoise
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2009.389.396Keywords:
Belgium, biodiversity, egg quality, famennoise, growth, local breedAbstract
The Famennoise is a Belgian poultry breed which is greatly endangered. Like most of the local breeds in this situation, the Famennoise remains largely unknown and is representative of the continuous loss of genetic diversity that is threatening the future of animal production. From preliminary results, egg production traits in this breed showed valuable economic assets. The present study is, thus, aimed at assessing its production performances with the prospect that it might be conserved for future valorization. Egg production as well as growth traits were estimated. Both aspects showed exploitable performances. In absence of past selection for these traits, eggs presented a mean weight of 55.43 ± 3.03 g, so being in the middle class of marketable eggs, a yolk to albumen ratio of 50.7± 5.02 %, an eggshell resistance (maximal force of breakage of 36.03± 3.3 N) equal to commercial strains and superior to already valorized local breeds. In broilers, a mean weight 980.67±16.62 g was reached at 8 weeks, 1815.90 ± 36.55 g at week 12 and 2191.90± 48.31 g at week 15. The Famennoise is, therefore, suggested for use as a dual-purpose breed with a good potential of selection for both productions. It could further serve in crosses for improvement of commercial strains. In conclusion, it appears to be highly urgent to screen endangered local poultry breeds for economically exploitable traits which would motivate conservation programs of biodiversity, before this extraordinary scientific and economic potential get irremediably lost.
References
Abanikannda, O.T.F., O. Olutogun, A.O. Leigh and L.A. Ajayi, 2007. Statistical modeling of egg weight and egg dimensions in commercial layers. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 6: 59-63.
Anita, I., 2002. Diversite genetique de nos animaux de rente: Une dimension socio-culturelle. Ressources Genetiques Animals. Rapport d'Activite FIBL.
Barbato, G.F., 1991. Genetic architecture of growth curve parameters in chickens. Theor. Applied Genet., 83: 24-32.
Barbato, G.F. and R.V. Asilatos-Younken, 1991. Sex-linked and maternal effects on growth in chickens. Poult. Sci., 70: 709-718.
Beaumont, C., E. Le Bihan-Duval and P. Magdelaine, 2004. Productivite et qualite du poulet de chair. INRA Prod. Anim., 17: 265-273.
Benabdeljelil, K. and P. Merat, 1995. Comparaison de types genetiques de poules pour une production d'oeufs locale: F1 (Fayoumi x leghorn) et croisement terminal ISA au Maroc. Ann. Zootech., 44: 313-318.
Bordas, A., E.M. Abde-El-Gawad and P. Merat, 1994. Performances de production d'oeufs et efficacite alimentaire de poules de race egyptienne Mandarah a deux temperatures. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays. Trop., 47: 411-413.
Bougon, M., R.L. Hospitalier, J. Portais, J.L.LE. Roux and C. Lqhellec, 1981. Etude des variations individuelles du poids des constituants de loeuf et de la qualite de l'albumen chez des pondeuses appartenant au meme croisement. Bull. Inform. Station Exp. d'Aviculture Ploufrag, 21: 83-84.
Brandt, E.T. and A.E.R. Willems, 1970. Traite d'Aviculture Sportive, Avec les Standards officiels des Races Belges de volailles, aquatiques et dindons. Edite par la S.R. Gent, Belgique, pp: 365.
FAO, 2007. Commission des ressources Genetiques pour l'Alimentation et l'Agriculture. L'Etats des Ressources Zoogenetiques Pour l'alimentation et l'Agriculture Dans le Monde-en Bref, FAO., Rome, pp: 41.
Ketelaere, B.D.E., T. Govaerts, P. Coucke, E. Dewil, J. Visscher, E. Decuypere and J.D.E. Baerdemaeker, 2002. Measuring the eggshell strength of 6 different genetic strains of laying hens: Techniques and comparisons. Br. Poult. Sci., 43: 238-244.
Francesch, A., J. Estany, L. Alfonso and M. Iglesias, 1997. Genetic parameters for egg number, egg weight and eggshell color in three Catalan poultry breeds. Poult. Sci., 76: 1627-1631.
Gous, R.M., E.T. Moran, H.R. Stilborn, G.D. Bradford and G.C. Emmans, 1999. Evaluation of the parameters needed to describe the overall growth, the chemical growth and the growth of feathers and breast muscles of broilers. Poult. Sci., 78: 812-821.
Granevitze, Z., J. Hillel, G.H. Chen, N.T.K. Cuc, M. Feldman, M. Eding and S. Weigend, 2007. Genetic diversity within chicken populations from different continents and management histories. Anim. Genet., 38: 576-583.
Grunder, A.A., R.W. Fairfull, R.M.G. Hamilton and B.K. Thompson, 1991. Correlations between measures of eggshell quality or percentage of eggs and various economic traits. Poult. Sci., 70: 1855-1860.
Hancock, E., G.D. Bradford, G.C. Emmans and R.M. Gous, 1995. The evaluation of the growth parameters of six strains of commercial broiler chickens. Br. Poult. Sci., 36: 247-264.
Harms, R.H. and S.M. Hussein, 1993. Variations in yolk: Albumen ratio in hen eggs from commercial flocks. J. Applied Poult. Res., 2: 166-170.
Hartmann, C., K. Johansson, E. Strandberg and L. Ryhmer, 2003. Genetic correlations between the maternal genetic effect on chick weight and the direct genetic effects on egg composition traits in a white leghorn line. Poult. Sci., 82: 1-8.
Hartmann, C., K. Johansson, E. Strandberg and L. Ryhmer, 2003. Genetic relations of yolk proportion and chick weight with production traits in a white leghorn line. Br. Poult. Sci., 44: 186-191.
Hartmann, C. and M. Wilhemson, 2001. The hen's egg yolk: A source of biologically active substances. World`s Poult. Sci. J., 57: 13-28.
Hocking, P.M., M. Bain, C.E. Channing, R.H. Fleming and S. Wilson, 2003. Genetic variation for egg production, egg quality and bone strength in selected and traditional breeds of laying fowl. Br. Poult. Sci., 44: 365-373.
Hurwitz, S. and H. Talpaz, 1997. Modelling of Growth. 11th Edn., Faaborg, Denmark, pp: 148-157.
Lamine, C., 2005. Dossier le naturel et la qualite-sante et qualification des produits: Cooperation de scientifiques et d`agriculteurs autours de la nutrition mediterraneenne. Natures Sci. Soc., 13: 403-412.
Lariviere, J.M. and P. Leroy, 2005. Poultry biodiversity in Belgium. 4th European Poultry Genetics Symposium, Oct. 7-8, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Lariviere, J.M. and P. Leroy, 2006. Genetic parameters of body weight in the Ardennaise chicken breed. Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Aug. 13-18, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, pp: 7-23.
Lariviere, J.M., C. Michaux, V. Verleyen, M. Erpicum and P. Leroy, 2006. Heritability estimates of body weight in the ardennaise chicken breed. Proceedings of the 12th European Poultry Conference, Sept. 10-14, Verona, Italy, pp: 1-3.
Merat, P., A. Bordas, R.L. Hospitalier, J. Portais and M. Bougon, 1983. Etude des particularites de la poule Fayoumi. III. Ponte, caracteristiques des oeufs, efficacite alimentaire et parametres physiologiques de poules Fayoumi, Rhode Island Red et F1 en batteries. Genet. Sel. Evol., 15: 147-166.
Mertens, K., F. Bamelis, B. Kemps, B. Kamers and E. Verhoelst(et al)., 2006. Monitoring of eggshell breakage and eggshell strength in different production chains of consumption eggs. Poult. Sci., 85: 1670-1677.
Monira, K.N., M. Salahuddin and G. Miah, 2003. Effect of breed and holding period on egg quality characteristics of chicken. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 2: 261-263.
Mignon-Grasteau, S. and C. Beaumont, 2000. Les courbes de croissance chez les oiseaux. INRA Prod. Anim., 13: 337-348.
Offiong, S.A., O.O. Ojebiyi, E.O. Moses, B.I. Umoh and E.E.A. Offiong, 2006. Comparison of the morphometric characteristics of exotic commercial and local chicken eggs in the tropical environment. J. Anim. Vet. Adv., 5: 1046-1049.
Parmar, S.N.S., M.S. Thakur, S.S. Tomar and P.V.A. Pilla, 2006. Evaluation of egg quality traits in indigenous Kadaknath breed of poultry. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 18: 32-32.
Pedersen, M.A., S.M. Thamsborg, C. Fisker, H. Ranvig and J.P. Christensen, 2003. New production systems: Evaluation of organic broiler production in Denmark. J. Applied Poult. Res., 12: 493-508.
Romanoff, A.L. and A.J. Romanoff, 1949. The Avian Egg. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.
Sarter, G., 2004. Entre beldi et roumi: Preferences des consommateurs urbains et production de poulets au Maroc, Cahiers d`etudes et de recherches. Francophones Agric., 13: 75-78.
SAS Institute, 2000. SAS/STAT User`s Guide, Version 8. SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC.
Sauveur, B., 1995. Evolution de la perception de la qualite de l'oeuf: Consequence ou origine des reglementations? INRA Prod. Anim., 8: 227-233.
Sauveur, B., 1997. Les criteres et facteurs de la qualite des poulets label rouge. INRA Prod. Anim., 10: 219-226.
Silversides, F.G. and P. Villeneuve, 1994. Is the haugh unit correction for egg weight valid for eggs stored at room temperature? Poult. Sci., 73: 50-52.
Silversides, F.G. and T.A. Scott, 2001. Effect of storage and layer age on quality of eggs from two lines of hens. Poult. Sci., 80: 1240-1245.
Spalona, A., H. Ranvig, K. Cywa-Benkos, A. Zanon and A. Sabbioni et al., 2007. Population size in conservation of local chicken breeds in chosen European countries. Arch. Geflugelkunde, 71: 49-55.
Suk, Y.O. and C. Park, 2001. Effect of breed and age of hens on the yolk to albumen ratio in two different genetic stocks. Poult. Sci., 80: 855-858.
Thewis, A., 2007. La poule Famennoise: Une volaille regionale prend son envol. Filiere avicole et cunicole Wallonne. Numero, 22.
Tixier-Boichard, M., A. Audiot, R. Bernigaud, X. Rognon and C. Berthouly et al., 2006. Valorisation des races anciennes de poulets: Facteurs sociaux, technico-economiques, genetiques et reglementaire. Les Actes du BRG, 6: 495-520.
Boichard, M.T., C. Joffrin, D. Gourichon and A. Bordas, 2006. Improvement of yolk percentage by crossbreeding between a commercial brown-egg layer and a local breed, the fayoumi. Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, August 4-18, 2006, Belo Horizonte, MG., Brasil, pp: 1-4.
Tyler, C. and F.H. Geake, 1964. Eggshell strength and its relationship to thickness, with particular reference to individuality in the domestic hen. Br. Poult. Sci., 5: 3-18.
Washburn, K.W., 1982. Incidence, cause and prevention of egg shell breakage in commercial production. Poult. Sci., 61: 2005-2012.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2009 Asian Network for Scientific Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
