Poultry Flashcards
domestication of chicken
one of the most common and widespread domesticated animal - from red jungle fowl in india - 2500BC and china 5400BC
domestication of the turkey
from wild turkey in mexico 1000BC, the turkey is a subspecies of this one
domestication of the duck
mallard duck in china 2500BC
domestication of the goose
greylag goose and swan goose in asia, egypt and europe
→polyphyletic origin, multiple common ancestors - not all share same ancestor
domestication of the pidgeon
from the rocky doves of the mediterranean and north african region - the oldest domesticated bird!
(chicken) microevolutionary consequences
more meat - incr. size and weight, feather types/colors/patterns incr, breast hypertrophy and changes to limb muscleluture, fat deposition in duck and geese - fatty liver, brain size, used to humans, incr. prolificacy and fertility
pidgeon microevolutionary changes and use
changed behaviour (humans), high biodiversity (color, fantail, leg-feathering, crest and tuft on nose, short beak
use: meat produciton, hobby, sport(flying), fancy pidgeons
breeding goal of the turkey
meat production and egg production. broad chest (egg) and heavy muscling (meat) are selected traits
breeding goal of the goose
body mass and fat deposition, better reproduction, feather color variants, genetic pollution (cause environmental damage due to “new” habitat need after cross)
breeding goal for the duck
size, weight, plumage(feather): color/ variants, prolificacy, conformation, layers, meat
changes in egg laying ability
1st year forms basis of determining egg laying ability - size incr. in the 2nd year, but no decreases!
intensity of laying
breed specific, longer intensity means longer egg laying period w/o interval. btw. 141-504days
egg quality
weight, size, interior, shell
brooding
broodiness is to sit on a clutch of eggs to incubate them. its not a desirable trait and is selected against!
reproductive system in hens
2 parts: ovary + oviduct, singular ova develop in ovary then when matured it reaches the oviduct = ovulation. in oviduct the albumen, egg white and the shell is produced.
from yolk to ready egg=25-26h, 30-75mins after laying the ovary releases the next ovum.
the male poultry reproductive system: different phallus types (pidgeon, chicken, duck and goose)
testis are found inside the body cavity - no scrotum!
- *pidgeon:** no phallus
- *chicken:** non-protrucing phallus
- *duck, geese:** long protruding phallus
moulting
renewing feathers: loosing and regrowing when day gets shorter - chicken normally does not lay egg during this time.
about once a year
forced: allowed in US, prohibited in EU. using e.g. decr. daylight to artificially provoke a flock to moult at the same time.
breeding goal of laying hens
egg no., feed efficiency, egg quality - color of egg differs in different countries.
pouldtry breeding - selection
mass selection based on individual appearance, performance, family selection, look at sibling,s, progeny test, pedigree data.
both pure breeding and hybridizations are common!
(purebred: mantinance, improvements)
color of laying hens
white: smaller in size, eats less
brown; rel. larger, eat more, lay bigger eggs
reciprocal recurrent selection
crossing lines of different breeds to make the best combinations of hybrids - the best are used for breeding, others are called culling hens which are “removed” from flock.
(select and improve the best and mating the best to best followed by crossing the improved lines or breeds to take the advantage of hybrid vigour)
life of a laying hen
specialized breeds will prod. up to 300 eggs per year. the laying ability will begin to decline after 12 months, then they are eventually slaughtered and used in baby food, pet food, pies etc.
typical egg production traits
early sexual maturity, more than 300/yr is eggcellent year,
breeding programs for layer hybrids
unusual to cross inbred lines of same breed.
testcrossing to find the best combos, selctively bred for future hybrids, others are culled (removed)
life of a broiler chicken
goal = meat fowl,
in nature they reach 5-11yrs, while commercially they are slaughtered at 6 weeks, organic meat at 14 weeks
meat production traits of broilers
breast/thigh/drumstick/liver are most imp. - dressing precentage is 65-70%(what ends up as carcass)
quality: look at the dark:white meat ratio, dark har more ox(myoglobin)
mortality rate, vitality
behavioral problems:
cannibalism (prevented by e.g. beek trimming)
feather eating as a protein source if deficiency! (feathers are made of protein)
breding programs of broiler hybrids
3 way crossing: maternal line is crossbred(synthetic), while the paternal line is purebred (white cornish)
4 way crossing: both maternal and paternal are crossbred - most of the worlds’ commercial broilers are 4 way crosses!
performance testing of broilers and layers
random sample test of egg (meat?)
primary breeding sector of the broiler chicken industry
pedigree stock - pure line which makes parent stock
kept on high level biosecure farm(health and welfare). Assessed by x-ray and ultrasound of muscle and bones. - ox levels of blood are also measured
broiler breeder farm
raise parent stock (which prod. fertilized eggs) - never ment for human consumption! males and femals are sep. genetic lines/ breeds -> produce crossbreeds. the parent stock is purchased from primary breedier a day old - raising in rearing houses or starter farms
rearing houses
shed or barn for raising broilers. 11k bird capacity, minimal ventilation is required, insulation, keep out natural light so day cycle can be controlled,
rearing of chickens
weight is monitored, vaccinations, genders are raised seperately. overweight bird give lower egg production - skip feeding days to fix weight.
fattening of broilers
pelleted feed mix until 10 days
feeders, silos, conveyers, ventilation, cooling, heating -> good chicken
broiler production (rearing)
single phase system in large units - ventilation is important to keep dirt away. lighting is controlled, anlternating, decr. near slaughter, automatic feeders, watering systems
egg production
2 phase system: rearing phase(brooding, and laying phase
concerns of battery chickens
= intensive mass production, factory farming
- antibiotics use, arcenic, steroid hormones, E. coli, salmonella, avian influenza, mareks disease?, welfare
productive traits of the turkey
- excellent growth up to 24w - 2-3kg/kg feed, around 80% dressing percentage
- female fattening: 14-16w, male fattening: 22-26w
- easily frigthened - run away in stress: injuries, high poult losses in large units (5-7% mort. rate) beak trimming is common
production systems of the turkey
commercial: intensive large unit systems
breeding methods or duck
different breeds have different breeding seasons! some all year round, some breed in season,
show mating behaviour and lay eggs
neck biting, pecking, head bobbing, mounting attempts by male
production systems of the duck
extensive, semi-intensive and intensive
breeding of pidgeons
monogamous -> forced pairing is possible
prolificacy and conformational traits are important
