Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming Systems
Local chicken breeds play a vital role in promoting sustainability by preserving genetic diversity, enhancing resilience, and supporting local economies. These breeds are adapted to local climates and conditions, requiring fewer external resources and inputs for their maintenance. By conserving and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2540 |
| _version_ | 1797587126790914048 |
|---|---|
| author | Edoardo Fiorilla Marco Birolo Ugo Ala Gerolamo Xiccato Angela Trocino Achille Schiavone Cecilia Mugnai |
| author_facet | Edoardo Fiorilla Marco Birolo Ugo Ala Gerolamo Xiccato Angela Trocino Achille Schiavone Cecilia Mugnai |
| author_sort | Edoardo Fiorilla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Local chicken breeds play a vital role in promoting sustainability by preserving genetic diversity, enhancing resilience, and supporting local economies. These breeds are adapted to local climates and conditions, requiring fewer external resources and inputs for their maintenance. By conserving and utilizing local chicken breeds, sustainable farming practices can be incentivized, maintaining ecosystem balance and ensuring food security for future generations. The present study aimed at evaluating the growth performance and slaughter traits of two local Italian chicken breeds (Bionda Piemontese and Robusta Maculata) and their crosses with a medium-growth genotype (Sasso chicken<sup>®</sup>) reared in conventional and free-range farming systems. The conventional system used a high-energy high-protein diet in a closed barn with controlled temperature, humidity, and lighting, and a stocking density of 33 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The free-range system used a low-input diet (low-energy low-protein diet composed of local and GMO-free feed ingredients), uncontrolled environmental conditions, and a stocking density of 21 kg/m<sup>2</sup> in a barn with free access to an outdoor area. The birds were slaughtered at 84 days of age in both systems. The crossbred chickens showed the best results for growth performance in both farming systems compared to local breeds. Within genotype, the final live weight of chickens was similar in the two farming systems. In conclusion, slow-growth crossbreeds should be used in alternative farming systems, demonstrating better performance than pure local breeds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:32:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f4881ef2985c4d46abcf2343be0965b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:32:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-f4881ef2985c4d46abcf2343be0965b82023-11-18T22:34:26ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-08-011315254010.3390/ani13152540Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming SystemsEdoardo Fiorilla0Marco Birolo1Ugo Ala2Gerolamo Xiccato3Angela Trocino4Achille Schiavone5Cecilia Mugnai6Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyLocal chicken breeds play a vital role in promoting sustainability by preserving genetic diversity, enhancing resilience, and supporting local economies. These breeds are adapted to local climates and conditions, requiring fewer external resources and inputs for their maintenance. By conserving and utilizing local chicken breeds, sustainable farming practices can be incentivized, maintaining ecosystem balance and ensuring food security for future generations. The present study aimed at evaluating the growth performance and slaughter traits of two local Italian chicken breeds (Bionda Piemontese and Robusta Maculata) and their crosses with a medium-growth genotype (Sasso chicken<sup>®</sup>) reared in conventional and free-range farming systems. The conventional system used a high-energy high-protein diet in a closed barn with controlled temperature, humidity, and lighting, and a stocking density of 33 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The free-range system used a low-input diet (low-energy low-protein diet composed of local and GMO-free feed ingredients), uncontrolled environmental conditions, and a stocking density of 21 kg/m<sup>2</sup> in a barn with free access to an outdoor area. The birds were slaughtered at 84 days of age in both systems. The crossbred chickens showed the best results for growth performance in both farming systems compared to local breeds. Within genotype, the final live weight of chickens was similar in the two farming systems. In conclusion, slow-growth crossbreeds should be used in alternative farming systems, demonstrating better performance than pure local breeds.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2540local chicken breedscrossbreedingfree-rangesustainabilitylow input diets |
| spellingShingle | Edoardo Fiorilla Marco Birolo Ugo Ala Gerolamo Xiccato Angela Trocino Achille Schiavone Cecilia Mugnai Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming Systems Animals local chicken breeds crossbreeding free-range sustainability low input diets |
| title | Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming Systems |
| title_full | Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming Systems |
| title_fullStr | Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming Systems |
| title_short | Productive Performances of Slow-Growing Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses with a Commercial Strain in Conventional and Free-Range Farming Systems |
| title_sort | productive performances of slow growing chicken breeds and their crosses with a commercial strain in conventional and free range farming systems |
| topic | local chicken breeds crossbreeding free-range sustainability low input diets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2540 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT edoardofiorilla productiveperformancesofslowgrowingchickenbreedsandtheircrosseswithacommercialstraininconventionalandfreerangefarmingsystems AT marcobirolo productiveperformancesofslowgrowingchickenbreedsandtheircrosseswithacommercialstraininconventionalandfreerangefarmingsystems AT ugoala productiveperformancesofslowgrowingchickenbreedsandtheircrosseswithacommercialstraininconventionalandfreerangefarmingsystems AT gerolamoxiccato productiveperformancesofslowgrowingchickenbreedsandtheircrosseswithacommercialstraininconventionalandfreerangefarmingsystems AT angelatrocino productiveperformancesofslowgrowingchickenbreedsandtheircrosseswithacommercialstraininconventionalandfreerangefarmingsystems AT achilleschiavone productiveperformancesofslowgrowingchickenbreedsandtheircrosseswithacommercialstraininconventionalandfreerangefarmingsystems AT ceciliamugnai productiveperformancesofslowgrowingchickenbreedsandtheircrosseswithacommercialstraininconventionalandfreerangefarmingsystems |