Preta Lusitânica
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Portugal |
| Distribution | north-western Portugal |
| Use | dual-purpose, eggs and meat |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Comb type | single |
| Classification | |
| APA | no[4] |
| EE | no[5] |
| PCGB | no[6] |
| |
The Preta Lusitânica is a Portuguese breed of domestic chicken. It is one of four Portuguese chicken breeds, the others being the Amarela, the Branca and the Pedrês Portuguesa.[7]
History
[edit]The Preta Lusitânica is a traditional breed of rural Portugal. It originated in the north-western part of the country, and is distributed mainly in that area. It was formerly reared in large numbers, but with the advent in the mid-twentieth century of high-yielding imported industrial strains of both meat-producing and egg-laying chickens, the population declined rapidly, to the point that by the early twenty-first century the breed was considered endangered, with fewer than two thousand breeding hens;[3]: 208 [8] a population of 1500 birds was reported in 2004.[9]: 10 By 2024 the total population had risen to an estimated 15026–26370 birds, with a breeding stock of 6482 hens and 1337 cocks distributed over approximately 250 farms.[2][7] In 2024 its conservation status was listed as "not at risk".[2]
The breed is included in the Ark of Taste of the international Fondazione Slow Food per la Biodiversità.[10]
Characteristics
[edit]The Preta Lusitânica is found in only one colour variant, the black which gives it its name; this may have a metallic blue-green sheen, particularly on the hackles, back, wings and tail of cock birds.[3]: 209 The comb is single, with five or six points; the face, comb and earlobes are all bright red. The shanks are unfeathered and are dark slate in colour, as is the beak.[3]: 209 Body weights are in the range 2.5–3.0 kg for cocks and 1.7–2.5 kg for hens; ring sizes are 16 mm and 14 mm respectively.[3]: 209
Use
[edit]The Preta Lusitânica is a dual-purpose breed, raised for both meat and eggs.[3]: 196
References
[edit]- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Breed data sheet: Preta Lusitânica / Portugal (Chicken). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g [s.n.] (2021). Catálogo Oficial de Raças Autóctones Portuguesas (in Portuguese). Lisboa: Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal; Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária. Archived 19 January 2024.
- ^ APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
- ^ Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
- ^ Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
- ^ a b Aves - Raça Preta Lusitânica (in Portuguese). Vale de Santarém: Sociedade Portuguesa de Recursos Genéticos Animais. Archived 10 August 2024.
- ^ M.L. Soares, J.C. Lopes, N.V. Brito, J. Carvalheira (2011). Characterization of growth and egg production of two Portuguese autochthonous chicken breeds: Preta Lusitânica and Amarela. Conference paper, 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production, Stavanger, Norway, 29 August to 2 September 2011. Archived 14 August 2014.
- ^ Luís Telo da Gama, Nuno Carolino, Mário Simões Costa, Claudino Pereira de Matos (editors) (2004). Recursos genéticos animais em Portugal. Vale de Santarém: Relatório Nacional. 68; archived 26 March 2023. Annex to: Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 10 January 2017.
- ^ Gallina nera Lusitânica: Arca del Gusto (in Italian). Bra, Cuneo: Fondazione Slow Food per la Biodiversità Onlus/Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. Accessed August 2024.
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