Growth of Wrocław Meat breed pigeons in relation to the number of

Growth of Wrocław Meat breed pigeons in relation to the number of

Roczniki Naukowe Polskiego Towarzystwa Zootechnicznego,
t. 5 (2009), nr 4
Growth of Wrocław Meat
breed pigeons in relation
to the number of birds in the nest
Edward Pawlina, Katarzyna
Borys
Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,
Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding,
Kożuchowska 7,51-631 Wrocław
The growth of Wrocław Meat breed, created by Prof. Bolesław Nowicki in 1998, has been
analysed in the thesis. The study was carried out in the Department of Genetics and Animai
Breeding at the Wrocław University of Environmental
and Life Sciences. The research
included 57 pigeons which were divided into two groups, The first group consisted of pigeons
coming from a single egg clutch, the other group incJuded pigeons from a two egg cJutch.
There is no use leaving one egg in a nest since there have not been any significant differences
between the weight of 4-week-old pigeons coming from a single or twin clutch. The decrease
of 24h weight gain has been observed after the fourth week of life. It seems to be the best
time for slaughtering the birds. Further fattening would not be economicaJly justified.
KEY WORDS:
pigeons / Wrocław
Meat breed / growth / body weight / trunk length
Wrocław Meat breed pigeons have been created by Prof. Boleslaw Nowicki in the
Department of Genetics and AnimaI Breeding, at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences in 1998. The aim of the breeding work was to create a new
breed of a meat-type pigeon, retaining the ability to fly and having a reduced fat eontent
in carcass and thinner muscle fibers than the following pigeon breeds: King, Polish Lynx
and Strasser. Racing sports pigeon, Polish Lynx, King and Autosexing American meat
pigeon have been used to produce this breed [3]. For many years there has been a fierce
seleetion earried out in the floek and the newly formed pigeons were subjeeted to
evaluation during region al and national exhibitions. In year 2000, a new breed of meat
pigeon was officially called Wrocław Meat pigeon. These pigeons are widely popular
among farmers due to their ability to fly and aequire food on their own. Providing the
farmers with reduced fat eontent meat constitutes another advantage of this breed.
In the recent years, analysis of fertility evolution, growth and slaughtering value of
this race have been dane [l, 5, 6]. In year 1999 the preliminary results of the research
designed to determine the growth rate of Wrocław Meat pigeon were published [2]. The
43
researched birds included chieks from a one egg clutch as well as from a twa egg cIutch.
The results have indicated that the body weight of pigeons coming from a single clutch
was insignificantly bigger until 21 st day of life. While in day 28 the body weight of
both groups was practicalIy the same. When analyzing daily increases in alI tested birds,
it has been proven that they are the best until 28th day of life. There were no significant
differences between the groups in daily increments and body weight during the period
from hatching time until 28th day of life. The results have shown that it is inappropriate
to eliminate one egg from a twa egg ciutch. Research conducted by Brzezińska [1]
confirmed the results achieved by Nowicki and Pawlina [2]; removal of one egg from
a nest is not justified. In her studies Brzezińska [1] has achieved results indicating that
increases until 28th day of life are higher compared to researches from 1999. It testifies
to the effectiveness of selection in order to improve meat characteristics.
The aim
egg and twa
Comparison
chan ges that
of this study was to analyze the growth of pigeons com ing from the one
egg clutch during the period from hatching until 24th week of their life.
of own results with the results from 2006 made it possible to analyze the
have occurred in the tested flock since the last test.
Materiał and methods
The study has been conducted on Wrocław Meat breed pigeons, kept in the pigeon
house of the Department of Genetics and Animai Breeding, at the Wrocław University
of Environmental and Life Sciences. In total, 57 birds have been tested. Birds surveyed
were kept together with the rest of the flock. AlI the birds were watered and fed the
same feed ad libitum throughout the study.
To achieve the aim of the wark each pigeon was weighed and measured in 1st, 2nd,
3rd, 4th, 8th, 16th, 24th week of life. Weighing and measuring were carried out at the
same time of day, in the afternoon.
The following qualities were controlled:
- body weight - measured with electronic scales;
- the length of the body (from the backside to the edge of the craw) - measured
with a ruler;
- depth of the chest (from the spine to the crest of sternum) - measured with a ruler:
- body length (from the backside to the end of the beak) - measured with a ruler.
The obtained values of body weight of pigeons at each age were the basis for the
ca1culation of the daily increments of the body weight of birds in the periods: hatching
- 7, 7-14, 14-21, 21-28, 28-56, 56-112, 112-168 days of life, and also: from hatching
until 28th, 56th, 112 and 168th day of life.
The arithmetic means and standard deviations of the individual characteristics of
tested pigeons were ca1culated, based on the data. The significance of differences
between average values of characteristics of pigeons from single and twin clutches was
estimated by t-Student test, using Statistica program, version 8.0.
44
Results and discussion
The mean values and standard deviations of body weight of all tested birds are given
in Table l. The obtained mean values of body weight of pigeons at the age of 7 days
(231 g), 14 days (417 g), 21 days (491 g), 28 days (524 g) indicate that since the
consolidation of the race [2] their body weight at the age of 7 days has not changed. At
the age of 14 and 21 days it has increased respectively by 34 g and 17 g, while at the
age of28 days it has decreased by 13 g. The study carried out in later years (Paczkowska
[4], Zieleziński [7], Zieleziński [6], Brzezińska [l)) indicate that since 2001 the average
weight in 28th day of life has decreased steadily; in subsequent years it was: 641 g [4],
599 g [7], 574 g [l]. Own research confirmed that the value of the characteristics in
a flock of pigeons tested, despite the same diet and living under the same conditions,
continues to decline. This is due to the lack of selection for the increased weight in the
tested flock, which remains under the action of naturaI selection. Lighter individuals
are favoured, with characteristics for survival in the wild (lighter pigeons are more
laying and do not break eggs). However, this is disadvantageous because of the fact
that rneat-type breed pigeons at the age of 4 weeks are allocated for slaughter and lower
weight means less weight carcasses destined to consumption.
Table 1 - Tabela 1
Mean values (Xl and standard deviations (SD) of traits of all analysed pigeons
Wartości średnie (X) i odchylenia standardowe (SD) cech wszystkich badanych gołębi
Age of pigeons
Number
Body weight
Trunk length
Chest depth
Body length
(week)
of pigeons
Masa ciała
Olugość tulowia
Głębokość
Olugość ciala
Wiek golębi
Liczba
(tygodnie)
golębi
(g)
I
2
57
57
231
417
3
4
56
491
52
40
524
564
29
599
603
22
(cm)
klatki piersiowej
(cm)
x
8
16
24
(cm)
SD
x
SD
x
SD
x
SD
68
86
106
10.8
1.9
4.2
0.8
13.5
14.8
2.0
2.9
3.3
15.4
16.0
17.1
2.3
2.7
3.3
7.5
7.7
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.2
1.4
20.7
22.5
106
120
124
134
5.8
6.7
7.1
24.0
25.0
26.1
3.6
4.0
4.8
18.0
3.9
7.8
1.6
26.5
5.4
2.1
The average values of body weight at the age of 8, 16, 24 weeks of age were
respectively: 564 g, 599 g, 603 g (see Table l). In previous studies, Zieleziński [6] found
that body weight of pigeons at the age of 24 weeks was 694 g. Due to the absence of
data in the literature on the evolution of body weight of this breed in 8th and 16th week
of life, comparison own results and other studies is impossible.
The mea n values and standard deviations of daily weight gains increments between
1-24 weeks of life of all birds tested and those from single and twin clutch are given in
Table 4. Daily increments in the period from hatching to 28th day of life of all tested
45
Table 2 - Tabela 2
Mean values (X) and standard deviations (SD) of traits of analysed pigeons coming from a single egg clutch
Wartości średnie (X) i odchyleniastandardowe(SO)
cech badanych gołębi pochodzących złęgu pojedynczego
Age of pigeons
Number
Body weight
Trunk length
Chest depth
(week)
of pigeons
Masa ciała
Olugość tulowia
Głębokość
Wiek golębi
Liczba
(tygodnie)
golębi
klatki piersiowej
(cm)
(cm)
20
20
20
17
16
10
8
l
2
3
4
8
16
24
(cm)
(g)
Body 1ength
Długość ciała
x
SD
x
SD
x
SD
257
440
491
545
574
592
591
85
114
135
143
148
183
194
11.1
2.8
3.1
3.3
3.6
4.0
4.8
5.6
4.3
5.9
6.6
7.1
7.5
7.8
7.8
ł.2
1.4
1.5
1.7
1.8
13.6
14.9
15.4
16.2
16.5
17.2
2.3
2.5
x
SD
20.8
22.5
24.0
25.0
25.6
26.4
4.6
5.1
5.7
6.0
7.4
8.3
Table 3 - Tabela 3
Mean values (X) and standard deviations (SD) of traits of analysed pigeons coming from a two egg c\utch
Wartości średnie (X) i odchylenia standardowe (SD) cech badanych gołębi pochodzących z lęgu bliźniaczego
Age of pigeons
Number
Body weight
(week)
of pigeons
Masa ciała
Wiek golębi
Liczba
(tygodnie)
gołębi
(g)
4
36
25
8
16
24
pigeons
was
day
a sharp
may
be
Paw lina
The
pigeons
of these
the following:
-
drop
[2],
in daily
These
Paczkowska
average
ciała
(cm)
klatki piersiowej
values
x
SD
x
SD
62
90
114
10.6
13.0
14.7
15.4
2.0
2.3
2.5
4.2
5.8
6.7
7.0
7.5
7.7
7.8
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.2
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.7
16.0
17.4
143
158
3.3
3.9
4.6
18.4
7th day - 31 g, from
until
day
- 4 g. After
7th to 14th day
achieving
increments,
sa at the age of 28 days
results
consistent
are
[4] and
of body
from
single
and
twa
groups
of pigeons
that pigeons
coming
from
2nd week of life (P:S; 0.05).
46
Długość
SD
21 st to 28th
10 g, from
finished.
Głębokość
(cm)
I ł6
142
557
603
610
20
15
were
to 2pt
217
405
491
514
38
38
37
3
Body łength
Chest depth
tułowia
(cm)
x
2
Trunk 1ength
Długość
twin
Brzezińska
weight
clutch
in:
a single
It
was
and
with
those
yd
fattening
obtained
clutch
SD
207
22.5
24.1
25. I
3.5
3.9
4.2
5.0
5.8
6.5
26.3
26.6
14th
- 27 g, from
week
of life
of meat
by
there
pigeons
Nowicki
and
[1].
their
standard
deviations
in body
are given in Tables
2-3. Comparison
pt, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 16th, 24th week
larger,
x
had
a significantly
respectively
greater
by: 40 g and
weight
of
of the weight
of life
weight
35 g. The
shows
in 1st and
difference
Table 4 - Tabela 4
Daily body gains (g) of the analysed pigeons in different life periods
Przyrosty dobowe masy ciała (g) badanych gołębi w różnych okresach
życia
Period
One egg clutch
Two egg clutch
Ali pigeons
(days)
Lęg pojedynczy
Lęg bliźniaczy
Wszystkie golębie
(dni)
x
SD
x
0-7
7 - 14
14 - 21
21 - 28
28 - 56
56 - 112
112 - 168
0-28
O-56
0-112
0-168
35
26
7
6
1
O
O
19
10
5
3
10
7
8
7
2
1
l
3
l
l
O
Okres
29
27
12
3
l
l
O
18
9
5
4
SD
8
8
7
7
3
3
l
3
3
l
l
x
31
27
10
4
l
1
O
18
10
5
3
SD
9
7
8
7
3
2
l
3
2
l
O
was completely blurred in yd week of life, when the average weight of these two groups
of birds was 491 g. In another age groups the differences were not significant. The
results are consistent with those obtained previously by Nowicki and Pawlina [2]. Due
to the lack of significant differences between these groups in the period from hatching
to 28th day of life, leaving only one egg in a nest is not advisable. In 4th week of life,
when slaughtering the pigeons, the body weight from single and twin c1utches did not
differ significantly.
The mean daily weight gains of pigeons from single and twin c1utches and their
standard deviations have been given in Table 4. The differences in daily increments
between the two groups were not significant.
The mean values and standard deviations of body length of
ding on the type of c1utch, are given in Tables 1-3. The average
al! tested birds in l", 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, 16th and 24th week of life
cm, 13.5 cm, 14.8 cm, 15.4 cm, 16.0 cm, 17.1 cm and 18.0 cm
all tested birds, depenlengths of the body of
were respectively: 10.8
(Tab le l).
The analysis of the body length growth of pigeons, depending on the type of c1utch,
has shown that the differences in body length between the two groups were not significant. In 16th and 24th week of life pigeons from twin c1utch had a longer body: 0.9
cm and 1.2 cm. In l st and 2nd week of life the length of torso of pigeons from a single
c1utch was greater by 0.5 and 0.6 cm, whereas in yd and 8th week of life by 0.2 cm. At
the age of 28 days, both groups have the same length of body (15.4 cm).
The mean values and standard deviations of the depth of chest of al! tested birds
are given in Table l, and of pigeons from single and twin clutch in Tables 2-3. It has
been observed that the depth of chest increases intensively after 8th week of life while
from 8th to 24th week of life; the increase is not so dynarnic.
There were no significant differences between the two groups in the depth of the
chest, in the period from 1st to 24th week of life. In l.", 2nd, 4th and 16th week of life
47
the depth of chest of pigeons coming from a single c1utch was slightly bigger. In 8th
and 24th week of life both groups had the same chest depth (7.5 cm and 7.8 cm). Only
in 3rd week of life the value was higher for pigeons com ing from twin clutches, by 0.1
cm.
The mean values and standard deviations of body length of all tested birds are given
in Table l. The values depending
on the type of c1utch have been given in Tables 2-3.
In 1st week of life the body length of pigeons from single c1utch was greater by 0.5 cm.
In 2nd week the value of the characteristics
in both groups was 22.5 cm. From 4th to
th
24 week of life it was observed that pigeons from twin clutch had a longer body. In
4th and 8th week of life the difference was 0.1 cm, whereas in 16th and 24th week of
life, it was respectively:
0.7 cm and 0.2 cm. Only in 2nd week of life the differences in
the body length between the pigeons from single and twin c1utches were statistically
significant
(P~0.05).
REFERENCES
l. BRZEZIŃSKA A., 2006 - Analiza wzrostu i składu tuszy gołębi rasy wrocławski mięsny.
Praca magisterska, AR Wrocław.
2. NOWICKI B., PAWLINA E., 1999 - Efekty doskonalenia gołębi wrocławski mięsny. Przegląd Hodowlany 2, 26-28.
3. NOWICKI B., PAWLINA E., DUBIEL A., 2007 - Gołębie rasowe. Powszechne Wydawnictwo Rolnicze i Leśne, Warszawa.
4. PACZKOWSKA M., 2001 - Wzrost i rozwój gołębi rasy wrocławski mięsny. Praca magisterska, AR Wrocław.
5. SZMAŃKO T., PAWLINA E., NOWICKI B., BĄK-MAZUREK M .. 2001 - Wartość rzeźna
wybranych ras gołębi. Prace i Materiały Zootechniczne 59, 113-125.
6. ZIELEZIŃSKI M., 2004 - Analiza wzrostu i zmian składu tuszek golębi różnych ras. Praca
doktorska, AR Wrocław.
7. ZIELEZIŃSKI M., PAWLINA E., JANIK-DUBOWIECKA A., 2007 - Jakość mięsa młodych
gołębi ras mięsnych i ich mieszańców. Zeszyty Naukowe Akademii Rolniczej we Wrocławiu,
s. Zootechnika LII 505, 301-306.
Edward Pawlina, Katarzyna Borys
Wzrost gołębi rasy wrocławski mięsny
od liczby młodych W gnieździe
W
zależności
Streszczenie
W pracy analizowano wzrost gołębi rasy wrocławski mięsny, wyhodowanej przez prof. Bolesława Nowickiego w 1998 roku. Badania wykonano w Katedrze Genetyki i Ogólnej Hodowli
Zwierząt Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczego we Wrocławiu. Łącznie badaniami objęto 57 gołębi, które
podzielono na dwie grupy. Pierwszą z nich stanowiły gołębie pochodzące z lęgu pojedynczego,
a drugą - gołębie pochodzące z lęgu bliźniaczego. W wyniku badań dowiedziono, że nie jest
celowe zostawianie tylko jednego jaja w gnieździe, ponieważ masa ciała gołębi pochodzących
48
z lęgów pojedynczych i bliźniaczych w wieku 4 tygodni nie różniła się istotnie. U ptaków z obu
grup zaobserwowano spadek dobowych przyrostów masy ciała po ukończeniu 4. tygodnia życia.
Wiek 4 tygodni jest więc wiekiem optymalnym. w którym ptaki powinny być ubijane. ponieważ
dalszy ich odchów byłby nieuzasadniony ekonomicznie.
49