NATIVE GENETIC RESOURCES OF WATERFOWL KsiąŜkiewicz Juliusz National Research Insitute of Animal Production, Department of Animal Genetic Resources Conservation, 32-083 BALICE, POLAND
The majority of native goose flocks and some duck flocks have been included in the world s genetic resources (World Watch List, FAO 2000). Description of all the flocks can be found in an illustrated guide to farm animals (Atlas zwierząt gospodarskich, Kraków, 2006) and at the website of the National Research Institute of Animal Production together with many photographs (www.bioroznorodnosc.izoo.krakow.pl). The biodiversity of these species and breeds, kept in situ, was described in various instruction booklets, published by the Institute (2002, 2003).
The programmes for the conservation of native waterfowl populations are aimed not only at maintaining the adequate size and genetic variation of the populations, but also at preserving specific traits of ducks and geese. These internationally unique native populations of commercial birds are connected with, and very well adapted to, regions of Poland that differ climatically, environmentally and culturally.
The birds are characterized by very good health and resistance to variable and often adverse climatic conditions, and good conversion of farm-produced feeds. They use open range and many varieties have retained the natural instinct for broodiness and looking after their young. Geese and ducks from conservation flocks provide unique material for studies of DNA polymorphism, blood serum proteins, embryo karyotypes, and quality traits of eggs and meat. The fat of these birds is considered to be healthier than pork fat as it contains more unsaturated fatty acids (long-known goose fat has been attributed healthgiving properties), and the meat is fine fibred. Another important characteristic of the waterfowl from conservation flocks is very good quality of down and feathers, which are used for the manufacture of sheeting fabrics.
Biological traits of geese from conservative flocks Resistance to illness; Good quality of eggs (thick, strong shell); High reproductivity; Longevity; Adaptability to environmental conditions; Ability to use less valuable feeds; Docility; Good muscling and low carcass fatness; Very good feather quality.
Characteristic traits of geese from native conservation flocks Southern Polish geese (Lu, Ki, Pd, Ga, Bi, ZD1) 1. Low egg production, ability to brood eggs and look after goslings, useful for agritourism farms (Lu, Ki, Pd) 2. Good egg production (ZD1, Ga) 3. High vitality of geese and good hatching ability (all varieties) 4. Low body weight with very good muscling and low carcass fatness (Lu, Ki, Pd) 5. Fine-fibre meat (Lu, Ki, Pd) 6. Useful for ecological breeding in small farms (Lu, Ki, Pd) Northern Polish geese (Ka, Ry, Su, Po) 1. Good reproductive parameters (all varieties) 2. Strong conformation (all varieties) 3. Good muscling and low carcass fatness (all varieties) 4. High vitality (all varieties)
GEESE conservation flocks Swan (Ga), Suwalska (Su), Kartuska (Ka), Rypińska (Ry), Kielecka (Ki), Landes (LSD-01), Lubelska (Lu), Roman (Ro) Podkarpacka (Pd), Slovakian (Sł). Pomorska (Po), In addition, Biłgorajska geese (Bi) kept by a breeder in Puchaczów (Lubelskie province) Zatorska geese (ZD-1) owned by the Agricultural University in Kraków.
Gąsior i gęś rasy garbonosej
Gąsior i gęś odmiany kartuskiej
Conservative flocks of geese of forein origin Variety Symbol Origin, owner Collection Kuban KD01 Russian (IZ) 1977 Roman Ro Danish (IZ) 1978 Slovakian Sl Slovakian (IZ) 1981 Landes LsD01 French (IZ) 1987
Gąsior i gęś rasy kubańskiej
Gąsior i gęś rasy Roman
Gąsior i gęś rasy słowackiej
Gąsior i gęś rasy landes
Characteristic traits of geese of forein origin Conservation flocks (Ro, Sl, LsD, Ku) 1. The highest reproductive index (Sl) 2. Good reproductive parameters (LsD) 3. High viability of geese and good hatchability of eggs (all varieties) 4. Massive body structure (all varieties) 5. High body weight (LsD) 6. Fine meat quality (Sl)
Number of males and females on 2007 in each native conservative flock of geese and estimated values of N e =4 N m N f /(N m +N f ) and F=1/8 (1/N m +1/N f ) FLOCK No of males No of females N e F Lu 52 142 152 0.0033 Ki 53 148 156 0.0033 Pd 52 145 153 0.0033 Ka 45 135 135 0.0036 Ry 52 145 153 0.0033 Su 54 156 160 0.0031
Number of males and females on 2007 in each forein conservative flock of geese and estimated values of N e =4 N m N f /(N m +N f ) and F=1/8 (1/N m +1/N f ) FLOCK No of males No of females N e F Ga 55 154 164 0.0031 Ro 57 163 169 0.0030 Po 55 150 161 0.0031 Sl 63 193 200 0.0026 LsD 01 63 181 187 0.0027 Ku 80 289 251 0.0020
CONSERVATIVE FLOCKS OF NATIVE GEESE VARIETIES Symbol Origin owner Collection Southern varieties Zatorska ZD1 UA 1961 Biłgorajska Bi Private 1971 Lubelska Lu IZ 1973 Kielecka Ki IZ 1973 Podkarpacka Pd IZ 1973 Garbonosa Ga IZ 1977 Northern varieties Kartuska Ka IZ 1974 Rypińska Ry IZ 1974 Suwalska Su IZ 1974 Pomorska P11 IZ 1981
Gąsior i gęś odmiany podkarpackiej
Gąsior i gęś odmiany lubelskiej
Gąsior i gęś odmiany kieleckiej
Gąsior i gęś odmiany rypińskej
Gąsior i gęś odmiany suwalskiej
Gąsior i gęś rasy pomorskiej
Laying traits of geese of native varieties during reproductive season 2006 Flock Egg Laying Egg symbol number Intensity (%) weight Lu 43 26 161 Ki 35 22 166 Pd 41 26 155 Ka 41 24 164 Ry 43 28 170 Su 49 29 160 Po 48 27 181
Laying traits of forein origin geese during reproductive season 2006 Flock Egg Laying Egg symbol number Intensity (%) weight Ga 43 23 170 Ro 48 29 184 Sl 50 31 180 LsD 59 35 187 Ku 51 26 168
Results of egg incubation for native geese on 2006 Geese symbol Egg fertility Hatching Hatching % from set eggs from fertilized egg Lu 86 69 80 Ki 87 70 80 Pd 89 75 84 Ka 80 66 83 Ry 91 77 85 Su 86 71 82 Po 92 79 86
Results of egg incubation for foreign origin geese on 2006 Geese symbol Egg fertility Hatching Hatching % from set eggs from fertilized egg Ga 86 69 80 Ro 90 76 85 Sl 92 78 84 LsD 86 69 81 Ku 91 77 85
DUCKS The national genetic resources conservation programme includes the following populations of ducks kept at the Waterfowl Genetic Resources Station in Dworzyska: Polish Pekin (P33), Mini-duck (K-2), Khaki Campbell Orpington (KhO-1), Pekin (LsA), Pekin (P-8) and Pekin (P-9). In addition, native Pekin ducks of lines P11, P22, P-44 and P-55 are kept at the Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk (Kujawsko-Pomorskie province).
Minikaczki (K2)
Kaczki pekin polski (P33)
KhO
SK
P 8
P 9
Number of males and females on 2007 in each conservative flock of duck and estimated values of N e =4 N m N f /(N m +N f ) and F=1/8 (1/N m +1/N f ) FLOCK No of males No of females N e F P-8 Danish 30 148 100 0.0050 P-9 Franch 32 178 119 0.0046 P-33 Polish 31 152 103 0.0048 LsA English 31 154 103 0.0047 KhO -1 35 176 117 0.0052 K-2 Miniduck 34 172 114 0.0044
Miniduck (K2) History of the breed Miniducks were created in the 1970s at the Dworzyska Station by crossing light Pekin and wild, white mallard (Anas plathyrynchos L.) (KsiąŜkiewicz, 1979). In the next generations parental selection was directed towards low body weight, white feathers and distinct meat traits. Characteristics: Miniduck has low body weight (adult drake 1.7 kg; duck 1.4 kg). In the first year of production they lay approximately 103 eggs with good hatching ability.
Some valuable traits Eggs of Miniducks are characterized by a high yolk content, high value of Haugh units, and low embryo mortality during incubation. Good trunk conformation reflects good meatiness. Breast muscle content of carcass reaches 15%. Muscles have dark colour and fine fibres.
Polish Pekin ducks (P33) History of the breed. Polish Pekin ducks are derived from native material that was initially kept and selected at the Experimental Station of the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Pawłowice, and then in Mały Klincz, where they were crossed with ducks imported from Holland. These animals were later moved to Borowy Młyn, and after the farm was closed down in 1978, the ducks were moved as a conservation flock to the Department of Waterfowl Breeding of te National Research Institute of Animal Production in Dworzyska near Poznań. Production characteristics The body weight is about 2500 g for 7-week-old drakes, about 2400 g for ducks and 3150-3400g for adult birds, with 6-month production of 137 eggs per layer in the first, and 199 eggs in the second, year of utilization. The colour of hatching eggs in the first year averages 92%. Hatchability of goslings is 67% from set eggs and 73% from fertilized eggs.
Discussion of valuable traits Hatching eggs are characterized by great weight and low embryo mortality. The meat of P33 ducks is of great dietetic value, lean and fine fibred. Compared to other Pekin-type conservation flocks, leg muscles form the greatest proportion of eviscerated carcass and skin with subcutaneous fat the smallest. P33 ducks are also characterized by good feather quality.
Polish Pekin native ducks, line P11 History of the breed. The material was selected in the Gaik- Brzezowa farm. As a genetic reserve line, it was later kept at the Jurczyce Experimental Station belonging to the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, as a conservation flock at the Szczodre Experimental Station belonging to the Agricultural University in Wrocław, and on a private farm in Nieciszów near Oleśnica (Dolnośląskie province). Currently, the P11 line is kept at the Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk, Kujawsko-Pomorskie province. Production characteristics. The body weight is about 2600 g for 7- week-old drakes and ducks, and 3000-3400 g for adult birds. During the production period, ducks lay an average of 142 white-shell eggs, characterized by a weight of 85 g, egg fertility of 94% and hatchability of goslings from set eggs of 68%. Discussion of valuable traits. P11 ducks are very well adapted to Polish environmental and feeding conditions.
Polish Pekin native ducks, line P22 History of the breed. P22 birds were improved at the Borowina farm. The initial material were Polish ducks which were once crossed with Pekin drakes imported from Germany. As a genetic reserve flock they were kept at the Experimental Station Jurczyce belonging to the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, and later as a conservation flock at the Szczodre Experimental Station belonging to the Agricultural University in Wrocław. They were later moved to a private farm in Nieciszów near Oleśnica (Dolnośląskie province). Currently, the P22 line is kept at the Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk, Kujawsko- Pomorskie province. Production characteristics. The body weight is about 2550 g for 7- week-old drakes and ducks and 3000-3200 g for adult birds. During the production period, ducks lay an average of 130 white-shell eggs characterized by a weight of 88 g, egg fertility of 94% and hatchability of goslings form set eggs of 73%. Discussion of valuable traits. P22 ducks are resistant to unfavourable environmental and feeding conditions. Meat is characterized by desirable fine fibres.
In addition to the Pekin-type lines of ducks mentioned above, the Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk keeps the populations of duck lines: P55 P44 These highly valuable populations have been kept and selected in Poland since 1962. They are characterized by high values of meat traits (P55) and reproductive traits (P44) and very good combining ability.
Genetic reserve of ducks in Poland (genetic reserve and conservation flocks) Breed, variety Flock symbol Origin Collection Genetic reserve flocks Pekin ducks P44 Netherlands 1961 Pekin ducks P55 Netherlands 1961 Conservation flocks Pekin ducks P11 Poland 1952 Pekin ducks P22 Poland 1956 Pekin ducks P33 Poland 1962 Pekin ducks P8 Denmark 1978 Pekin ducks P9 France 1978 Miniducks K2 Poland 1978 Hybryd ducks KhO Poland 1978 White ducks (synth. line) LsB Poland 1993