Context
This project takes part of the biodiversity’s conservation. It’s the extension of the project “Conservation and enhanced utilization of traditional poultry breeds” which ran from March 2011 to February 2012. This step has consisted of listing the local breeds and breeders and assessing the population size of each breed. Based on these numbers, the extinction risks have been estimated and conservation strategies proposed.
The second phase of this intervention, currently underway, aims the implementation of the conservation strategies (breeder’s networks) sustained by lines of development (breeds multiplication and sales to households, biological/educational farms).
Objectives
- Implement conservation strategies for local Walloon breeds,
- Characterize Walloon breeds (phenotypic and genotypic),
- Identify and implement lines of development for breeds with a valuable potential.
Expected results
- Settlement of breeder’s networks for in situ conservation of local breeds of poultry. Each breed will be conserved in a breeder’s network supervised by the breed’s club. The breeder will have to join a chart related to breeding schemes to enlarge the genetic basis and reduce inbreeding while respecting breeds standards. All the networks will be supervised by CRA-W;
- Characterization of local breeds through morpho-biometrical measures and molecular analysis (microsatellite markers). The best the breed is knew the best it will be used;
- Definition and implementation of lines of development for breeds showing (through) characterization) valuable potential. In a context of increased concern of animal welfare, biodiversity and food quality, it’s planned to consider Walloon poultry breeds through short sectors;
- Growing public awareness on local poultry breeds, their characteristics through medias, conferences etc.
Results obtained
The project is ongoing.
Contribution
Production and Sectors Department, Animal breeding, Quality production and Welfare Unit is promoter and beneficiary of the project.
Funding
- DGARNE
