PROJECT OF CONSERVATION AND ENHANCED UTILIZATION OF TRADITIONAL POULTRY BREEDS

Context

This project takes part of the biodiversity’s conservation of the local poultry breeds in Wallonia. Indeed these breeds are abandoned in favor of commercial strains, knowing only few initiatives to promote their conservation/utilization. Many of them have undergone a major decrease in their population size, inbreeding is high, some breeds have already disappeared. Interventions are needed to preserve these breeds still highly connected to cultural values and presenting a potentially valuable genetic diversity for commercial strains.

Objectives

The first step in conservation is to be aware of the animal resources that exist. Lists of Walloon breeds and breeders are drawn and the size of each breed’s population is estimated. Regarding the sizes, each breed is categorized according to its risk of extinction and conservation strategies are proposed. Enhanced utilization is needed to make conservation strategy sustainable. The objectives of this study are:

1. Draw the Walloon poultry breeders’ directory
The directories of the Walloon poultry associations (AIWEABC and AWEABC) and the Flemish poultry association (VIVFN) have been used to build the breeders ‘directory of this study. This data base is completed by information from non-registered breeders.
2. Build the 22 walloon poultry breeds’ inventory (only 21 breeds are officially registered)
The inventory and population sizes are drawn from data provided by the associations and non-registered breeders. However, this data have to be analyzed carefully as the breeder’s registration criteria and the calculation methods of the population size are different. Individual surveys are conducted to specify the transmitted data. These surveys are also used to build a picture of the Walloon poultry breeding in terms of livestock ‘size, husbandry practices, inbreeding management, breeder’s profile.
3. Define the conservation strategies
FAO Risk Classification reports, on population size basis, breeds which need conservation initiative to be taken. Different types of conservative strategies are also proposed.
4. Propose lines of development of the protected breeds
Lines of development have to be foreseen to sustain conservation strategies. There are three proposals:
- Live poultry’sale to families. The family farmed chickens experience a renewed interest. Unfortunately, households are generally directed to the purchase of commercial strains, ignoring the existence of local breeds. A preliminary information campaign is to be planned for the public and poulterers ;
- Sale of products derived from poultry including meat and eggs. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality of their food, the sales of products derived from Walloon poultry breeds may be considered through short sectors.
- Use of Walloon poultry breeds crossed with commercial strains. The crossed poultry will better respond to the expectation of farmers concerned by production of differenced quality products.