Growth Performance of Local Chicken Breeds, a High-Performance Genotype and Their Crosses Fed with Regional Faba Beans to Replace Soy

Abstract

The faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is a native protein crop and considered a promising alternative to soybeans. Due to its anti-nutritive substances such as vicin and convicin (VC) its use in animal nutrition has been restricted. In the present study, two consecutive experiments were conducted to analyse the effects of feeding 20% faba beans, which differ in their VC content on fattening performance and slaughter traits of different chicken genotypes. In a first trial, purebred male chickens of the local breeds Bresse Gauloise and Vorwerkhuhn as well as of a high-performance White Rock line were tested. In a second trial, crossbreds of them were evaluated: Vorwerkhuhn x Bresse Gauloise, Vorwerkhuhn x White Rock, Bresse Gauloise x White Rock. Daily weight gain and feed intake were recorded until slaughter at approximately 2100 g. At slaughter the final live weight, carcass yield and the weights of the valuable parts (breasts and legs) were measured. For the genotypes studied, no adverse or undesirable effects of both VC−rich and VC−poor faba beans in the feedstuff were detected regarding body weight development, carcass quality, and fattening parameters. Furthermore, there was no indication that the birds’ health was impaired.

Egg Production and Bone Stability of Local Chicken Breeds and Their Crosses Fed with Faba Beans

“…Because this study is dealing with dual-purpose genotypes, the male performance also has to be considered for a final conclusion. The performance test of the males showed BG to improve the fattening performance of the layer-type VH and WR chickens [29]. Therefore, considering both sexes, the BWR hybrid seems to be the most promising cross.…”

“…They were 0.70 in experiment A and 0.74 in experiment B. The calculation of the least squares means (LS-means) and testing of significant differences was carried out as described in Nolte et al [ 29 ]. The calculation of daily feed intake and egg parameters was performed with the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS.…”

Meat Quality Parameters and Sensory Properties of One High-Performing and Two Local Chicken Breeds Fed with Vicia faba

“…At slaughter, the birds were electrically stunned, exsanguinated by neck cut, scalded, eviscerated, weighed, and chilled at 4 • C for 24 h. Twenty-four hours after slaughter (post mortem; p.m.) the carcasses were weighed and manually dissected. Results concerning the animals' growth performance and carcass parameters have been reported elsewhere [23].…”

“… 1 Vitamin–mineral premix provided per kg of diet: Fe, 32 mg; Cu, 12 mg; Zn, 80 mg; Mn, 100 mg; Se, 0.4 mg; I, 1.6 mg; Co, 0.64 mg; retinol, 3.6 mg; cholecalciferol, 0.088 mg; tocopherol, 40 mg; menadione, 4.5 mg; thiamine, 2.5 mg; riboflavin, 8 mg; pyridoxine, 6 mg; cobalamin, 32 µg; nicotinic acid, 45 mg; pantothenic acid, 15 mg; folic acid, 1.2 mg; biotin, 50 µg; choline chloride, 550 mg. Source: Adapted from [ 23 ]. …”

Welfare-Related Behaviors in Chickens: Characterization of Fear and Exploration in Local and Commercial Chicken Strains

“…While commercial strains are intensively kept, local native strains are kept under extensive conditions with smaller groups, pens and potentially lower stocking densities, and show better adaptation to local housing conditions [ 1 , 2 ]. Due to reduced performances [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] and missing intensive breeding programs which also can influence behavioral traits, local strains might also preserve advantageous behavioral traits, e.g., reduced fear reactions, increased exploration and better adaptive capabilities. These behavioral traits can favor animal welfare in general [ 6 , 7 ], as animals are often confronted with unknown or threatening stimuli especially in husbandry systems, including free-range.…”