The Pedrês Portuguesa is a Portuguese breed of domestic chicken. It is one of four Portuguese chicken breeds, the others being the Amarela, the Branca and the Preta Lusitânica.[7]
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Portugal |
| Distribution | continental Portugal |
| Use | dual-purpose, eggs and meat |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Comb type | single |
| Classification | |
| APA | no[4] |
| EE | no[5] |
| PCGB | no[6] |
| |
History
editThe Pedrês Portuguesa is a traditional rural breed. It is distributed throughout continental Portugal but is most numerous in the north-western part of the country.[3]: 204 Its area of origin is considered to consist of the former province of Minho and some concelhos of the neighbouring provinces of Douro Litoral and Trás-os-Montes.[3]: 204
In the early twenty-first century the breed was considered to be at risk, with a population of some 4500 breeding hens.[8]: 10 By 2024 the total population had risen to an estimated 15473–26893 birds, with a breeding stock of 6526 hens and 1611 cocks distributed over 316 farms.[2][7] Its conservation status was listed as "not at risk".[2]
Characteristics
editThe Pedrês Portuguesa is found in only one colour variant, the barred pattern of narrow dark grey bars on a white or light grey ground for which it is named.[3]: 205 The comb is single, with five or six points; the face, comb and earlobes are all bright red. The shanks are unfeathered and are pale yellow in colour with dark slate markings; the beak is pale yellow, sometimes slate-coloured at the base.[3]: 205 Body weights are in the range 2.6–3.2 kg for cocks and 2.2–2.7 kg for hens; ring sizes are 17 mm and 15 mm respectively.[3]: 205
The birds are active and hardy and show good resistance to disease and to adverse environmental conditions. They are well suited to the extensive or free-range management – either in the open or in a chicken-run – typical of small family-run farms.[3]: 204
Use
editThe Pedrês Portuguesa is a dual-purpose breed, raised for both meat and eggs.[3]: 204 The feathers may be used to make flies for trout-fishing.[3]: 204
References
edit- ^ Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Breed data sheet: Pedrês Portuguesa / Portugal (Chicken). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j [s.n.] (2021). Catálogo Oficial de Raças Autóctones Portuguesas (in Portuguese). Lisboa: Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal; Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária. Archived 19 January 2024.
- ^ APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
- ^ Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
- ^ Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
- ^ a b Aves - Raça Pedrês Portuguesa (in Portuguese). Vale de Santarém: Sociedade Portuguesa de Recursos Genéticos Animais. Archived 10 August 2024.
- ^ Luís Telo da Gama, Nuno Carolino, Mário Simões Costa, Claudino Pereira de Matos (editors) (2004). Recursos genéticos animais em Portugal. Vale de Santarém: Relatório Nacional. 68; archived 26 March 2023. Annex to: Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 10 January 2017.