Ann. Méd. Vét., 2009, 153 (3), pp 178-186 Socio-economic rehabilitation of chicken of Kabylie, a local breed in extinctionMOULA N., ANTOINE-MOUSSIAUX N., FARNIR F., DETILLEUX J., LEROY PAbstract :
Due to the rapid expansion of industrial poultry breeding across the world, many local poultry breeds are presently endangered.
Now, local breeds are an important tool for rural development and poverty alleviation in South countries, as Algeria. In a more general way, biodiversity loss represents a threat to our ability to take up future economic and ecologic challenges. In this context, the present study aims at setting the basis for a rehabilitation of the Kabyle local hen, the socio-economic and cultural importance of
which is crucial. This study establishes
a first description of morpho-biometric characteristics of the Kabyle hen and evaluates its growth performances. Given the high phenotypic variability observed here, it would be realistic to
consider selection programs as a tool to increase the productivity of chicken breeding in this region, using rustic breeds that are wellsuited to a less-intensive breeding management as encountered in Basse Kabylie. Indeed, rusticity along with productivity must
be sought if chicken breeding is
expected to contribute effectively to the development of rural economic
activities in Algeria, where a great variety of agro-climatic conditions is encountered. Get the PDF Contact person : Pascal.Leroy@ulg.ac.be |