NATIVE GENETIC RESOURCES OF WATERFOWL

KsiąŜkiewicz Juliusz

National Research Insitute of Animal Production,

Department of Animal Genetic Resources Conservation,

32-083 BALICE, POLAND

The majority of native goose flocks and some duckflocks have been included in the world’s geneticresources (World Watch List, FAO 2000). Description ofall the flocks can be found in an illustrated guide tofarm animals (Atlas zwierząt gospodarskich, Kraków,2006) and at the website of the National ResearchInstitute of Animal Production together with manyphotographs (www.bioroznorodnosc.izoo.krakow.pl).The biodiversity of these species and breeds, kept insitu, was described in various instruction booklets,published by the Institute (2002, 2003).

The programmes for the conservation of nativewaterfowl populations are aimed not only atmaintaining the adequate size and genetic variation ofthe populations, but also at preserving specific traits ofducks and geese. These internationally unique nativepopulations of commercial birds are connected with,and very well adapted to, regions of Poland that differclimatically, environmentally and culturally.

The birds are characterized by very good health andresistance to variable and often adverse climatic conditions,and good conversion of farm-produced feeds. They useopen range and many varieties have retained the naturalinstinct for broodiness and looking after their young.

Geese and ducks from conservation flocks provideunique material for studies of DNA polymorphism, bloodserum proteins, embryo karyotypes, and quality traits ofeggs and meat. The fat of these birds is considered to behealthier than pork fat as it contains more unsaturated fattyacids (long-known goose fat has been attributed health-giving properties), and the meat is fine fibred. Anotherimportant characteristic of the waterfowl from conservationflocks is very good quality of down and feathers, which areused for the manufacture of sheeting fabrics.

Biological traits of geese from conservative flocks

� Resistance to illness;

� Good quality of eggs (thick, strong shell);

� High reproductivity;

� Longevity;

� Adaptability to environmental conditions;

� Ability to use less valuable feeds;

� Docility;

� Good muscling and low carcass fatness;

� Very good feather quality.

Characteristic traits of geesefrom native conservation flocks

Southern Polish geese (Lu, Ki, Pd, Ga, Bi, ZD1)

1. Low egg production, ability to brood eggs and look after goslings, useful for agritourism farms (Lu, Ki, Pd)

2. Good egg production (ZD1, Ga)

3. High vitality of geese and good hatching ability (all varieties)

4. Low body weight with very good muscling and low car cass fatness (Lu, Ki, Pd)

5. Fine-fibre meat (Lu, Ki, Pd)

6. Useful for ecological breeding in small farms (L u, Ki, Pd)

Northern Polish geese (Ka, Ry, Su, Po)

1. Good reproductive parameters (all varieties)

2. Strong conformation (all varieties)

3. Good muscling and low carcass fatness (all varie ties)

4. High vitality (all varieties)

GEESE conservation flocks� Swan (Ga), Suwalska (Su),

� Kartuska (Ka), Rypińska (Ry),

� Kielecka (Ki), Landes (LSD-01),

� Lubelska (Lu), Roman (Ro)

� Podkarpacka (Pd), Slovakian (Sł).

� Pomorska (Po), In addition,

Biłgorajska geese (Bi) kept by a breeder inPuchaczów (Lubelskie province)

Zatorska geese (ZD-1) owned by the AgriculturalUniversity in Kraków.

Gąsior i g ęś rasy garbonosej

Gąsior i g ęś odmiany kartuskiej

Conservative flocks of geese of forein origin

Variety Symbol Origin, owner Collection

Kuban KD01 Russian (IZ) 1977

Roman Ro Danish (IZ) 1978

Slovakian Sl Slovakian (IZ) 1981

Landes LsD01 French (IZ) 1987

Gąsior i g ęś rasy kuba ńskiej

Gąsior i g ęś rasy Roman

Gąsior i g ęś rasy słowackiej

Gąsior i g ęś rasy landes

Characteristic traits of geese of forein origin

Conservation flocks (Ro, Sl, LsD, Ku)

1. The highest reproductive index (Sl)

2. Good reproductive parameters (LsD)

3. High viability of geese and good hatchability of eg gs (all varieties)

4. Massive body structure (all varieties)

5. High body weight (LsD)

6. Fine meat quality (Sl)

Number of males and females on 2007 in each native conservative flock of geese and estimated values of Ne=4 NmNf/(Nm+Nf) and ∆F=1/8 (1/Nm+1/Nf)

FLOCK No of males No of females Ne ∆F

Lu 52 142 152 0.0033

Ki 53 148 156 0.0033

Pd 52 145 153 0.0033

Ka 45 135 135 0.0036

Ry 52 145 153 0.0033

Su 54 156 160 0.0031

Number of males and females on 2007 in each forein conservative flock of geese and estimated values of Ne=4 NmNf/(Nm+Nf) and ∆F=1/8 (1/Nm+1/Nf)

FLOCK No of males No of females Ne ∆F

Ga 55 154 164 0.0031

Ro 57 163 169 0.0030

Po 55 150 161 0.0031

Sl 63 193 200 0.0026

LsD 01 63 181 187 0.0027

Ku 80 289 251 0.0020

CONSERVATIVE FLOCKS OF NATIVE GEESE

VARIETIES Symbol Origin –owner Collection

Southern varieties

Zatorska ZD1 UA 1961 Biłgorajska Bi Private 1971 Lubelska Lu IZ 1973

Kielecka Ki IZ 1973

Podkarpacka Pd IZ 1973 Garbonosa Ga IZ 1977

Northern varieties

Kartuska Ka IZ 1974 Rypińska Ry IZ 1974

Suwalska Su IZ 1974

Pomorska P11 IZ 1981

Gąsior i g ęś odmiany podkarpackiej

Gąsior i g ęś odmiany lubelskiej

Gąsior i g ęś odmiany kieleckiej

Gąsior i g ęś odmiany rypi ńskej

Gąsior i g ęś odmiany suwalskiej

Gąsior i g ęś rasy pomorskiej

Laying traits of geese of native varieties during reproductive season 2006

Flock

symbol

Egg

number

Laying

Intensity (%)

Egg

weight

Lu 43 26 161

Ki 35 22 166

Pd 41 26 155

Ka 41 24 164

Ry 43 28 170

Su 49 29 160

Po 48 27 181

Laying traits of forein origin geese during reproductive season 2006

Flock

symbol

Egg

number

Laying

Intensity (%)

Egg

weight

Ga 43 23 170

Ro 48 29 184

Sl 50 31 180

LsD 59 35 187

Ku 51 26 168

Results of egg incubation for native geese on 2006

Geese symbol Egg fertility

%

Hatching

from set eggs

Hatching

from fertilized egg

Lu 86 69 80

Ki 87 70 80

Pd 89 75 84

Ka 80 66 83

Ry 91 77 85

Su 86 71 82

Po 92 79 86

Results of egg incubation for foreign origin geese on 2006

Geese symbol Egg fertility

%

Hatching

from set eggs

Hatching

from fertilized egg

Ga 86 69 80

Ro 90 76 85

Sl 92 78 84

LsD 86 69 81

Ku 91 77 85

DUCKS

The national genetic resources conservation programme includes the following populations of ducks kept at the Waterfowl Genetic Resources Station in Dworzyska:

� Polish Pekin (P33),

� Mini-duck (K-2),

� Khaki Campbell ×××× Orpington (KhO-1),� Pekin (LsA),

� Pekin (P-8) and

� Pekin (P-9).

In addition, native Pekin ducks of lines P11, P22, P-44and P-55 are kept at the Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk (Kujawsko-Pomorskie province).

Minikaczki (K2)

Kaczki pekin polski (P33)

KhO

SK

P 8

P 9

Number of males and females on 2007 in each conservative flock of duck and estimated values of Ne=4 NmNf/(Nm+Nf)

and ∆F=1/8 (1/Nm+1/Nf)

FLOCK No of males No of females Ne ∆F

P-8 Danish 30 148 100 0.0050

P-9 Franch 32 178 119 0.0046

P-33 Polish 31 152 103 0.0048

LsA English 31 154 103 0.0047

KhO -1 35 176 117 0.0052

K-2 Miniduck 34 172 114 0.0044

•History of the breedMiniducks were created in the 1970s at theDworzyska Station by crossing light Pekin and wild, white mallard (Anas plathyrynchos L.) (KsiąŜkiewicz, 1979). In the next generations parental selection was directed towards low body weight, white feathersand distinct meat traits.Characteristics:Miniduck has low body weight (adult drake 1.7 kg; duck 1.4 kg). In the first year of production they layapproximately 103 eggs with good hatching ability.

Miniduck (K2)

• Some valuable traitsEggs of Miniducks are characterized by a high yolk content, high value of Haughunits, and low embryo mortality duringincubation. Good trunk conformationreflects good meatiness. Breast musclecontent of carcass reaches 15%. Muscleshave dark colour and fine fibres.

Polish Pekin ducks (P33)

• History of the breed. Polish Pekin ducks are derived from native material that was initially kept and selected at the Experimental Station of the National Research Institute of Animal Production in Pawłowice, and then in Mały Klincz, where they were crossed with ducks imported from Holland. These animals were later moved to Borowy Młyn, and after the farm was closed down in 1978, the ducks were moved as a conservation flock to the Department of Waterfowl Breeding of te National Research Institute of Animal Production in Dworzyska near Poznań.

• Production characteristicsThe body weight is about 2500 g for 7-week-old drakes, about 2400 g for ducks and 3150-3400g for adult birds, with 6-month production of 137 eggs per layer in the first, and 199 eggs in the second, year of utilization. The colour of hatching eggs in the first year averages 92%. Hatchability of goslings is 67% from set eggs and 73% from fertilized eggs.

Discussion of valuable traitsHatching eggs are characterized by great weight and low embryo mortality. The meat of P33 ducks is of great dietetic value, lean and fine fibred. Compared to other Pekin-type conservation flocks, leg muscles form the greatest proportion of eviscerated carcass and skin with subcutaneous fat the smallest. P33 ducks are also characterized by good feather quality.

PolishPekin native ducks, line P11

•History of the breed . The material was selected in the Gaik-Brzezowa farm. As a genetic reserve line, it was later kept at the Jurczyce Experimental Station belonging to the JagiellonianUniversity in Kraków, as a conservation flock at the Szczodre Experimental Station belonging to the Agricultural University inWrocław, and on a private farm in Nieciszównear Oleśnica(Dolnośląskie province). Currently, the P11 line is kept at the Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk, Kujawsko-Pomorskie province.

• Production characteristics. The body weight is about 2600 g for 7-week-old drakes and ducks, and 3000-3400 g for adult birds. During the production period, ducks lay an average of 142 white-shell eggs, characterized by a weight of 85 g, egg fertility of 94% and hatchability of goslings from set eggs of 68%.

•Discussion of valuable traits. P11 ducks are very well adapted to Polish environmental and feeding conditions.

• History of the breed. P22 birds were improved at the Borowina farm. The initial material were Polish ducks which were once crossed with Pekin drakes imported from Germany. As a genetic reserve flock they were kept at the Experimental Station Jurczyce belonging to the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, and later as a conservation flock at the Szczodre Experimental Station belonging to the Agricultural University in Wrocław. They were later moved to a private farm in Nieciszów near Oleśnica (Dolnośląskie province). Currently, the P22 line is kept at the Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk, Kujawsko-Pomorskie province.

Polish Pekin native ducks, line P22

• Production characteristics. The body weight is about 2550 g for 7-week-old drakes and ducks and 3000-3200 g for adult birds. During the production period, ducks lay an average of 130 white-shell eggs characterized by a weight of 88 g, egg fertility of 94% and hatchability of goslings form set eggs of 73%.

• Discussion of valuable traits. P22 ducks are resistant to unfavourable environmental and feeding conditions. Meat is characterized by desirable fine fibres.

In addition to the Pekin-type lines of ducks mentioned above, the

Duck Breeding Centre in Lińsk keeps the populations of duck lines:

• P55

• P44

These highly valuable populations have been kept and selected in

Poland since 1962.

They are characterized by high values of meat traits (P55) and

reproductive traits (P44) and very good combining ability.

Genetic reserve of ducks in Poland (genetic reserve and conservation flocks)

Breed, variety Flock symbol Origin Collection Genetic reserve flocks

Pekin ducks P44 Netherlands 1961 Pekin ducks P55 Netherlands 1961

Conservation flocks Pekin ducks P11 Poland 1952 Pekin ducks P22 Poland 1956 Pekin ducks P33 Poland 1962 Pekin ducks P8 Denmark 1978 Pekin ducks P9 France 1978 Miniducks K2 Poland 1978

Hybryd ducks KhO Poland 1978 White ducks (synth. line) LsB Poland 1993