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Appropriate hybrids for organic poultry meat and egg production George K. Symeon Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Faculty of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

Organic poultry production: an alternative 1. Introduction  Land-related production  Low density  Environmental equilibration

Genetic material in poultry production nowadays  100 % use of highly productive hybrids  Hybrids are produced by colossal companies and are “trade secrets” Structure of producing and trading of hybrids 1 Hybrids developing companiesProduce paternal and maternal lines for egg and meat production after crossings 2 Reproductive companies Hatcheries Crossing of maternal and paternal lines and production of hybrids 3 ProducersRearing of hybrids and production of eggs or poultry meat

Hybrids Products of crossings between breeds and lines with desirable attributes

A secret well kept…  Reproductive companies cannot produce paternal or maternal lines because these are also hybrids  Hybrids’ reproduction ends to diversity and decrease in the desirable attributes, due to gene segregation

Absolute centralization… Hybrids’ producing companies nowadays Maternal companyReproductive companies Erich Wesjohann Group Hi-Line, Lohmann, Ross, Arbor Acres, L.I.R., C.W.T. Hendrix Genetics ISA, Babcock, Shaver, Hisex, Bovans, Dekalb Grimaud Group Grimaud Freres Selection, Hubbard Tyson Foods Cobb

Advantages and disadvantages  Advantages Fast movement of the genetic progress to the farmer High productivity Constant improvement of desirable attributes  Disadvantages The farmer always depends on the maternal company for the acquirement of poultry hybrids Decrease of genetic diversity Global genetic material is the same

The target  Choosing the appropriate genetic material (hybrid) so as to have the best result in accordance with the production system (rearing practices, diets, hygiene issues)

Conclusions  Poultry meat and egg production uses exclusively hybrids of various types and colours, different for each production sector  Medium and slow growing broilers are more suitable for organic poultry meat production  The same egg-laying hybrids used in conventional production are also used for organic hens

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