Young rooster of the New Tyrolean Chicken breed (Stefan Graf)

Organisation of the breeding for the new Tyrolean Chicken (Suiza)

Zuchtgruppenorganisation für das Neu-Tirolerhuhn

Descripción

A new chicken breed is developed based on three remnants populations having similar looks, with the purpose of recreating a healthy chicken adapted to mounaneous areas.

Chicken with a crest have been known in the alpine areas of Switzerland, Austria and Italy for many centuries, as bone excavations, historic paintings and old pictures show. Crested chicken can still be found in Switzerland, now called “Appenzeller Spitzhauben, and in north-eastern Italy, as Polverara. Members of the association Pro Patrimonio Montano supposed that these chickens are the southeastern and western remnants of the same population of chicken and wondered what would happen if they crossed the two breeds. In 2010 crosses were done in both ways. As the crossed individuals all turned out black, and quite uniform, the initiators decided to start a serious breeding project with the aim of developing a breed adapted to the alpine conditions while relying only on the genetics of the two former chicken breeds. Later a small population of crested chicken, supposed to be other remnants of the Tyrolean chicken, was found on a remote farm in a remote valley, the Sarntal, and integrated into the breeding project of the “New Tyrolean Chicken”. The roosters of descendants of the Sarntal chicken are quite aggressive, reason why it is not used extensively in the new Tyrolean chicken breed.
The breeding is decentralized, with many small-scale farmers, hobby chicken keepers, and other interested persons keeping breeding groups. The breeders are organized in regional groups, with one regional coordinator overseeing 3 to 7 chicken breeders. The regional coordinator is assessing each newly hatched chicken and rooster to select for the ones being kept for further breeding. Selection takes place for morphological traits to match the ancient type of Tyrolean chicken. The selection for this ancient phenotype is due to the fact that the appenzeller Spitzhauben” has been crossed with other chicken because of concern with inbreeding, as the population was based only on a few individuals.
The regional coordinator is compensated for each chicken he or she assesses with 3 CHF/€, and additionally 2 CHF/€ per ring put on a chicken suitable for breeding. The assessment takes place at around 13 weeks. The assessment is then sent on an excel file to the coordinator at Pro Patrimonio Montano, where all files are added together. Each chicken has its ancestors recorded, with the maternal line being merged as sisters bred together.
Pro Patrimonio Montano is organized as an association, overseeing currently five breed and species of animals. The voting inside the organization for changing rules is done by representants of the breeders. Each region with up to 50 breeders has one voice at votes, can therefore send one representative. Regions with more than 50 breeders have two votes, thus two representatives.

Lugar

Lugar: As well as Italy and Austria, Suiza

Georreferencia de sitios seleccionados
  • 9.37402, 47.42011

Dato de inicio: 2010

Año de conclusión: n.d.

Tipo de Enfoque
A pen where new Tyrolean chicken are kept, inside the city of St. Gallen. These chicken are kept jointly by a group of neighbours. (Stefan Graf)
Assessment of a rooster (Hans-Peter Grünenfelder)

Metas del Enfoque y entorno facilitador

Propósitos/ objetivos principales del Enfoque
The objective is to breed a healthy chicken for the alpine region, while keeping the old remaining genetics of crested alpine chicken.
Condiciones que facilitan la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
  • Normas y valores sociales/ culturales/ religiosos: The keeping of ancient breeds starts to be culturally promoted
  • Colaboración/ coordinación de actores: The fact that different regions have coordinators helps to implement sustainable ways to keep chicken.
  • Conocimiento de MST, acceso a apoyo técnico: The more is known about chicken keeping, the better they can be kept.
Condiciones que impiden la implementación de la/s Tecnología/s aplicadas bajo el Enfoque
  • Políticas: As it is a project working over three countries, the legal framework is different in each country. The exchange of bloodlines is also hindered due to this.
  • Mercados (para comprar insumos, vender productos) y precios: The chicken Tyrolean chicken cannot compete with the hybrids, even if it lays well compared to other ancient breeds. It is more useful in a smaller setting than on an industrial scale.

Participación y roles de las partes interesadas involucradas

Partes interesadas involucradas en el Enfoque y sus roles
¿Qué partes interesadas/ entidades implementadoras estuvieron involucradas en el Enfoque? Especifique las partes interesadas Describa los roles de las partes interesadas
usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales Hobby chicken keepers as well as small scale farmers They breed the chicken, and some breeders are regional coordinators. The regional coordinators assess the new animals to see if they can be kept as breeders or removed from the gene pool.
ONG The breeding takes place under the umbrella of the NGO Pro Patrimonio Montano, who is currently overseeing five alpine animal breeds. Provides the legal framework as an association.
Involucramiento de los usuarios locales de tierras/ comunidades locales en las distintas fases del Enfoque
ninguno
pasivo
apoyo externo
interactivo
auto-movilización
iniciación/ motivación
x
Two breeders, one of polverara chicken, the other of Appenzeller spitzhauben, decided to see what would happen if the two breeds were crossed. Out of this, the project started.
planificación
x
The initiators, being only two, found others with which they could breed the new Tyrolean chicken.
implementación
x
As two breeders on a small scale are not enough, others joined.
monitoreo y evaluación
x
The egg laying is monitored only by a few chicken keepers. An evaluation of the breeding stock takes place for every animal about to enter the gene pool.
Flujograma

Pro Patrimonio Montano (Patrimont) is the association under which the breeding of the New Tyrolean Chicken takes place. Patrimont is financed by supporters, and is a tax-deductible association in Switzerland.
Patrimont decided on a general phenotype (breeding goal) for the new tyrolean chicken. It does not recognize animals which are outcrossed for a better look or color, as it wants to keep the genetics of the alpine crested chicken.

The breeders, who can be farmers, hobby keepers, or other (zoo...) breed the chicken which are then assessed by a regional coordinator. If they meet the requirements of Patrimont, the breeder can use them for further breeding. Usually, the hens are kept, and the roosters are exchanged or sold. The regional coordinator keep a record on the ancestry of each chick hatched, and coordinate exchange of roosters, even among regional groups.

Autor: Stefan Graf
La toma de decisiones en la selección de Tecnología MST

Las decisiones fueron tomadas por

  • solamente usuarios de tierras (autoiniciativa)
  • principalmente usuarios de tierras con el apoyo de especialistas MST
  • todos los actores relevantes, como parte de un enfoque participativo
  • principalmente por especialistas MST en consulta con usuarios de tierras
  • solo por especialistas MST
  • por políticos/ líderes

La toma de decisiones se basa en

  • la evaluación de conocimiento MST bien documentado (la toma de decisiones se basa en evidencia)
  • hallazgos de investigaciones
  • la experiencia personal y opiniones (no documentadas)

Apoyo técnico, fortalecimiento institucional y gestión del conocimiento

Las siguientes actividades o servicios fueron parte del enfoque
Construcción de capacidades/ capacitación
Se proporcionó capacitación a las siguientes partes interesadas
  • usuarios de tierras
  • personal de campo/ consejeros
Forma de capacitación
  • en el contexto de trabajo
  • de agricultor a agricultor
  • áreas de demostración
  • reuniones públicas
  • cursos
Temas avanzados

Selection of the breeding stock. The training is only for the regional coordinators.

Servicio de asesoría
Se proporcionó servicio de asesoría
  • en los campos de los usuarios de tierras
  • en centros permanentes
The advisory service is given by the regional coordinators.
Fortalecimiento institucional
Se fortalecieron/ establecieron instituciones
  • no
  • sí, un poco
  • sí, moderadamente
  • sí, mucho
en el siguiente nivel
  • local
  • regional
  • nacional
Describa la institución, los roles y las responsabilidades, miembros, etc.
The regional coordinators were put in place to coordinate the breeding and to advise the chicken keepers.
Tipo de apoyo
  • financiero
  • construcción de capacidades/ entrenamiento
  • equipo
Detalles adicionales
Monitoreo y evaluación
A monitoring and evaluation of the breeding stock only takes place before the onset of the laying. The egg production is only evaluated by a few chicken keepers.
Investigación
La investigación trató los siguientes temas
  • sociología
  • economía/ marketing
  • ecología
  • tecnología

The project started as an experiment to research what would happen if the Polverara and the Appenzeller Spitzhauben chicken were crossed.

Financiamiento y apoyo material externo

Presupuesto anual en dólares americanos para el componente MST
  • < 2,000
  • 2,000-10,000
  • 10,000-100,000
  • 100,000-1,000,000
  • > 1,000,000
Precise annual budget: n.d.
Mainly donations via the association Pro Patrimonio Montano. In the early years of the project, the budget was higher due to the necessary animal transports.
Los siguientes servicios o incentivos fueron proporcionados a los usuarios de las tierras
  • Apoyo financiero/material proporcionado a los usuarios de tierras
  • Subsidios para insumos específicos
  • Crédito
  • Otros incentivos o instrumentos
parcialmente financiado
totalmente financiado
Breeding stock

In the beginning of the project, chicken were given free of charge to the keepers, with the condition that they had to give back breeding stock.

x

El trabajo de los usuarios de las tierras fue

Análisis de impacto y comentarios de conclusión

Impactos del Enfoque
No
Sí, un poco
Sí, moderadamente
Sí, mucho
¿El Enfoque movilizó/mejoró el acceso a recursos financieros para implementar MST?

As there is an association behind the breeding of the tyrolean chicken, the regional coordinators get a small compensation for the assessment of the breeding stock.

x
¿El Enfoque mejoró el conocimiento y capacidades de otras partes interesadas?

The regional coordinators are trained to assess the potential breeding stock.

x
¿El Enfoque construyó/ fortaleció instituciones, colaboración entre partes interesadas?

The regional coordinators help the chicken keepers in their region.

x
¿El Enfoque resultó en mejor seguridad alimentaria/ mejoró la nutrición?

As biodiversity of the food base, the chicken in this case, is important for future food security, the in-situ conservation of other breeds counters the loss due to the concentration of the breeding of livestock.

x
Motivación principal del usuario de la tierra para implementar MST
Sostenibilidad de las actividades del Enfoque
¿Pueden los usuarios de tierras sostener lo que se implementó mediante el Enfoque (sin apoyo externo)?

Conclusiones y lecciones aprendidas

Fortalezas: perspectiva del usuario de tierras
  • The organisation is adapted to the need of the breeders.
Fortalezas: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clave
  • Knowledge is spread about the conservation of genetic resources and backyard poultry keeping.
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: perspectiva del usuario de tierrascómo sobreponerse
Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos: punto de vista del compilador o de otra persona recurso clavecómo sobreponerse
  • The new Tyrolean Chicken is not assessed for the egg laying, and can therefore not be selected for it. Subsidise automatic electronic egg traps, for example based on RFID chips on chicken legs.
  • The new Tyrolean chicken may replace other rare breeds. The biggest threat to biodiversity is industrial agriculture, therefore the promotion of other initiatives like the new Tyrolean chicken can counter this loss of biodiversity. The new Tyrolean chicken complements the other available breeds.

Referencias

Compilador
  • Stefan Graf
Editors
Revisado por
  • Alexandra Gavilano
Fecha de la implementación: 31 de octubre de 2018
Últimas actualización: 26 de noviembre de 2018
Personas de referencia
Descripción completa en la base de datos de WOCAT
Datos MST vinculados
La documentación fue facilitada por
Institución Proyecto
Referencias claves
  • Agricultural Genetic Resources in the Alps, Monitoring Institute for Rare Breeds and Seeds in Europe, 2003, ISBN 3-258-06669-8: Available from Pro Patrimonio Montano
Vínculos a la información relevante disponible en línea
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareaAlike 4.0 International