Managing inbreeding in poultry is always a major problem for breeders. However, there are systems that can be used to overcome this obstacle. We have examined the rolling mating technique, to be applied especially with small groups of breeding stock. But if larger groups of poultry can be managed, a valid and little-known alternative can be considered: SPIRAL MATING.
This spiral mating management system is based on a very simple principle: starting from distinct groups of subjects of the same breed, each year the males of each family are mated with females from different families, while the pullets remain as future breeding stock in their original families.
Compared to the rolling mating previously discussed, this system for managing inbreeding in poultry allows working for many more years without introducing new bloodlines. If one starts with three groups of non-inbred subjects, high inbreeding rates are reached only very slowly, and even after 8 or 10 years the animals show good performance in terms of fertility and vigor.
The downside of managing poultry inbreeding in this way is that the fixation of certain traits requires more time and strain uniformity is achieved later. This is obviously an aspect to consider when selecting for exhibition purposes, but nevertheless spiral mating is an excellent selection system when working with breeds for which it is very difficult to obtain new specimens for introducing fresh bloodlines. Once the initial hurdle of obtaining groups of breeding stock that are not too inbred is overcome, this poultry inbreeding management system is very effective over the long term.
FIRST YEAR
A) Start with three (or more) distinct groups of breeding stock. It is recommended that they not be closely inbred, to maximize results. Each group of breeding stock will be identified for convenience by marking it with colored rings: we will therefore have the blue family, the red family, the yellow family, and so on. The three groups of animals are bred separately.
B) Select the best specimens from each group of the newly hatched. Choose the best cockerel (or cockerels) and the best pullets from the new generation. All specimens are marked with an identification ring of the same color as that of their mothers.
C) At the end of the year, select the specimens intended for breeding the following year. The old males are removed from the breeding stock, as are half of the old females. For each color family, one or more young males, a certain number of young hens, and a similar number of old hens will therefore be kept. All subjects will be identified with a ring of the appropriate color.
SECOND YEAR
D) Form the new breeding groups. The males of each family are used only with females from other families. As a practical example, the male from the blue family will be used with females from the yellow family; the male from the yellow family will be mated only with females from the red family; the male from the red family will be mated only with females from the blue family.
E) Selection of the offspring resulting from each mating is performed again. Choose the best cockerel (or cockerels) and the best pullets, identifying all specimens with a ring of the color corresponding to that of the FEMALES from which they derive.
Ultimately, therefore, when working with significant numbers of breeding stock, spiral mating allows managing inbreeding in poultry very effectively and for many years.
And do not forget that at every stage of breeding, you can count on Novital and its lines of poultry accessories and incubators. We look forward to seeing you in our online store!
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For more information: Line breeding via a spiral breeding program
