Abstract
variables related to structure and marketing. A structured survey was carried out on 63 farms in 2008. A multiple correspondence analysis performed to characterise the farms yielded two dimensions. First dimension explained 45.1% of the variance and included the variables age of the farm and number of pairs in the breeding flock. Second dimension explained 35.9% of the variance and included the variables the farm sells hatching eggs and the farm has a hunting preserve where releasing part of the partridges produced. A cluster analysis differentiated three farm typologies. Farm type 1 included 36 complete-cycle farms mainly established until 1996, most of them having 1 to 999 pairs in the breeding flock. Farm type 2 included 11 farms without breeding flock established since 2003. Farm type 3 included 16 complete cycle farms established between 1997 and 2002, most of them being the highest with 1,000 onwards breeding pairs, and carrying out artificial photoperiod supplementation of the breeding pairs. Half of the farms in this group sell hatching egg, have ever exported partridges, and most of them have a hunting preserve where releasing part of the production. The establishment of red-legged partridge game farms increased until 2002, declining thereafter and shifting towards the second farm type without breeding flock. This alternative poultry production system could have reached its development maturity and is a sub-sector well established in Spain, despite being only four decades old.
Highlights
The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is a game species raised in farms in countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, England, and Italy (Office National de la Chasse, 1973; González-Redondo, 2004; Canning, 2005)
This study provides the first systematic characterisation and typification of the red-legged partridge Spanish game farms according to the main variables related to their structure and marketing
The model fitted to typify the red-legged partridge game farms according to their structure and marketing was satisfactory because total inertia explained by multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) solution was higher than in other similar studies using MCA (Castel et al, 2003; Milán et al, 2006; Pardos et al, 2008)
Summary
The red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) is a game species raised in farms in countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, England, and Italy (Office National de la Chasse, 1973; González-Redondo, 2004; Canning, 2005). In Spain its industrial breeding for hunting purpose started in the middle of Sixties after successful experiences carried out at Quintos de Mora (Toledo province) experimental centre (Lara and Arenzana, 1965) These experiences led to the development of a game farms sector that quickly rose (Flores, 1979; González-Redondo, 2004). The newly hatched chicks are reared during a four to six weeks period in brooder houses where a litter on the floor, fresh water and starter mash are provided, and in which the chicks are heated using gas or electric infra-red lamps (Pérez y Pérez, 1981) After this initial period, the growing partridges are reared in large rearing pens because the red-legged partridge is a fast-flying bird that needs to exercise its flying ability in order to keep a minimum hunting quality (González-Redondo, 1997). Partridges usually remain in the rearing pens until they are sold for release or restocking of hunting grounds when they are around three months old (Flores, 1979; Pérez y Pérez, 1981; GonzálezRedondo, 2004)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
