Free-range Meat Research Articles

Penerapan Metode K-Means Clustering Untuk Daging Ayam Buras

Free-range chicken is a local Indonesian poultry whose population is widely found in every region of Indonesia. However, the level of consumption of free-range chicken meat in North Sumatra Province is still relatively low. This research data contains data on the production of free-range chicken in North Sumatra Province. One data mining technique is clustering. Grouping itself is a method by grouping data. The data of this study contains data on the production of free-range chicken in North Sumatra Province which began in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017. (7 years), and data obtained from the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health as well as on animal access to BPS Sumatra site North (Central Statistics Agency). The purpose of this study is to group Regencies / Cities in North Sumatra Province into 2 parts. These are the Regency / City group with high free-range chicken meat and Regency / City with low-free chicken meat. This can be a contribution of the provincial government of North Sumatra, Regency / City which is of more concern than free-range chicken based on the cluster that has been done. The results of this research are taken from 33 data of free-range chicken meat in regencies / cities in North Sumatra province, 3 high-level districts, namely: Mandailing Natal, Langkat, Serdang Bedagai and 30 other regencies / cities including

Optimization of sustainability, selling price, and minimum cost transportation in supply chain management of free-range meat chicken in Pasuruan Regency, Indonesia

The purpose of the study was to analyze the sustainability of supply of free-range meat chicken in Pasuruan Regency, Indonesia and to obtain an optimization model of selling price and transportation costs of the free-range meat chicken. Artificial neural networks was used to analyse the sustainability of free-range meat chicken supply while linear programming was used to optimize the selling price. In addition, Vogel’s approximation was used to obtain the minimum total cost of transportation. The outcome of the analysis showed that the availability of free-range meat chicken in 2022 was estimated around 40, 016.67 tons with a selling price of IDR 28,100/kg. The minimum overall transportation cost was IDR 3,807,000/quintal.

The Effects of Production System and Sex on the Sensory Quality Characteristics of Dorper Lamb.

The effect of production systems on the sensory quality characteristics of Dorper lambs was investigated. Sixty lambs (ewes, rams, castrates) were allocated into two production groups (feedlot or free-range) at weaning with equal numbers of each sex represented in each group. The lambs were fed for five (slaughter group 1) or six (slaughter group 2) weeks. Feedlot lambs were fed a commercial pelleted diet while free-range lambs utilized natural shrub pastures. Samples of the Longissimus thoracis muscle were used for sensory evaluation. Feedlot lambs produced meat that was juicier and more tender than meat from free-range lambs. Initial juiciness was also higher in the meat from the feedlot lambs. No aroma or flavour differences were observed. The meat from the free-range ram lambs (slaughter group 1) was the least tender, whereas the lamb flavour was also compromised in the free-range ram lambs. Free-range meat may not necessarily be distinguished from feedlot meat as far as aroma and flavour are concerned.

Using genomics to understand inter- and intra- outbreak diversity of Pasteurella multocida isolates associated with fowl cholera in meat chickens.

Fowl cholera, caused by Pasteurella multocida, continues to be a challenge in meat-chicken-breeder operations and has emerged as a problem for free-range meat chickens. Here, using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenomic analysis, we investigate isolate relatedness during outbreaks of fowl cholera on a free-range meat chicken farm over a 5-year period. Our genomic analysis revealed that while all outbreak isolates were sequence type (ST) 20, they could be separated into two distinct clades (clade 1 and clade 2) consistent with difference in their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) type. The isolates from the earlier outbreaks (clade 1) were carrying LPS type L3 while those from the more recent outbreaks (clade 2) were LPS type L1. Additionally, WGS data indicated high inter- and intra-chicken genetic diversity during a single outbreak. Furthermore, we demonstrate that while a killed autogenous vaccine carrying LPS type L3 had been successful in protecting against challenge from L3 isolates it might have driven the emergence of the closely related clade 2, against which the vaccine was ineffective. The genomic results also revealed a 14 bp deletion in the galactosyltransferase gene gatG in LPS type L3 isolates, which would result in producing a semi-truncated LPS in those isolates. In conclusion, our study clearly demonstrates the advantages of genomic analysis over the conventional PCR-based approaches in providing clear insights in terms of linkage of isolate within and between outbreaks. More importantly, it provides more detailed information than the multiplex PCR on the possible structure of outer LPS, which is very important in the case of strain selection for killed autogenous vaccines.

The Analysis of Factors that Affecting the Amount of Free- Range Chicken Meat’s Consumption in Langkat Regency

Chicken meat is one of the livestock commodities that can meet the protein needs of the community, but there are constraints on the price side. The price of free-range chicken meat tends to fluctuate due to production and demand imbalances and has an impact on price increases. Therefore, there needs to be control so that price increases that occur in free-range chicken meat do not jump sharply The purpose of the study was to determine the factors that influence the amount of freerange chicken meat’s consumption in Langkat Regency. The study was conducted in June - August 2018. The method that used in sampling was the proportionate stratified random sampling method and used the Slovin formula. Primary data collection was carried out by interview techniques using questionnaires to respondents and secondary data collection was obtained from the agencies and agencies assembled and then analyzed with Multiple Linear Regression using SPSS 22 application. The results showed the amount of free-range chicken meat’s consumption in Langkat Regency was influenced partially by income and the number of family members with R² = 0.61.

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Exposure Risk Assessment in Australian Commercial Chicken Farms.

This study investigated the pathways of exposure to low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus among Australian commercial chicken farms and estimated the likelihood of this exposure occurring using scenario trees and a stochastic modeling approach following the World Organization for Animal Health methodology for risk assessment. Input values for the models were sourced from scientific literature and an on-farm survey conducted during 2015 and 2016 among Australian commercial chicken farms located in New South Wales and Queensland. Outputs from the models revealed that the probability of a first LPAI virus exposure to a chicken in an Australian commercial chicken farms from one wild bird at any point in time is extremely low. A comparative assessment revealed that across the five farm types (non-free-range meat chicken, free-range meat chicken, cage layer, barn layer, and free range layer farms), free-range layer farms had the highest probability of exposure (7.5 × 10−4; 5% and 95%, 5.7 × 10−4—0.001). The results indicate that the presence of a large number of wild birds on farm is required for exposure to occur across all farm types. The median probability of direct exposure was highest in free-range farm types (5.6 × 10−4 and 1.6 × 10−4 for free-range layer and free-range meat chicken farms, respectively) and indirect exposure was highest in non-free-range farm types (2.7 × 10−4, 2.0 × 10−4, and 1.9 × 10−4 for non-free-range meat chicken, cage layer, and barn layer farms, respectively). The probability of exposure was found to be lowest in summer for all farm types. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the proportion of waterfowl among wild birds on the farm, the presence of waterfowl in the range and feed storage areas, and the prevalence of LPAI in wild birds are the most influential parameters for the probability of Australian commercial chicken farms being exposed to avian influenza (AI) virus. These results highlight the importance of ensuring good biosecurity on farms to minimize the risk of exposure to AI virus and the importance of continuous surveillance of LPAI prevalence including subtypes in wild bird populations.

Biosecurity practices on Australian commercial layer and meat chicken farms: Performance and perceptions of farmers.

This paper describes the level of adoption of biosecurity practices performed on Australian commercial chicken meat and layer farms and farmer-perceived importance of these practices. On-farm interviews were conducted on 25 free range layer farms, nine cage layer farms, nine barn layer farms, six free range meat chicken farms and 15 barn meat chicken farms in the Sydney basin bioregion and South East Queensland. There was a high level of treatment of drinking water across all farm types; town water was the most common source. In general, meat chicken farms had a higher level of adoption of biosecurity practices than layer farms. Cage layer farms had the shortest median distance between sheds (7.75m) and between sheds and waterbodies (30m). Equipment sharing between sheds was performed on 43% of free range meat chicken farms compared to 92% of free range layer farms. There was little disinfection of this shared equipment across all farm types. Footbaths and visitor recording books were used by the majority of farms for all farm types except cage layer farms (25%). Wild birds in sheds were most commonly reported in free range meat chicken farms (73%). Dogs and cats were kept across all farm types, from 56% of barn layer farms to 89% of cage layer farms, and they had access to the sheds in the majority (67%) of cage layer farms and on the range in some free range layer farms (44%). Most biosecurity practices were rated on average as ‘very important’ by farmers. A logistic regression analysis revealed that for most biosecurity practices, performing a practice was significantly associated with higher perceived farmer importance of that biosecurity practice. These findings help identify farm types and certain biosecurity practices with low adoption levels. This information can aid decision-making on efforts used to improve adoption levels.

Low- and High-Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 and H7 Spread Risk Assessment Within and Between Australian Commercial Chicken Farms.

This study quantified and compared the probability of avian influenza (AI) spread within and between Australian commercial chicken farms via specified spread pathways using scenario tree mathematical modeling. Input values for the models were sourced from scientific literature, expert opinion, and a farm survey conducted during 2015 and 2016 on Australian commercial chicken farms located in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. Outputs from the models indicate that the probability of no establishment of infection in a shed is the most likely end-point after exposure and infection of low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in one chicken for all farm types (non-free range meat chicken, free range meat chicken, cage layer, barn layer, and free range layer farms). If LPAI infection is established in a shed, LPAI is more likely to spread to other sheds and beyond the index farm due to a relatively low probability of detection and reporting during LPAI infection compared to high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection. Among farm types, the median probability for HPAI spread between sheds and between farms is higher for layer farms (0.0019, 0.0016, and 0.0031 for cage, barn, and free range layer, respectively) than meat chicken farms (0.00025 and 0.00043 for barn and free range meat chicken, respectively) due to a higher probability of mutation in layer birds, which relates to their longer production cycle. The pathway of LPAI spread between sheds with the highest average median probability was spread via equipment (0.015; 5–95%, 0.0058–0.036) and for HPAI spread between farms, the pathway with the highest average median probability was spread via egg trays (3.70 × 10−5; 5–95%, 1.47 × 10−6–0.00034). As the spread model did not explicitly consider volume and frequency of the spread pathways, these results provide a comparison of spread probabilities per pathway. These findings highlight the importance of performing biosecurity practices to limit spread of the AI virus. The models can be updated as new information on the mechanisms of the AI virus and on the volume and frequency of movements shed-to-shed and of movements between commercial chicken farms becomes available.

Correction: Comparisons of management practices and farm design on Australian commercial layer and meat chicken farms: Cage, barn and free range.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188505.].

Wildlife Presence and Interactions with Chickens on Australian Commercial Chicken Farms Assessed by Camera Traps.

The types of wildlife and the frequency of their visits to commercial chicken farms in Australia were assessed using infrared and motion-sensing camera traps. Cameras were set up on 14 free-range layer farms, three cage layer farms, two barn layer farms, five non-free-range meat chicken farms, and six free-range meat chicken farms in the Sydney basin region and South East Queensland. Wildlife visits were found on every farm type and were most frequent on cage layer farms (73%), followed by free-range layer farms (15%). The common mynah ( Acridotheres tristis) was the most frequent wildlife visitor in the study (23.9%), followed by corvids (22.9%) and Columbiformes (7.5%). Most wildlife visits occurred during the day from 6 am to 6 pm (85%). There were infrequent observations of direct contact between chickens and wildlife, suggesting the indirect route of pathogen transfer may be more significant. The level of biosecurity on the farm is suggested to impact the frequency of wildlife visits more so than the farm type.

Concentrations and human health risk assessment of DDT and its metabolites in free-range and commercial chicken products from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

ABSTRACTOrganochlorine pesticides such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) have been used in agriculture and for disease control purposes over many decades. Reports suggest that DDT exposure may result in a number of adverse effects in humans. In the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, DDT is sprayed annually in homes (indoor residual spraying) to control the mosquito vector of malaria. In the northern part of the Province, samples of free-range chicken meat (n = 48) and eggs (n = 13), and commercially produced chicken meat (n = 6) and eggs (n = 11), were collected and analysed. Of the free-range chicken meat samples, 94% (45/48) contained DDTs (ΣDDTs median 6.1 ng/g wet weight [ww], maximum 79.1 ng/g ww). Chicken egg contents were also contaminated (ΣDDTs in free-range eggs median 9544 ng/g ww, maximum 96.666 ng/g ww; and in commercial eggs median 1.3 ng/g ww, maximum 4.6 ng/g ww). The predominant DDT congener detected was p,pʹ-DDE in both free-range meat (>63%) and eggs (>66%), followed by p,pʹ-DDT and then p,pʹ-DDD. Based on estimated daily intake values, calculated human risk ratio (carcinogenic) values were >1 for DDTs detected in both free-range chicken products. Consumption of free-range eggs poses a particularly high health risk.

A comparison of the effects of post-mortem aging on breast meat from Cobb 500 and Hubbard ISA broilers

We compared the physical and chemical characteristics of the pectoralis major muscle from Cobb 500 and Hubbard ISA broilers and evaluated the effect of aging process for up to 7 days on meat quality. We used breast samples from male Cobb 500 (42 days of age; n = 60) and Hubbard ISA (85 days of age; n = 60) broilers. Twenty samples of each genotype were analysed 4 h post-slaughter (Control group). Another 20 samples of each genotype were aged in an incubator (2 ± 0.5°C) for 3 and for 7 days. Breast fillets were 23% heavier in the Cobb 500 group (306 g vs 248 g; P = 0.0009). Before aging, meat from Hubbard ISA broilers had higher (P < 0.001) water-holding capacity, which promotes the production of less exudate and possibly reduces nutritional losses during storage, which may be beneficial to the poultry industry. Despite being initially less tender, breast meat from Hubbard ISA broilers showed, during the aging process, a reduction (P < 0.05) of shear force (48.46–15.04 N), total collagen amount (6.0–4.8 g/kg) and myofibrillar fragmentation index (150.17–97.42) and had the same (P = 0.134) fat concentration (0.87 g/100 g) as that of breast meat from Cobb 500 broilers (0.93 g/100 g, respectively). Breast meat from Hubbard ISA broilers had a higher (P < 0.001) polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration, especially docosahexaenoic acid, which is beneficial to human health. Aging breast fillets for 3 days at 2°C is sufficient to tenderise the meat without reducing its juiciness, which suggests that the aging process can add value to free-range meat.

Compositional Signatures of Conventional, Free Range, and Organic Pork Meat Using Fingerprint Techniques.

Consumers’ interest in the way meat is produced is increasing in Europe. The resulting free range and organic meat products retail at a higher price, but are difficult to differentiate from their counterparts. To ascertain authenticity and prevent fraud, relevant markers need to be identified and new analytical methodology developed. The objective of this pilot study was to characterize pork belly meats of different animal welfare classes by their fatty acid (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester—FAME), non-volatile compound (electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry—ESI-MS/MS), and volatile compound (proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry—PTR-MS) fingerprints. Well-defined pork belly meat samples (13 conventional, 15 free range, and 13 organic) originating from the Netherlands were subjected to analysis. Fingerprints appeared to be specific for the three categories, and resulted in 100%, 95.3%, and 95.3% correct identity predictions of training set samples for FAME, ESI-MS/MS, and PTR-MS respectively and slightly lower scores for the validation set. Organic meat was also well discriminated from the other two categories with 100% success rates for the training set for all three analytical approaches. Ten out of 25 FAs showed significant differences in abundance between organic meat and the other categories, free range meat differed significantly for 6 out of the 25 FAs. Overall, FAME fingerprinting presented highest discrimination power.

Effects of panels and perches on the behaviour of commercial slow-growing free-range meat chickens

Environmental enrichment has the potential to benefit the welfare of farm animals. In poultry, panels and perches are two of the most commonly used forms of enrichment but few studies have determined their effects under commercial conditions. The aim of this work was to assess the impact of these forms of enrichment on the behaviour of slow-growth free range meat chickens. The study was conducted in four commercial farms each with 3900 birds, housed in three independent houses with access to an outdoor area. One house in each farm was outfitted with indoor and outdoor panels, the second with perches, and the third house was used as a control and had no enrichment. In each house 40 birds were tagged for individual recognition. Focal observations were performed from 6 to 12 weeks of age, with thirty 5min focal samples collected in each house in the indoor and outdoor areas alternatively. In addition, the location (in XY coordinates) of tagged birds inside and out, and their behaviour, was also collected. We did not find a main effect of treatment on the behaviour inside or outside the house (P>0.05). However, the interaction between treatment and week of age for standing (P<0.05) indicated a general increase with week of age only for the perch treatment inside the houses, and for only the perch and control treatments in the outdoor area (P<0.05). Resting decreased until week 9, while locomotive behaviours increased until week of age 10 in the outdoor area (P<0.05), with both trends reversing afterwards. A higher percentage of birds performed locomotive behaviours more often in the central area of the house in the panel treatment as compared to the control (P<0.05), with perch treatment showing intermediate values. Overall, environmental complexity had a limited effect on the behaviour of slow-growth meat chickens, although the perch presence translated into a higher percentage of standing. It is likely that the reduced effects of the environmental enrichment treatments would have been greater if more devices were introduced.

Feijão guandu cru na alimentação de frangos caipiras criados em sistema semi-intensivo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da substituição do farelo de soja pelo feijão guandu cru na alimentação de frangos caipiras criados em sistema semi-intensivo. Foram utilizados 525 frangos de corte da linhagem Caipira Pesadão, com idade inicial de 35 dias, distribuídos em cinco tratamentos com cinco repetições de 21 aves cada um. Os tratamentos consistiram na substituição de 0, 5, 10, 15 e 20% do farelo de soja pelo feijão guandu cru moído. Foram avaliados o ganho de peso, o consumo de ração, a conversão alimentar, o rendimento de carcaça e de cortes, o peso do pâncreas e a qualidade da carne. A substituição do farelo de soja pelo feijão guandu em até 15,45%, nas dietas de frangos caipiras de corte, com idade de 57 a 71 dias, não altera o ganho de peso. O aumento dos níveis de feijão guandu na ração não afeta o rendimento de carcaça, o peso do pâncreas e os parâmetros de qualidade da carne.

Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Enterococci and Escherichia coli in Meat Chicken Flocks During a Production Cycle and Egg Layer Pullets During Rearing

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and some enterococci are important zoonotic pathogens associated with poultry and some human illnesses. This study was conducted to evaluate the phenotypic antibiotic resistance and resistance genes during the production cycle of healthy free-range meat chickens and egg layer pullets raised in two different controlled farms in South Australia, in particular to determine at which point in the production cycle birds become colonized with antibiotic resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance was investigated in faecal E. coli (206) and enterococcal (252) isolates by agar dilution and polymerase chain reaction. Southern hybridization was carried on plasmids from selected multi-resistant E. coli isolates to determine the location of resistance genes. Our results revealed that birds are colonized with resistant bacteria encoding various resistance genes from a very early age. Resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline (and associated resistance genes) were the most frequently detected resistances in E. coli isolates from egg layer pullets and free-range meat chickens. Phenotypically resistant enterococcal isolates from 3-5 days old chickens carried genetic determinants for resistance to tetracycline, bacitracin and tylosin. Whilst statistical analysis revealed there was no significant differences (p<0.05) with the phenotypic resistance observed in the E. coli and enterococcal isolates from meat chickens and egg layer pullets, a significant difference was observed in resistant E. coli isolates containing blaTEM and tet genes. This study demonstrates that newly hatched chicks are already colonized with resistant bacteria which persist through the production cycle and can potentially contaminate eggs and chicken carcasses. This study also confirms that poultry are a potential source of pathogenic E. coli strains.

Free-choice feeding of free-range meat chickens

SUMMARY Interest in small- and medium-scale free-range poultry production for local and regional markets is growing, and alternative feeding methods should be considered. Free-choice feeding is a method that offers birds separate feedstuffs, such as grains, protein concentrates, and natural vitamin and mineral sources, from which they can self-select a diet suited to their changing needs. Free-choice feeding may prove useful in production systems with outdoor access because nutrient needs change widely due to temperature fluctuations and bird activity. Many small producers do not have access to the nutritional services that large producers do and may have specific goals in regard to nutrition, such as using farm-raised feed ingredients and pasture forage to provide nutrients. In addition, most organic programs do not permit the use of synthetic amino acids in feed. Free-choice methods have been used historically and can be useful for alternative producers, making use of farm-raised feeds to improve savings and increase nutrient cycling. In the current study, a fully formulated diet and free-choice diet were compared in a free-range system using slow-growing meat chickens. The formulated diet was a commercial product (20% CP), whereas the free-choice diet chosen by birds was much lower in CP (13%). Final live weights did not differ between treatments; however, ready-to-cook yield and breast yields were higher in the birds from the formulated treatment, most likely due to amino acid supplements in the formulated feed. The diet chosen by free-choice birds was less expensive than the formulated diet.

Range use and pasture consumption in free-range poultry production

The recent increase in free-range meat and egg production and consumption has led to extensive investigation in this area and has revealed that the level of animal performance achieved in such systems is low compared with that achieved in conventional production systems. In Australia, this difference has been attributed either to the absence of in-feed antibiotics or to range access, which may result in exposure to detrimental climatic conditions, predators, disease, welfare challenges and nutrient dilution. Moreover, although poultry in free-range systems have ready access to outside runs, not all birds utilise them optimally. Pasture consumption results in dilution of energy and protein intake and may cause impaction and dietary electrolyte imbalance. This paper provides an overview of these issues to provide a conceptual framework for further study in this area.

Comparison of antimicrobial resistance patterns in enterococci from intensive and free range chickens in Australia

Resistance to antimicrobials in enterococci from poultry has been found throughout the world and is generally recognized as associated with antimicrobial use. This study was conducted to evaluate the phenotypic and genotypic profile of enterococcal isolates of intensive (indoor) and free range chickens from 2008/09 and 2000 in order to determine the patterns of antimicrobial resistance associated with different management systems. The minimum inhibitory concentrations in faecal enterococci isolates were determined by agar dilution. Resistance to bacitracin, ceftiofur, erythromycin, lincomycin, tylosin and tetracycline was more common among meat chickens (free range and intensive) than free range egg layers (P<0.05). Isolates were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction for bacitracin (bcrR), tylosin (ermB), tetracycline (tet(L), tet(M), tet(O), tet(S), and tet(K)), gentamicin (aac6-aph2), vancomycin (vanC and vanC2), ampicillin (pbp5) and integrase (int) genes. Resistance to bacitracin, erythromycin and tetracycline were found to be correlated with the presence of bcrR, ermB, and tet genes in most of the isolates collected from meat chickens. Most bacteria encoding ermB gene were found to express cross-resistance to erythromycin, tylosin and lincomycin. No significant difference was found in these resistance genes between isolates sampled in 2000 and 2008/09 (P<0.5). Unlike the enterococcal strains sampled in 2000, the 2008/09 isolates were found to be susceptible to vancomycin and virginiamycin. This study provides evidence that, despite strict regulation imposed on antibiotic usage in poultry farming in Australia, antimicrobial resistance is present in intensively raised and free range meat chickens.

Genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex region in commercial and noncommercial chicken flocks using the LEI0258 microsatellite marker

Microsatellite marker LEI0258 was used as an indicator to examine the variability of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region in 2 commercial layer flocks, 1 experimental layer cross, and 5 noncommercial flocks (used for free-run and free-range meat and egg production). We hypothesized that the populations from noncommercial sources may have more diversity in MHC genes than that in the commercial-source populations. Two related parameters, heterozygosity and the number of alleles harbored by a population, were used to assess the genetic variability. The different combinations of the 22 alleles created 66 genotypes in the 8 chicken populations that were studied. The noncommercial populations, except for the Silkies (SK), harbored more alleles than those in the 2 commercial populations, Lohmann Brown and Lohmann White. The observed heterozygosity of the MHC region was high in all of the populations, except for SK. Considering the 2 parameters we have examined, we can generalize that the intensively selected commercial egg-layer varieties seem to have less genetic variability in their MHC regions compared with that of the noncommercial flocks, which are less intensively selected. The LEI0258 variants can be used as markers to detect most of the MHC haplotypes, but in the different populations the same allele size may not always be associated with the same serologically defined haplotype. The information obtained from this study will be useful for genetic resource conservation and the development of breeding stocks that are suitable for free-range production.