12. Evolution and status dynamics of poultry breeding activities in Bulgaria

Author: Emilija Georgieva

DOI: n/a

Abstract

An analysis of the poultry breeding evolution and the status of breeding activities is made for the 1989-2012 period. It is found that after 1989 the number of gallinaceous species birds has decreased nearly 3 times, turkeys – 4, geese – more than 7 times, and the number of ducks has increased 5,5 times. At the end of 2011 64,2 % of the hens are kept in 54 farms, as in 11 farms are kept over 100.000; 71,5% of the broilers are finished in 54 farms. Over the last 5 years the average egg production per hen varies in the limits of 190-208 eggs, and the average broiler weight is 1,617 kg, being more with 20 and 54,6 % respectively in comparison with 1989. the breeding activities are provided by one breeding organization, established in 2000, controlling 649676 birds. The main herd nuclei are in the farms of the Livestock Institutes of Kostinbrod and Stara Zagora towns. Egg production and egg weight of the pedigree herds of the controlled populations at 32 weeks age are close to the norms of the leading companies and the up to 60 week’s hatchability is approximately 5% lower.