Growth and development of young game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) (original) (raw)
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Comparing growth and condition in post release juvenile common pheasants on different diets
Poultry Science, 2002
We studied juvenile common pheasants Phasianus colchicus in 10 large open-topped release pens in woodlands on a shooting estate in southern England in 1998. In six pens the pheasants were fed a pelleted high-protein feed from 6 to 16 wk of age; in the four other pens they were fed the diet from 6 to 10 wk and then wheat grain only from 10 to 16 wk. Natural plant and animal food was also available to the birds in and around the release pens. When a sample of previously tagged, numbered, and weighed birds was caught from each pen and reweighed at 16 wk of age, we noted that birds from pens that remained on the high-protein feed had gained more weight than those from pens in which the diet was switched to grain only (P < 0.05). Of approximately 500 tagged birds collected during shooting days between 5
Folia Biologica, 2012
Body weight and some biometrical traits of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) at different ages. Folia biologica (Kraków) 60: 79-84. Although the growth of pheasants is an important issue, there are few publications providing information on body weight and morphometrics of pheasants at different ages. The aim of this study was to investigate body weight, tarsus length, wing length and wingspan in farmed pheasants aged 3-16 weeks. The study was carried out on 50 pheasants (31 females and 19 males). All one-day old birds were marked and kept until the 16 JD week of life. In the 3 H@ , 8 JD , 12 JD and 16 JD weeks of life all pheasants were weighted and tarsus length, wing length and wingspan were measured. Male chicks appeared to be significantly heavier than females (P#0.01) already in the third week of life. Also their wings were longer and their wingspan attained higher values (P#0.05). Absolute gains of the majority of traits also differed between sexes (being larger in males) in all studied periods. Values of body weight, tarsus length and wingspan noted in the third week of life were significantly correlated with all later measurements. Thus body weight and some biometrical traits of pheasant chicks measured already at the 3 H@ week of life could be applied as predictors of future body weight and size.
Early Nutrition Causes Persistent Effects on Pheasant Morphology
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 2001
Differences in growth conditions during early ontogeny have been suggested to cause permanent effects on the morphology and quality of birds. Yearly variation in growth conditions could thus result in morphological and quality differences between cohorts. In this study, we investigated the effect of small differences in the dietary protein content of captive ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) during their first 8 wk posthatching. An experimental increase of the proportion of dietary protein during the first 3 wk of life accelerated growth, whereas a similar manipulation during the following 5 wk had only a limited effect. Compensatory growth during the postexperimental period equalized the size of chicks from different experimental treatments. However, a difference in tarsus length resulting from experimental treatment during the first 3 wk remained into adulthood. Furthermore, the protein content of the diet during the first 3 wk had an effect on the degree of fluctuating asymmetry in tarsus length, suggesting persistent effects on the quality of birds. The results of this study may explain size differences between cohorts that exist in pheasants and may also provide a link between the use of pesticides in agriculture and population effects on pheasants.
Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi, 2021
Male and female mixed 200 pheasants were reared in intensive and outdoor conditions to assess the meat quality and some digestive tract traits. Color, pH, cooking loss, water holding capacity and drip loss were determined as meat quality traits. Production system did not have significant effect on most of meat quality traits. Conversely, most of these traits were affected by slaughter age. Water holding capacity significantly decreased but cooking loss increased by slaughter age. Total digestive system weight rate to body weight was decreased by slaughter age but did not differ between production systems. Small and large intestine lengths were significantly longer in indoor system and significantly decreased by slaughter age.
Ciência e Técnica Vitivinícola
The aim of this research was to evaluate the growth rate of body weight and wing length of green and ring-necked pheasants reared up to 14th week of life and fed with allmash mixture. In every successive week of life the birds were weighed and their wing length was measured. It was found that the body weight of green and ring-necked pheasants of both sexes was increasing with bird age. In all successive weeks, except of the 3rd week of rearing, sexual dimorphism of body weight was observed, that was significant (P≤0.05). Males have body weight greater than females. Like body weight, wing length of pheasants was increasing with age and sexual dimorphism of wing length was also observed. Males have wing length more than females. The highest growth rate of body weight was observed up to 9th week of life.
Copunisation of pheasants at different age
The effects of caponisation on live weight, weight gain, carcass characteristics and blood plasma values of pheasants were examined. Eighty pheasants reared in feathered game nurserie were included in experiment. The birds were castrated at 8 or 12 weeks of age. The age of castration up to 12 weeks showed complete testicular regeneration while when castration was performed at 8 weeks of age testicular regeneration reached 25%. Pheasant capons, that were fed higher protein diet, showed lower live weights but higher dressing percentages than game pheasants. Weight and weight gain of pheasant capons were increased till December. Blood plasma values showed significantly higher levels (P<0.01) of Ca, total protein and albumin for pheasant capons but these differences were related to composition of feed mixtures. We concluded that pheasant capons fed higher protein diet represents better commercial product than pheasant reared as game animals but that more studies under different feedi...
A note on meat quality traits of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)
European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2010
Meat yield, proximate composition, pH and drip loss of breast and thigh muscles were studied in 29 hunted male and 32 slaughtered female pheasants. In the breast muscles of additional 14 hunted male pheasants, colour, cooking loss and shear force were measured. Weight of muscles of hunted male pheasants was higher than that of slaughtered females, but the percentages of breast and thigh muscles relative to the dressed carcass did not differ. Average protein concentrations in lean muscles were above 22%, and average fat was below 1.2%. In breast muscles, pH 24 was lower than in thigh (ca. 5.6 vs. 6.0), and, consequently, drip loss was higher (2.2-3.0% vs. 1.0-1.5%). Colour of breast muscles was characterised by L*a*b* values of about 55, 4 and 8-9, respectively. The shear force of breast muscles was about 30 N/cm 2 .