Typification and characterisation of the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) game farms in Spain

Abstract

This research typified and characterised the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) game farms in Spain using structural and marketing variables. A structured survey was given to 25 private-owned farms in May 2010. A categorical principal components analysis performed to typify the farms yielded two dimensions. First dimension explained 50.5% of the variance and included the variables "number of females in the breeding flock", and "the farm is of complete-cycle or not". Second dimension explained 32.3% of the variance and included the variables "age of the farm" and "the farm advertises its activity in the game press". A cluster analysis differentiated four farm typologies. Farm type 1 included 28% of the farms, being recent (established between 1990 and 2003), complete-cycle and medium-sized (breeding flock of 15 to 300 females), with low advertising activity in the game press and without a hunting preserve. Farm type 2 included 28% of the farms, being the most recent (established between 1994 and 2008), without breeding flock, with low advertising activity, and most have hunting preserve. Farm type 3 included 20% of the farms, being old (established between 1983 and 1992), without breeding flock and with high advertising activity; 40% of them have hunting preserve. Farm type 4 included 24% of the farms, being old (established between 1980 and 1995), complete-cycle and high-sized (breeding flock of 50 to 1,000 females), with high advertising activity; most have hunting preserve. In conclusion, this is an alternative poultry sub-sector consolidated in Spain, despite being only three decades old.Additional key words: advertising; alternative poultry; hunting species; multivariate analysis. Resumen Tipificación y caracterización de granjas cinegéticas de faisán (Phasianus colchicus) en EspañaSe tipificaron y caracterizaron granjas cinegéticas de faisán (Phasianus colchicus) en España usando variables de estructura y comercialización obtenidas mediante encuesta a 25 granjas privadas en 2010. Un análisis de componentes principales categóricos realizado para tipificar las granjas generó dos dimensiones. La primera dimensión explicó el 50,5% de la varianza e incluyó las variables "número de hembras reproductoras" y "la granja es de ciclo completo o no". La segunda dimensión explicó el 32,3% de la varianza e incluyó las variables "edad de la granja" y "la granja se publicita en prensa cinegética". Un análisis de conglomerados subsiguiente diferenció cuatro tipologías de granjas. La tipología 1 incluyó al 28% de las granjas, siendo recientes (fundadas entre 1990 y 2003), de ciclo completo y tamaño medio (15 a 300 hembras reproductoras), con baja actividad publicitaria en prensa cinegética y sin coto de caza. La tipología 2 incluyó un 28% de las granjas, siendo las más recientes (fundadas entre 1994 y 2008), sin reproductores, con baja actividad publicitaria y la mayoría con coto. La tipología 3 incluyó un 20% de las granjas, siendo antiguas (fundadas entre 1983 y 1992), sin plantel reproductor y con elevada actividad pu...

Haematological and Biochemical Parameters during the Laying Period in Common Pheasant Hens Housed in Enhanced Cages

“…Hen pheasants for breeding lay an average of 50 to 70 eggs during the reproductive season. As reported by González-Redondo and García-Domínguez [ 4 ] in Spain this season usually lasts from March to April and sometimes even until June or July.…”

“…Pheasants are usually kept in large flocks [ 3 ], in systems with external aviaries, harems, and colonies [ 4 ], in conventional cage systems [ 5 ], or more recently in enhanced cage systems [ 6 ].…”

The Quail Game Farming Sector in Spain

“…Quail game farms emerged contemporaneously with the establishment of the first red-legged partridge game farms [ 4 , 18 , 19 ], and in Spain, production both of these species was considered to be pioneer in terms of game farming. In fact, the commercial game farming of quails began in Spain before the game farming of pheasants (which started in 1980 [ 20 ]) and wild rabbits (which started in 1975 and became increasingly popular from 1990 [ 21 ]). Most of the surveyed quail farms were established between 1988 and 2003 ( Figure 1 ), when other main game species were being farmed (red-legged partridge, pheasant, and wild rabbit) and consolidated as an important part of a new, alternative farm sector in Spain [ 18 , 19 ].…”

“…The study was conducted in Spain by administering a survey to quail game farmers. It followed the same methodology that has been previously applied to other Spanish game farming sectors in order to characterise them [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Several sources (public registers, enterprise databases, press advertisements, web searches, and personal contacts) were used to find farms, and they were subsequently invited to take part in the survey.…”

Characterisation of wild rabbit commercial game farms in Spain

“…Farm characterisation has been widely used in livestock and game farming systems research (Castel et al, 2003;Pardos et al, 2008;Ruiz et al, 2008;González-Redondo et al, 2010;González-Redondo and García-Domínguez, 2012). This methodology has proven to be a very useful tool to enhance knowledge of the production subsectors and help technicians and the Administration make decisions aimed at better implementation and management of farm support programmes (Pardos et al, 2008).…”