Research Article

Comparison of conformation and laying performance of various pheasant species

Lidia Felska-Błaszczyk, Kamil Pohorecki

West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 14(2), 2015, 93‒108

Abstract. The aim of this study was to compare body weight and measurements of selected Physianidae species, egg production, egg weight and shape. The study included the common pheasant (emph{Phasianus colchicus}), golden pheasant (emph{Chrysolophus pictus}), yellow golden pheasant (emph{Chrysolophus pictus luteus}), Lady Amherst's pheasant (emph{Chrysolophus amherstiae}) and Reeves's pheasant (emph{Syrmaticus reevesi}). We examined 50 individuals, 10 of each species, and the offspring of yellow golden and Lady Amherst's pheasants, which were weighed at 1, 4, 8, and 20 weeks of age. Measurements of adult pheasants included body weight, body length, and wing and head length. During the breeding season, eggs of the genus emph{Chrysolophus} they were collected, weighed and egg shape index was calculated. Distinct sexual dimorphism in the body weight of young males and females was observed, confirmed statistically for yellow golden pheasants. A number of statistical differences were found in body weight and conformation traits between the species of pheasants and between the sexes within species among adults. The highest body weights were attained by male Reeves's pheasants. The smallest pheasants were yellow golden pheasants, which also produced the highest number of eggs in 2014. Lady Amherst's pheasants laid the largest eggs.

Keywords: common pheasants, ornamental pheasants, laying performance, conformation