Potentials of newly selected chicken genotypes for dual-purpose under organic conditions

Motivated by consumer concerns for animal welfare, several European countries have recently banned the culling of day-old male chicks from layer lines. Germany and France were the first countries to enact this binding prohibition, and in Germany, Article 1 § 4c of the Tierschutzgesetz (TierSchG) makes it a punishable offence to kill a vertebrate animal without reasonable cause. Economic unprofitability, which is the key reason for killing day-old male chicks from layer lines, whose genetically determined productivity is insufficient for commercial meat production, is explicitly excluded as a sufficient justification for the taking of animal life. Consequently, alternative systems such as dual-purpose poultry, in which both males and females are reared for commercial use, have gained importance. However, knowledge on the management and productivity of dual-purpose chickens is still limited. This study assessed the potential of selected dual-purpose chicken genotypes as an alternative to single-purpose poultry in organic production systems. Three genotypes with different performance profiles were reared and compared to commercial layer and broiler types as controls under organic husbandry guidelines. Due to biosecurity measures for avian influenza, males had access only to a covered outdoor run, while females were restricted to covered areas from 18 to 28 and 60-72 weeks, with full pasture access between 28 and 60 weeks of age. In the fattening trial, dual-purpose males required 37-50% longer to reach a target weight of 2.1 kg compared to the control, but exhibited more balanced growth of valuable cuts, whereas the control showed disproportionately high breast meat yield. Meat quality in dual-purpose males was not compromised relative to the control. Laying performance in dual-purpose hens was 19-25% lower than the control, with feed conversion ratios of 2.62-3.43 vs 2.14 in the control. However, due to their dual-purpose nature, the meat yield in these hens was 17-27% higher. While significant differences were observed in performance, egg quality remained similar across genotypes, and meat quality varied slightly. Economic evaluations indicated scenarios of short-, medium-, and long-term profitability depending on production goals and market context. Overall, dual-purpose poultry may represent a promising alternative for farming systems prioritising ethical considerations and product quality.