Phenotypic characterization of the Italian chicken breed Milanino

In Italy, 90 local avian breeds were described, the majority (61%) were classified extinct and only 8.9% still present in rural farms. Therefore, efforts for conservation of Italian avian breeds are urgently required. Milanino is a chicken composite breed selected at the beginning of the 20th century in Lombardia region and was included in a conservation project run by the University of Milan since 2012. This study was aimed to characterize the phenotypic features of Milanino chickens in a small breeder population according to FAO guidelines for phenotypic characterization of animal genetic resources. Ten cockerels and 47 hens were kept in indoor floor pens with controlled environment at the Poultry Unit (University of Milan, Lodi) during the reproductive season (January-June) in 2014. The following phenotypic traits have been recorded at 36 weeks of age: colour of plumage, skin, eye, earlobe, tibia tarsus and comb type. Body weight, body length, wing span, tibia tarsus length and circumference, and chest circumference have been measured. Egg production and egg weight have been recorded daily. The birds had beautiful plumage plain white and soft, simple comb and orange eyes. The birds had white skin, white tibia tarsus and white or red earlobe. Phenotypic quantitative traits showed a great variability. Milanino breed is characterized by sexual dimorphism; males had heavier body weight and higher chest circumference compared to females. Mean body weight recorded in males was 3562 ± 358 g and in females was 2545 ± 373 g. The mean egg production was 3.24 eggs/female/week and mean egg weight was 58.9 ± 3.4 g. The results of this trial will be fundamental to include Milanino into “Registro anagrafico delle razze avicole autoctone”, established by Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali in Italy on 2014 (MIPAAF, prot. 1st October 2014 n. 0019536).