Robusta Maculata
Geographic origin: Veneto (Rovigo)
Geographic distribution: Veneto
Estimated total population size: 433 (Castillo et al., 2021)
Extinction risk status (FAO, 1998): Threatened conserved
Historical origin of the breed
Created in 1965 at the Poultry Experimental Station of Rovigo, using the Brown Orpington and White America breeds. It is included in the National Plan on Biodiversity in Agriculture as a local breed, and in the Atlas of Traditional Agri-food Products (Atlante dei Prodotti Agroalimentari Tradizionali) of the Veneto region.
Qualitative morphological traits
Feather morphology: Normal
Feather distribution: Normal
Plumage structure: Soft, abundant
Plumage colours: White plumage with black spots
Colour features: Bi-colour, with sexual dimorphism
Colour pattern: In the male, neck hackle white/silver with black feathers with black striping; rest of plumage silver with irregular black spots; primaries, main tail feathers and sickle feathers black with beetle-green sheen. In the female, white/silver plumage with large deep grey/black spots, irregularly spread on the body.
Chick plumage colour: Dark down with little light yellow spots, yellow belly down, brown spot on the head
Comb type: Single comb, upright, well developed
Comb spikes: Five to six spikes
Ear-lobe colour: Red
Beak colour: Yellow
Iris colour: Orange to red
Skin colour: Yellow
Shank colour: Yellow
Shank feathering: Free from feathers
Quantitative morphological traits
Genetic traits
Characterisation of the breed with Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)
Characterisation of nucleus populations with microsatellites and mating plans
Reproductive and productive quantitative traits
Oviposition, brooding and incubation data
Egg-quality traits
Reproductive traits
Slaughter data (age: 24 weeks)
Rearing traits
The presented data were registered in the nucleus population conserved at the “Sasse Rami” Experimental Farm, in Ceregnano (Rovigo).
Latest update: October 14th, 2023
Download the technical data sheet of the Robusta maculata breed:
(The layout of the data sheet is ready for the booklet format. Print on both sides of paper, selecting “flip on short edge”.)