Nero d’Italia

Geographic origin: Lombardy

Estimated total population size: 35 (Castillo et al., 2021)

Extinction risk status (FAO, 1998): Critical conserved

Historical origin of the breed

Even if the selection of the breed is recent, Nero d’Italia turkeys origin from a black turkey population spread throughout northern Italy before the introduction of American Bronze turkey. It is credible that Nero d’Italia breed could originate from the ancient French breed Noir de Solange, once very appreciated in crossbreedings to improve local populations.
In the past, Nero d’Italia females were used as brooding females, due to their very good brooding aptitude and to their light weight, which is not dangerous in case of stepping on the chicks.

Bibliography

Manuale STANDARD ITALIANO DELLE RAZZE AVICOLE (ITALIAN STANDARD OF POULTRY BREEDS Manual), FIAV, 2013-14.

Nero d’Italia – male (UniMI)

Nero d’Italia – female (UniMI)

Qualitative morphological traits

Plumage colours: Black

Colour features: Single colour

Colour pattern: Brilliant black throughout with black down both in the male and in the female. A slight bronze edging on back and tail feathers is admitted.

Head: Naked in the male, slightly feathered in the female on the central part of the skull

Neck: Medium-lengthed, arched

Caruncles: Well developed, on the head and the naked part of the neck, larger on the lower part; red, changing to blueish-white when excited. The fleshy protruberance above the beak elongates during excitement, more in the male than in the female.

Iris colour: Dark

Beak colour: Dark

Skin colour: White

Shank colour: Black in young birds, dark red to purple in the adult

Shank feathering: Free from feathers