Robusta Lionata

Geographic origin: Veneto (Rovigo)

Geographic distribution: Veneto

Estimated total population size: 452 (Castillo et al., 2021)

Extinction risk status (FAO, 1998): Threatened conserved

Historical origin of the breed

The Robusta Lionata breed was created in 1965 at the Poultry Experimental Station of Rovigo. It was created using the Tawny Orpington and White America breeds during the selection process. The breed is characterised by good egg and meat production, and it is reared for niche products. Hens show high aptitude for broodiness and parental care, also towards eggs and chicks of other species. It is included as a local breed in the National Plan on Biodiversity in Agriculture and in the Atlas of Traditional Agri-food Products (Atlante dei Prodotti Agroalimentari Tradizionali) of the Veneto region.

Pictures from the archives of Prof. Gabriele Baldan and Prof. Massimo De Marchi.

Qualitative morphological traits

Feather morphology: Normal

Feather distribution: Normal

Plumage structure: Abundant, slightly soft

Plumage colours: Tawny

Colour features: Bi-colour, without sexual dimorphism

Colour pattern: In the male, yellow-tawny of a warm tone, hackle feathers with black and irregular spots or pencilling, flight feathers with brown veining. In the female, slight patterning on the back is admitted.

Robusta Lionata male (UniPD)

Robusta Lionata female (UniPD)

Chick plumage colour: Tawny down with little brown spots on the head

Comb type: Simple comb, upright

Comb spikes: Five to six spikes

Ear-lobe colour: Red

Beak colour: Orange

Iris colour: Orange to red

Skin colour: Yellow

Shank colour: Yellow

Shank feathering: Free from feathers

Quantitative morphological traits

RobustaLionata-Quantitativi_en

Genetic traits

Characterisation of the breed with Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)

RobustaLionata-GeneticiSNPs_en

Characterisation of nucleus populations with microsatellites and mating plans

RobustaLionata-GeneticiMicrosatelliti_en

Reproductive and productive quantitative traits

Oviposition, brooding and incubation data

RobustaLionata-Ovodeposizione_en

Egg-quality traits

RobustaLionata-Uovo1_en

RobustaLionata-Uovo2_en

Reproductive traits

RobustaLionata-Riproduttivi_en

Slaughter data (age: 24 weeks)

RobustaLionata-Macellazione_en

Rearing traits

RobustaLionata-Allevamento_en

The presented data were registered in the nucleus population conserved at the “Sasse Rami” Experimental Farm, in Ceregnano (Rovigo).

Latest update: October 14^th, 2023

Download the technical data sheet of the Robusta lionata breed:

Download the data sheet (A4)

Download the data sheet (booklet)

(The layout of the data sheet is ready for the booklet format. Print on both sides of paper, selecting “flip on short edge”.)

Year 1 results

Action 1 – Phenotypic characterisation – Year 1

Action 2 – Genetic characterisation – Year 1

UniPD activity report - Year 1 - Download pdf

Year 2 results

Action 1 – Phenotypic characterisation – Year 2

Action 2 – Genetic characterisation – Year 2

UniPD activity report - Year 2 - Download pdf

Year 3 results

Action 1 – Phenotypic characterisation – Year 3

Action 2 – Genetic characterisation – Year 3

UniPD activity report - Year 3 - Download pdf

Germplasm collection

43

The breed is conserved in our Cryobank with 43 semen doses from 7 donors.

Current consistency of the Cryobank

Bianca di Saluzzo

Bionda Piemontese

Collo nudo italiana

Ermellinata di Rovigo

Mericanel della Brianza

Millefiori di Lonigo

Millefiori piemontese

Robusta lionata

Robusta maculata

Valdarnese bianca