Which breed is best for meat pigeon farming?

In our country, the breeds of meat pigeons are very diverse. According to incomplete statistics, the number has already reached more than 20 kinds, widely distributed in large and small farms across the country, and each breed has its own characteristics. As the meat pigeon market continues to heat up, and given the low threshold for raising pigeons, quite a few people have come up with the idea of raising meat pigeons at home. So which breed is best for raising meat pigeons?

1. White King Pigeon

The White King Pigeon has uniform plumage all over its body, entirely white, with a white-skinned carcass and very few cases of reversion to ancestral traits. Its body size is relatively large, its growth rate is relatively fast, and its production performance is relatively good. Pigeon raisers habitually refer to pigeons with uniform white plumage collectively as White King Pigeons. Among them, the most representative White King Pigeon, and the one most welcomed by pigeon raisers, is undoubtedly the Tiancheng King Pigeon No. 1 breeding pigeon, carefully bred by Tiancheng Pigeon Industry under the guidance of the Poultry Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Henan Provincial Meat Pigeon Improved Breed Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center, and many well-known domestic breeding experts. Its egg-laying potential is 6-7 eggs per pair per month, and its incubation potential reaches 24-28 squabs per year. It has good incubation and lactation performance, can nurse 4 squabs at a time, and squabs at three weeks of age can reach 500 grams. It has a broad breast and thick meat, with high yield and fast growth, and is suitable for the vast majority of pigeon farms.

2. Silver King Pigeon

The Silver King Pigeon is also called the Silver King. Its whole body is covered with silver-gray feathers tinged slightly with brown, with two obvious black bands on the wing feathers. The abdomen and tail appear light gray-red, while the neck feathers appear purplish-red with a slight metallic luster. After multi-line crossbreeding by Tiancheng Pigeon Industry, the Tiancheng Silver King Pigeon has a robust body, is large in size with plenty of meat, has good nursing performance and good incubation performance. An adult pigeon can weigh 1.4 jin-1.6 jin. Live pigeons are quite popular in vegetable markets and in barbecue markets in Northeast China and other places. Its annual production potential is about more than 24 squabs, and it is also a relatively good breeding pigeon breed.

3. Mondain Pigeon

The Mondain Pigeon is also called the Mondain, Montauban, or Mondengo pigeon. It is not good at flying and likes to walk, so it is also called the ground pigeon. It originated in France and Italy. At present there are four types: crested, plain-headed, muffed, and clean-legged. Its body is relatively long, broad, deep, and sturdy; its neck is thick and strong; and its plumage color is varied. Adult pigeons weigh 700-900 grams and produce 7-8 pairs of squabs per year.

4. Carneau Pigeon (also called Red Pigeon)

The Carneau Pigeon is also called the Carneau, Carna pigeon, red pigeon, or field pigeon, and Americans also call it the American pigeon. Its place of origin is northern Germany and southern Belgium. It is a medium-sized meat pigeon and a famous pigeon in the world of pigeon breeding. Its forehead protrudes forward, its head and neck are relatively thick, its eyes are small and deeply set, its body is round and full, sturdy and strong, and it stands upright with its tail drooping close to the ground. Its plumage colors include red, pure white, black, and others, with pure red being the most precious, pure white and pure yellow both being top grade, and other colors being non-standard. It has high reproductive capacity, can raise more than 7 pairs of squabs per year, and its meat quality is excellent.

5. Shiqi Pigeon

The Shiqi Pigeon is an excellent meat pigeon breed first successfully bred in Zhongshan County, Guangdong Province, China. Because it is largely concentrated and produced in Shiqi Town, Zhongshan County, Guangdong Province, it is named the Shiqi Pigeon. The Shiqi Pigeon was developed through multi-line crossbreeding of the Runt, Carneau, King, and local pigeons. The Shiqi Pigeon has a long body shaped like a plantain bud, similar in size to the King Pigeon, with varied plumage colors, commonly tile-gray and checkered, and also quite a few red and fancy pigeons. The Shiqi Pigeon has strong reproductive capacity, laying 7-8 pairs of eggs per year; it has strong adaptability, tolerates coarse feed, has a docile temperament, good feather quality, tender meat, soft bones, and delicious flavor, enjoys a high reputation at home and abroad, and is deeply welcomed by consumers.

The above are the meat pigeon breeds recommended by the editor. In meat pigeon farming, choosing a good breed is key. Although meat pigeon breeds have fairly good adaptability, if you can select the best among the best, it is still better to refer to them more thoroughly. For example, you can consult local pigeon farms that have been relatively successful, or consult professional breeding companies and farms in provinces and cities with similar local environments, or consult some experts, colleges, and research institutions in agriculture and animal husbandry; their results will be more professional.

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