Alsacienne
| Conservation status | FAO (2007):
|
|---|---|
| Other names | French: Poule d'Alsace |
| Country of origin | France |
| Distribution | |
| Use | dual-purpose, eggs and meat |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Comb type | rose comb, ends in a spike |
| Classification | |
| APA | not listed[3] |
| EE | yes[4] |
| PCGB | not listed[5] |
| |
The Alsacienne (French pronunciation: [alzasjɛn] ⓘ) or Poule d'Alsace (French pronunciation: [pul dalzas]) is a breed of domestic chicken from Alsace, in eastern France.[6] It was selectively bred in the 1890s, at a time when Alsace was part of the German Empire.[7] Unlike most other French breeds, it has not been cross-bred with imported Oriental stock.[2]
History
The Alsacienne is an ancient breed, perhaps as long-established as the Bresse Gauloise, which it closely resembles. The present type was formed in the late nineteenth century by selective breeding for a dual-purpose bird; Alsace was at this time a part of the German Empire. The Alsacienne may be related to the German Rheinländer breed,[6] but is differentiated from it by the shape of the comb. In the twentieth century the breed came close to disappearance, and is still regarded as being at risk.[7] A bantam was created in Alsace by Herscher, Hirschner and Trog; it was on the "endangered" list of the FAO in 2007.[1]
Characteristics
Four colours are recognised for the Alsacienne: black, blue-laced, golden salmon and white.[4] The ear-lobes are white.[2]
Use
The Alsacienne is a good layer of large white eggs, which weigh at least 60 g (2.1 oz).[2]
In a tasting of the meat of 30 traditional French chicken breeds by a jury of well-known chefs including Pierre Troisgros, the Alsacienne was placed second, after the poulet de Bresse.[7]
See also
References
- ^ a b Rischkowsky, Barbara; Pilling, Dafydd, eds. (2007). "Annex: Breeds currently recorded in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources" (PDF). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: FAO. ISBN 978-92-5-105762-9.
- ^ a b c d e Alain Fournier (2005). L'élevage des poules. Paris: Artémis. ISBN 9782844163509.
- ^ APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
- ^ a b Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
- ^ Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
- ^ a b Breed data sheet: Poule d'Alsace/France. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2014.
- ^ a b c Races de volailles françaises (in French). ProNaturA France (Fédération Française des Associations pour une Protection non Anthropomorphiste de la Nature et des Animaux). Accessed October 2014.