Technological features and breeding methods for meat-producing pigeon breeds

Pigeons are raised for meat, as well as for sporting and decorative purposes; in agriculture, meat pigeon breeding is of importance. Pigeon meat, especially in young birds, is characterized by a fine-fibered structure. A pair of meat-breed pigeons produces 14–16 squabs per year, each of which weighs 600–700 g at one month of age; consequently, 8–9 kg of high-quality meat can be obtained. The slaughter weight of 40-day-old meat-breed squabs reaches 70–72%. The edible parts of the carcass weight account for 69–71%, including muscle tissue at 49–52%. Their meat is succulent, with intramuscular and connective tissue fat infiltration. It contains 12–13% crude protein, 14–15% fat, 1–1.2% ash, and 60–63% water.

Pigeon breeding yields a high income only if the industry is managed correctly. Fast-growing young birds from prolific stock are selected for breeding. Pigeons live in pairs, and if you do not interfere in the life of such a pair, the male and female will live together for years. But since not all pigeons are identical in meat qualities, planned mating is resorted to. Two methods of mating are used — natural and forced. In the first method, the pigeons form pairs themselves; in the second, the pigeons selected for mating are placed in pairs in special cages. After mating, the pigeons are banded and moved to a common nesting facility. In the breeding flock, the number of males and females should be equal. Inbreeding is not allowed.

Methods of breeding pigeons can vary depending on the set goal. In meat pigeon breeding, crossbreeding of different breeds is sometimes used to improve meat qualities. But usually

10 [S. I. Smetiev 273] purebred breeding is used, selecting pairs based on meat conformation, physique, and growth rate. Basically, pigeons are mated in spring and summer. During this period, pigeons produce 4–5 clutches. However, in meat pigeon breeding, when appropriate housing and feeding conditions are created, the breeding season can be extended. To ensure that the mating of pigeons proceeds more smoothly, the males are separated into another room 1–1.5 months before the start of the breeding season.

Pigeon lofts should be sufficiently spacious, bright, dry, and clean. Usually, they are built long, with a single-pitch roof, a height of 210 cm at the front, 180 cm at the back, a width of about 5 m, and a passage width of 1 m along the rear wall. The loft is partitioned into sections 3.5 m long. One such section (with an area of 14 m²) houses 30–40 pairs of meat pigeons. In smaller sections, 12 pairs of pigeons are kept.

Nests are most often made in four tiers. Each nest is best divided in half so that the female can start laying eggs in an empty nest while squabs are still present in the neighboring one. The length of a double nest is 60 cm, depth 40 cm, and height 35 cm. A small threshold is installed at the entrance to the nest, and a shelf is placed in front of the nest, which the bird flies onto before entering. Each nest section is made removable, which facilitates cleaning. An outdoor area for walking, fenced with wire mesh, is provided in front of the loft. The floor in the room is covered with a 2–3 cm layer of sand, which is renewed every day. The room, nests, and all equipment are thoroughly cleaned, washed, and disinfected twice a year. The temperature in the loft is maintained at 5°C in winter. The birds need fresh air.

Pigeons are fed mainly grain. The diet should contain about 15% protein and no more than 5% fiber. When formulating the grain part of the diet, feeds rich in vitamins (yellow corn, red millet) and protein (peas, lentils, etc.) are used. A grain mixture can be made, for example, according to the following recipe: yellow corn 35%, red millet 20%, peas 20%, wheat offal 15%, oat groats 5%, hemp seed 5%.

With high productivity, a pair of pigeons consumes about 46 kg of grain and grain by-products and 2.7 kg of mineral feed per year (taking into account the feeding of nestlings for the first 3–4 weeks). Pigeons should also be given greens. In winter, it is grown specifically on trays. Mineral feed must be constantly available in open feeders. Local and cheapest feeds are used when formulating diets. It is also necessary to add trace elements to the pigeons' diets. The daily requirement of the pigeon body for trace elements is as follows: iron sulfate 0.6 mg, copper sulfate 0.06 mg, manganese sulfate 1.8 mg, zinc sulfate 0.07 mg, cobalt carbonate 0.05 mg, potassium iodide 0.02 mg.

Feeders and drinkers for pigeons must comply with veterinary requirements and provide free access to food and water. It is necessary to have separate feeders for mineral feed. With the wet feeding type, feeders and drinkers are washed daily. Pigeons love to bathe very much, so in the summer, a bath made of galvanized iron is placed in the loft. Its depth should not exceed 10 cm. The bathing water should be at room temperature, clean, and fresh, as pigeons drink it while bathing. Bathing prevents the appearance of parasites and cleans the plumage.

A dove usually lays one egg and the second one a day later. The male and female take turns incubating the eggs and feed the squabs together. When the squabs reach the age of 2—3 weeks, the dove often lays two more eggs in another part of the nest, while the cock continues to feed the squabs. Parents feed the young with a milk-like substance from their crops. If one of the squabs dies within the first 7—10 days, it is replaced with a squab of the same age taken from another nest. Squabs begin to peck at feed at the age of 4—5 weeks.

Breeding young birds are separated at 6 weeks of age, although in small operations they are left with their parents. Meat-type pigeons can be mated at 6—8 months of age.

For meat production, pigeons are ready as early as 30—40 days of age. They can be fattened in multi-tier cages for 5—10 days. The pigeon carcass is plucked immediately after slaughter and cooled right away. They are packed in shallow boxes lined with paper.