Chicken - pheasant hybrids Could its meat become a high quality product?

The present survey aims to study hybrids of Gallus gallus x Phasianus colchicus and the reciprocal cross, describing different aspects and features of these birds, and providing too, information on the parental species, which belong to two different genera. Reproductive performances of the parental species will be described. Regarding hybrid birds, detailed information on their growing performances and feed conversion ratio will be recorded. Information on the morphology of adult birds will be reported, as well as phenotypical characteristics. Besides, the sex of adult birds will be identified, in order to find out if there is some sexual dimorphism. The kayotype obtained from good quality metaphase plates will be also presented. The development of male adult gonads will be studied histologically so as to establish a probable capacity of these birds to reproduce themselves, and finally, slaughter yields and some physical and chemical characteristics of the hybrid meat will be evaluated.