{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:30:58Z","timestamp":1787027458869,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]],"date-time":"2026-06-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1781049600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Espa\u00f1a","award":["FS\/10.13039\/100007801 22620\/PI\/24"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["FS\/10.13039\/100007801 22620\/PI\/24"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In recent decades, conservation of local poultry breeds has gained relevance to preserve genetic resources adapted to low-input systems and to enhance their valorization. This study addresses a key knowledge gap by providing a comprehensive characterization of the endangered Murciana chicken breed, native to southeastern Spain. We jointly evaluate recent population dynamics, conservation framework, morphology and morphometrics, growth patterns, and reproductive and productive traits. Data includes census and pedigree records, standardized morphological assessments, growth modeling, and production data from the conservation nucleus. The population increased from fewer than 150 registered animals in 2017 to more than 550 in 2024, indicating stabilization. The breed showed characteristics of slow-growing dual-purpose Mediterranean genotypes, with marked sexual dimorphism, Gompertz relative growth rates of 0.020 d\u22121 (males) and 0.023 d\u22121 (females), and adult weights of 3.2 kg and 2.4 kg, respectively. Carcass yield was moderate (61.9%), with higher leg (36.7%) than breast proportion (16.9%). Reproductive (fertility 88.6%, hatchability 80.6%) and laying performance (116.6 eggs\/hen\/year) were consistent with local extensive systems. These results provide a robust baseline to support conservation, genetic management, and sustainable use of the Murciana chicken breed, contributing to its long-term preservation and valorization.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16121793","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]],"date-time":"2026-06-10T09:25:17Z","timestamp":1781083517000},"page":"1793","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Characterization of a Recovered Mediterranean Chicken Breed: The Case of Murciana"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5454-7632","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Mart\u00ednez-Mart\u00ednez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Polit\u00e9cnica de Cartagena Member of European University of Technology EUT+, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8011-6999","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Achille","family":"Schiavone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Polit\u00e9cnica de Cartagena Member of European University of Technology EUT+, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8399-9865","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan","family":"Orengo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6106-3991","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eva","family":"Armero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Polit\u00e9cnica de Cartagena Member of European University of Technology EUT+, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2970","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2014-04291","article-title":"Growth, efficiency, and yield of commercial broilers from 1957, 1978, and 2005","volume":"93","author":"Zuidhof","year":"2014","journal-title":"Poult. 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