Pita Pinta Asturiana
{{Short description|Spanish breed of chicken}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{use list-defined references|date=August 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{infobox poultry breed
| name = Pita Pinta Asturiana
| image = 2602 Pitapinta.JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| image_caption =
| status = {{ubl|FAO (2007): endangered{{r|barb|page=110}}|DAD-IS (2021): at risk{{r|dad2}}}}
| altname = {{unbulleted list|Pita Pinta{{r|dad}}|Pinta Asturiana}}
| country = Spain
| distribution = Principality of Asturias
| standard =
| use = dual-purpose, eggs and meat
| nickname =
| apa = no{{r|apa}}
| aba =
| ee = no{{r|ee}}
| pcgb = no{{r|pcgb}}
| maleweight = {{convert|4|–|4.5|kg|abbr=on}}
| femaleweight = {{convert|2.7|kg|0|abbr=on}}{{r|guia}}
| skincolour = yellow
| eggcolour =burnt cream
| comb = single
| note =
| type = Chicken
| latin = Gallus gallus domesticus
}}
The Pita Pinta Asturiana is a Spanish breed of chicken. It is the only chicken breed indigenous to the principality of Asturias, in north-western Spain.
Etymology
The name comes from the Asturian language, in which pita means "hen" and pinta means "painted" or "mottled".
History
The breed belongs to the Atlantic branch of domestic chickens and has common origins with other chicken breeds in the north of Spain, such as the Euskal Oiloa of the Basque Country.{{r|guia}} With the industrialisation of egg production in Asturias in the 1950s and 1960s, breed numbers fell dramatically, almost to the point of extinction. Recovery of the breed began between 1980 and 1990.{{r|standard}} A breeders' association, the Asociación de Criadores de la Pita Pinta Asturiana, was founded in 2003; its 52 members have a total of 1842 birds.{{r|accpa}} A herd-book was established in 2005; at the end of 2013, a total of 2172 birds were recorded.{{r|mapa}}
Characteristics
The Pita Pinta is compact and of medium weight; cocks weigh about {{nobreak|4–4.5 kg}}, hens about {{nobreak|2.5–3 kg}}.{{r|standard}} The comb is single with 5 to 7 points, smaller in hens than in cocks. The earlobes are always red, and the eyes orange. The skin is yellow, and the beak and legs yellow with black spots. There are four colour varieties: Pinta Negra (mottled black); Pinta Roxa (mottled red-brown); Blanca (white); and Abedul (black).{{r|standard}} In the Pinta Negra variety the feathers are black, edged with white, giving the characteristic mottled look.{{r|guia}}
Ring size is {{convert|20|mm|1|abbr=on}} for cocks and {{convert|18|mm|1|abbr=on}} for hens.{{r|standard}}
Use
The Pita Pinta is a good, regular layer, tough and responsive to the environment. Eggs are the colour of burnt cream, with a soft texture, and weigh {{nobreak|60–65 g}} (about 2 oz).{{r|guia|standard}}
References
{{commonscat|Pita Pinta Asturiana}}
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Further reading
{{refbegin}}
- G. Attard, P. Aquilina, S. Ceccobelli, R. Ridler, C. Castellini, E. Lasagna (2014). [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9261609&fileId=S0043933914000397 Origin and complete breed standard of Maltese Black breed]. World's Poultry Science Journal 70 (2, June 2014): 385–396. {{doi|10.1017/S0043933914000397}}. {{Subscription required}}
- A. Grimal, M.P. Viudes de Castro, E.A. Gómez, F. Goyache, L.J. Royo (2011). [http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20113232129.html Posible origen materno común de dos poblaciones de gallinas: resultados preliminares del análisis del ADN mitocondrial = Possible common maternal origin of two hen populations: preliminary results of mitochondrial DNA analysis]. In: XIV Jornadas sobre Producción Animal, Zaragoza, España, 17 y 18 de mayo de 2011. {{ISBN|978-84-615-0062-8}}. {{nobreak|p. 482–484.}} {{Subscription required}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://lapitapinta.galeon.com/ La Pita Pinta Asturiana] Site with pictures of the Pita Pinta.
{{Chicken breeds of Spain}}
Category:Chicken breeds originating in Spain
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