Caratteristiche morfofunzionali dei fagiani allevati in alcuni allevamenti toscani.

A sample of pheasant parents was chosen in four game-bird farms of Tuscany which were characterised by the different high of the flying pens used: 2.5 m, 4.5 m, 6.0 m and 7.0 m, respectively. Each pheasant was weighted, measured (thorax circumference, body lenght, wing lenght, leg lenght, tarsus diameter and spur lenght) at forced to take off from a suddenly opened box, inside a flying pen they did not know. Each flight was video-recorded: on a monitor, the angle at which the bird took flight was measured by the use of a goniometer and the speed of the flight was measured slowing the play back by the use of a chronometer. Results showed that the high of the flying pens used for the finishing period modified the flight characteristics and the repeatability of the measure. It was not possible to obtain repeatable measures of take off angles in the flying pen 2.5 m high. The speed of the flight was not repeatable. The relationship between the take off angle with the pheasant weight and the thorax circumference to body lenght ratio was only partially confirmed.