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Simple Summary: The modern lifestyle, including indoor-centric living, urbanization and limited exposure to nature, contributes to the estrangement of humans from nature and a rapid decline in people's natural history knowledge. Meanwhile, several wild species are adapting and thriving in urban environments alongside humans. How should we see the rising human disconnect with nature, even while urban wildlife increases and environmental education programmes are deployed? How does this lack of connection affect perception and attitude towards wildlife? What is the role of the sociodemographic context? To address these questions, we used a keystone species as a study model—the European hedgehog. We collected data via online questionnaires that comprised four main sections: (i) socio-demographic features; (ii) feelings, attitude and perception; (iii) natural history knowledge about species; and (iv) self-evaluation about the extent of knowledge and past experience. The data indicate generally positive feelings and attitudes towards hedgehogs. We found that academic qualifications and past experience with the species shaped people's attitudes and natural history knowledge; however, the extent of knowledge, overall, was low and the study population was self-aware of this. We discuss the relevance of citizen profiling and possible avenues to enhance nature experience, improve knowledge, and increase public support for conservation measures. The modern lifestyle of humans is leading to a limited exposure to nature. While several wild species are adapting and thriving in anthropic environments, natural history knowledge is declining, and positive attitudes and behaviours towards nature are facing challenges. Because anticipating attitudes and engendering broad-based support for nature-related measures requires a good grasp of social contexts, we set out to evaluate the sociodemographic factors driving the perception, attitudes towards, and natural history knowledge of a keystone species—the European hedgehog. In 2022, we conducted a questionnaire answered by 324 Portuguese adults. We found generally positive feelings and attitudes towards this species. A higher degree of academic qualifications and previous personal experience with the species seem to play a role in (i) people's perception about human impacts on hedgehogs and (ii) positive attitudes, especially during encounters where the animals were in difficulty. Despite this, the extent of natural history knowledge was low overall, and the study population was self-aware of this. Our insights underline the need to tailor educational programmes if we are to encourage people to re-establish meaningful connections with nature, to foster social support for biodiversity stewardship, and to implement the One Health approach in a way that resonates with distinct social groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Salmonellosis is the second most reported gastrointestinal disorder in the European Union, resulting from the consumption of Salmonella-contaminated foods. Chickens are considered reservoirs of this pathogen among food-producing animals, for which hygienic and sanitary measures mitigate the risk to humans through the food chain. However, data about the presence of this pathogen in autochthonous Portuguese chickens or their by-products is scarce. In this context, the aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation on the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in autochthonous Portuguese laying hens raised in a semi-extensive system for small-scale production. The screening revealed an absence of Salmonella spp. in all cloaca, eggshell, and litter material samples collected (n = 279) from the 31 selected flocks. Considering these results and the fact that Salmonella is still the leading cause of food-borne outbreaks, the risk posed by Portuguese autochthonous chicken breeds produced through alternative and extensive farming methods can be considered low. However, this risk should not be neglected and needs to be further investigated, using a larger sample size, to validate this trend. The sustainability of agroecological systems, biodiversity protection, animal welfare, and consumer demand for higher quality products from alternative and extensive farming methods have reinforced interest in local breeds that are well adapted to low-input environments. However, food safety needs to be safeguarded to reinforce consumer confidence. The aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation on the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in eggshells, hen's cloaca, and litter materials from autochthonous Portuguese laying hens raised in a semi-extensive system for small-scale production. A total of 279 samples from 31 flocks belonging to 12 farms were obtained, with 63 samples from the "Preta Lusitânica" breed, and 72 samples each from the remaining autochthonous breeds, namely, "Branca", "Amarela", and "Pedrês Portuguesa". None (0%) of the samples analyzed were positive for Salmonella spp. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first results of Salmonella evaluation from hen's cloaca, eggshells, and litter materials in autochthonous Portuguese chickens, suggesting that a semi-extensive production system can contribute to better food security and a lower risk to public health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Local breeds play a crucial role in the rural economies of many countries, as a considerable valuable genetic resource and, well adapted to the environment, their production can reduce the negative impact of intensive production systems. Portuguese chicken breeds are almost extinct, with the "Branca" population presenting the most worrying situation. Bred as a dual-purpose breed, the characterization of meat quality is fundamental to the conservation and promotion of this population., by increasing the value on these small-scale farms production. The carcass characteristics and meat quality of the "Branca" breed were evaluated, showing an interesting physicochemical profile, with good proportion of minerals, essential fatty acids (EFA) and n-3-PUFAs (docosapentanoic (C22:5n-3, DPA), and docosahexaenoic (C22:6n-3, DHA) acids), ensuring that consumers receive a highly nutritional and differentiated product. The "Branca" breed is a dual-purpose Portuguese autochthonous chicken breed, produced in extensive systems and in small flocks, especially in the Entre Douro and Minho regions. A total of 40 birds (n = 20/sex) were slaughtered between 38 and 42 weeks (males) and 110 and 120 weeks (females), and carcass and meat quality parameters were evaluated. The results showed significantly higher weights and differences for males between sexes and pieces (p ≤ 0.05) in the meat physicochemical composition. Water holding capacity (WRC), moisture and ash contents were influenced by sex. They were higher in males in the breast and drumstick and lightness (L*) and lipid content were higher in females (p ≤ 0.05). The breast meat presented greater lightness, moisture, ash and protein contents, while the drumstick showed a higher pH value, redness (a*) and lipid content, in both sexes (p ≤ 0.05). Regarding the nutritional properties, "Branca" meat revealed a good proportion of minerals and the female meat showed, in both pieces (p ≤ 0.05), significantly lower values for total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and higher values for monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Breast meat was richer in n-3-PUFAs (C22:5n-3 and C22:6n-3) in both sexes (p ≤ 0.05). Considering the results obtained, it can be concluded that "Branca" breed meat is a healthy food characterized by a good general nutritional profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The assessment of traditional products is important for the sustainability of agricultural systems and the preservation of a unique gastronomic heritage. The present study aims to determine the chemical composition of "Galo de "Barcelos"" ("Barcelos" Rooster) raw meat, used in the preparation of the typical Portuguese dish "Roasted Rooster from "Barcelos"", in order to evaluate and protect this gastronomic and cultural tradition. The influence of the genotype on the final product was verified, concerning total protein, and fat contents, and a favorable ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids of the Sasso line was compared to the "Amarela" breed, contributing to the promotion of its gastronomic potential. Ten roosters produced according to "Barcelos Confraria" rules and ten roosters of autochthonous "Amarela" breed, reared on a similar traditional production system, were analyzed, and the chemical profile of two of the most significant meat portions, breast and drumstick, was determined. The results demonstrated that the "Barcelos" rooster raw meat is rich in proteins (22.3%) and fat (4.31%), particularly in monounsaturated fatty acids (39.1%). Significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) were observed, with the breast having a higher protein content (25.1 vs. 19.7%) and less fat (1.9% vs. 6.7%), compared to the drumstick. The fatty acid profile revealed (SFA 30.0%, MUFA 39.1%, and PUFA 24.6%) a similar composition to the roosters reared in the traditional or organic production systems, such as the "Amarela" autochthonous rooster. The "Barcelos" rooster can be regarded as a highly nutritional meat, with an interesting chemical profile ensuring a high-quality traditional product to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Autochthonous poultry breeds have been forsaken, forgotten even, since they have always been of less importance in the rural socio-economic context, associated with the domestic economy and, above all, regards from a perspective of self-consumption. The study, protection, improvement and dissemination of breeds, has had an almost inexplicable absence of works on the subject with the first reference to Portuguese poultry breeds in the 30's of the last century. The biometric study of the breeds is fundamental for the knowledge of the morphological characteristics and the productive potentialities. The aim of this study is to characterize the Portuguese hens breeds ("Pedrês Portuguesa", "Preta Lusitânica", "Amarela" and "Branca"), using different biometric measures and live weight and to evaluate, under production conditions specific to the artisanal system, the effect of several factors in each of the studied breeds. The results revealed a high sexual dimorphism and that the "Branca" breed stands out in all the biometric measures. Autochthonous Portuguese hens present morphological traits which would made them more prone to meat production ("Branca"), although the dimensions of certain morphological variables could make them suitable for double-purpose production ("Pedrês Portuguesa" and "Amarela") and is imperative to consider breeding programs that underline their productive potential. Promotion of the conservation and preservation of local breed's biodiversity combined with the concept of sustainable agriculture and development of economically marginal areas are important policies to implement in modern society. The biometric characterization, contributing to maintain phenotypic traits, is a significant tool in breeding programs, which revaluate local breeds, allow the preservation of animal biodiversity and support consumer demands. This paper approaches the biometric characterization of the Portuguese poultry breeds through the study of sexual dimorphism and breed differentiation using six zoometric measures as differentiation criteria. A total of 429 fowl (66 males and 426 females) were studied and the parameters recorded were body weight, body length, chest circumference, shank length, shank diameter and wingspan. A highly sexual dimorphism was evident, in all breeds, with the "Branca" breed being the most zoometrically distant. Concerning Principal Component Analysis, the highly correlations observed between body length, wingspan and shank length, determined the generalized animal form and could be used as selection criteria for improving body size. Breeding programs aiming to preserve these local genetic resources should consider the dual purpose of these breeds: sustainability and cultural legacy, and the offer to urban consumers a source of differentiated high-quality products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]