Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1519405
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 APRIL 2024 MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt Transport Malta is notifying the general public of the sale tale quale of the vessel Pathfinder currently moored at Sliema Creek, Port of Marsamxett. The specifications of the vessel are shown below. SALE OF VESSEL - PATHFINDER Type of Ship: Pleasure Yacht Propulsion: Motor Material: Material: Wood Length overall: 24.60m Breadth: 7.50m Depth: 3.20m Gross Tonnage: 94.46 Year of Build: 1960 Two main engines Type: Type: Propulsion Make: General Motors (Detroit) Power: 550 hp / 410.30 Kw No. of Cylinders: 8 Fuel type: Diesel The vessel may be viewed at the above-mentioned site The vessel may be viewed at the above-mentioned site on Monday 29 th April 2024 at 10:00am. Those Interested in viewing the vessel are required to call on telephone number 25554423 or send an email on response.tm@transport.gov.mt by not later than Friday 26 th April 2024 at 3:00pm so that the necessary viewing arrangements can be made. Quotations are to be sent by email on Quotations are to be sent by email on quotationsgeneral@transport.gov.mt by not later than Friday 3 rd May 2024. Those interested in submitting a bid are to obtain a Those interested in submitting a bid are to obtain a bidding form on the date of the viewing or download such from the following link: https://www.transport.gov.mt/Bidding-Form-PAT HFINDER.docx-f9603. The bidding form will include all the relevant details for making a submission. The preferred bidder will be required to make the The preferred bidder will be required to make the necessary arrangements to take over and transfer the vessel from the site within one week following confirmation of the offer. Any and all expenses shall be borne by the preferred bidder. The Authority is not stating or otherwise confirming that The Authority is not stating or otherwise confirming that this vessel will be registered with any one of its national maritime registers. Registration and related issues, required documentation and applicable expenses shall be at the sole responsibility of the preferred bidder. JUST a handful of Maltese farms are hoping they can bring back into the mainstream a Maltese breed of chicken that to this day is at risk of extinction. With the NGO Breeds of Origin Conserv- ancy, the Tulliera farm in Delimara and Ta' Gużman in Siggiewi are working with the government experimental farm in Gozo to conserve endemic species and indigenous Maltese breeds, including animals and plants. "The majority of these breeds and species are endangered and at imminent risk of ex- tinction, including the Maltese black chicken," says Darryl Grech, the NGO's founder and an MCAST lecturer who teaches livestock pro- duction and management. The Maltese black chicken was developed at the Għammieri government farm in 1934 by the Department of Agriculture under the direction of J. Cesareo. "During this period, agriculture was devel- oping systems and new breeds for greater food production, as demand was constantly increasing. It was a time when several new commercial breeds were being imported to our islands to increase production and reduce imports," Grech says. "At that time, Malta was facing certain pov- erty, a lack of education, and also a lack of hy- giene, a situation that was leading to problems for these commercial breeds. Many imported birds were carrying local diseases, diseases to which these breeds were not resistant, and as a result, they were dying in large numbers," Grech adds. It was for this reason that the decision was made to create a local breed of chicken, a breed that would be resistant to diseases, pro- duce a substantial number of eggs and meat, and not require much attention. "The government decided to invest in a breed of chicken because chickens can easily be raised by everyone, everywhere. In addi- tion, chickens reach maturity quickly, can lay eggs every day, consume kitchen scraps, and mature in 21 days. This means that a new gen- eration can be created in a few weeks," Grech says. The Maltese breed started with 40 chickens and three local roosters of various shapes, sizes, and colours – but all black – a mixture from around Malta and Gozo. When the Maltese black chicken breed achieved the desired qualities and character- istics, a new section was created for them in Wied Inċita, where they began to be bred on a larger scale for production. "These chickens and their eggs were then sold to people to start spreading around our islands, and soon they gained popularity," Grech says, with the Maltese chickens laying over 200 eggs a year, and roosters reaching weights of over 3kg. "The breed came to be considered a 'dual-purpose' breed good for both eggs and meat." Despite efforts to improve the Maltese black chicken, by 1970 it was being replaced by commercial breeds that were adaptable to intensive farming systems – unlike the black chicken, a native breed that is rustic. Today the Maltese black chicken only sur- vives thanks to its status as a show breed for exhibitions, with breeders having ignored its productive characteristics, which were lost over the years. The Tulliera farm in Delimara, run by farm- er Kenneth Abela, has previously also tried to reintroduce the Maltese goat, a breed which disappeared from the island after the discov- ery of Brucellosis in goats' milk by Sir Temi Zammit, which prompted the British authori- ties to encourage farmers to replace goats with cows. Before the breed disappeared from Malta it was common for farmers from other coun- tries such as Sardinia and Sicily to come and buy goats from Maltese farmers. Through a genealogical book listing goat breeds in Italy and where these are bred, Abela traced down Maltese goats in Sicily. Abela has previously said he hopes the Mal- tese herd can be used to produce milk prod- ucts made from the goats' milk, on the same lines as those which are already being success- fully produced and marketed in Caltanissetta in Sicily, where the goat's milk is used to pro- duce organic yoghurts, and a vast selection of typical cheeses made from Maltese goats' milk. "We believe that by marketing these highly artisanal products, we will indirectly create a demand for rearing the Maltese goat, which eventually will lead to the final phase of the project, that of breeding extra goats to supply local farmers who show interest in rearing this breed," Abela told MaltaToday. Farmers hope to reverse extinction risk of Maltese black chicken The Maltese breed started with 40 chickens and three local roosters of various shapes, sizes, and colours – but all black – a mixture from around Malta and Gozo