BACKYARD POULTRY FARMING: PILLS TO INCREASE FARMER’S INCOME IN RURAL HOUSEHOLD
“If agriculture goes wrong nothing else goes right ” and “Younger people will join agriculture if it is technologically driven” Dr. M.S Swaminathan (2008) – Father of green revolution in India.
Livestock production and agriculture are intrinsically linked, each being dependent on the other, and both crucial for overall food security. Livestock sector is an important subsector of the agriculture of Indian economy. It forms an important livelihood activity for most of the farmers, supporting agriculture in the form of critical inputs, contributing to the health and nutrition of the household, supplementing incomes, offering employment opportunities, and finally being a dependable “bank on hooves” in times of need. It acts as a supplementary and complementary enterprise. Livestock also serves as an insurance substitute, especially for poor rural households; it can easily be sold during time of distress. Animal husbandry promotes gender equity. The agricultural sector engages about 57% of the total working population and about 73% of the rural labour force. Livestock employed 8.8% of the agricultural work force albeit it varied widely from 3% in North-Eastern states to 40- 48% in Punjab and Haryana. NSSO’s Situation Survey 2002–03 and 2012–13 are the only sources of data on farmers’ income. The average monthly income per capita from farming increased from Rs 1,060 in 2003 to Rs 3,844 in 2013, according to the report Situational Assessment of Agricultural Households by the NSSO, a compounded annual income growth rate of 13.7%. To double the income of farmers by 2022 would require a 15% compounded income growth rate, which is a marginal increase over the achieved increase from 2003 to 2013. However, real income of farmers had been calculated on the basis of GDP deflator, showing a real growth rate of 5.24 per cent. If the more appropriate index, the Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers, is used the annual growth rate of real income for farmers falls to 3.5 per cent. With this growth rate farmers’ income will double in 20 years. Therefore, in order to achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income in 5 years there is a need for much greater effort and focused attention.
This can be achieved easily if our farmers adopt the integrated farming model combining backyard poultry, agriculture, fishery, Goatry & dairy.
Out of this the backyard poultry farming is very lucrative as there is increasing demand for deshi poultry birds for many reasons like taste, organic produce ,free from antibiotic and pesticides. More over the controversy over ban of battery cages by courts in India has forced innovative farmers to start backyard poultry farming with improved breeds on commercial basis. For promoting the backyard poultry, it is necessary to give the much needed infrastructural support (in form of improved poultry birds/ day old chicks at subsidized rate, hatchery units, training etc.) to the targeted beneficiaries in order to get optimum production from this sector.
CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIGENOUS CHICKEN—–
• Acceptability of the coloured desi bird by the landless labourers or marginal farmers. • Use of broodiness for hatching the chicks. • Capability of self-defense from predators due to its alertness, light body weight longer shank length, camouflagic characters and aggressiveness. • Can thrive well under adverse environments like poor housing, poor management and poor feeding. • Indigenous birds are comparatively disease resistant to protozoon and ecto-parasites. • Have better adaptability to extreme climatic conditions prevailing in the country. • They are comparatively hardier and need less health care than exotic birds. • The meat from native fowl has significantly higher amino acid contents (arginine and lysine) than meat from exotic birds and is widely preferred especially because of their pigmentation, taste, leanness and suitability for special dishes and often fetches higher prices. • The brown-shelled eggs of native fowl are rich in threonine and valine than farm eggs, have good flavour and fetch premium price. . These birds are suitable for backyard farming .
Backyard Poultry In India Is Important For doubling income & Rural Empowerment —-
Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India. Poultry plays an important role in the Indian economy and is an important sub-sector of livestock. Backyard poultry production is an age-old practice in rural India. The state sector has been taking care of backyard poultry units and the capital requirement of its co-operatives. Backyard farming has over the years contributed to a great extent to the agrarian economy of India. It provides livelihood security to the family, Unemployed youth and women can also earn an income through poultry farming.
Good practices to be followed for backyard poultry farming-—
• Disease-free, improved strain, dual-purpose poultry birds may be procured for backyard poultry farming.
• Periodical vaccination should be done on regular basis
• Clean drinking water and fungus free feed should be supplied to the birds.
• The poultry shed should be regularly cleaned and free from moisture and humid condition.
• Overcrowding should be avoided.
• If possible there should be separate space for the different age group of birds.
• The sick bird should be immediately separated/ culled from the healthy flock.
• Poultry equipment particularly waterer and feeder should be regularly cleaned and disinfected.
• There should be a restriction for outsider into the poultry shed or farm.
• The birds should be free from predators and should not be scared by other animals.
• Before procuring new flocks the shed should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• There should be provision for footbath in front of poultry shed.
• During summer and winter months the shed should be protected from the hot or cold wind by hanging curtain around the side of the wall or shed. In summer months water sprinkling also can be done.
Indigenous chicken breeds suitable for India——–
Desi or indigenous birds are generally poor performers in egg and meat production. To obtain maximum profit from backyard poultry farming there is an urgent need in the country to improve the status of backyard poultry farming with an improved strain, which performs an excellent result when raised in the backyard with low inputs. Understanding the importance of backyard rural poultry farming in India, several research organizations have developed different backyard chicken breeds which have successfully been reared by farmers from many parts of the country.Phenotypically these birds look like their original native breed with two or three times more egg production with bigger size and weight, better tropical adaptability and disease resistance along with the capability of bearing the stress of sub-optimal feeding and management. Backyard poultry system is a common practice all over the country; some of the government organization has developed new improved varieties/breeds of chicken suitable for backyard system with more productivity in both eggs and meat quality.
“Backyard poultry farming acts as an ‘ATM’, as per family needs – the birds and eggs can be sold at anytime,anywhere for cash in hand.”
Advantages of backyard poultry farming—-
• Low initial investment but higher economic return.
• It is free ranging system so feed cost is negligible due to better utilization of agricultural by-products and leftover feed and grains.
• Egg and birds can be sold in the local market with a high price because there is a growing demand for local chicken.
• Boost up in family income for better utilization of family laborers
• Backyard poultry farming acts as an ‘ATM’, as per family needs, the birds and eggs can be sold at anytime anywhere for cash in hand.
• Quality of chicken and egg is better in terms of organic farming as the birds are raised in stress less environment with natural input. It is eco-friendly approach.
• Gives employment to the rural small-scale and marginal farmers.
• Aids in enhancing the soil fertility in backyards (15 chickens produce 1- 1.2 kg of manure/ day).
• Products from rural poultry farming fetch high price compared to those from intensive poultry Farming.
• Birds reared under free-range conditions give eggs and meat of low cholesterol concentration compared to those produced under intensive poultry farming.
Rural backyard poultry husbandry in elevating the food and nutrition security of the poorest households and reducing the livelihood insecurity. Backyard poultry is a potent tool for the improvement of poor because it requires hardly any infrastructure set-up. Besides income generation and poverty reduction, rural backyard poultry can provide better nutrition in the form of valuable animal protein. The native chicken varieties adopted in free-range backyard conditions for centuries contribute about 11% of total egg production in India. Thus, since time immemorial and even today Backyard poultry provides an excellent potential of rural empowerment.
Backyard Poultry Farming; a low input business with high economic returns—
Rural population living in India constitutes 72.2 per cent of the total population, which is predominantly occupied by poor, marginal farmers and landless labourers. Backyard poultry production is an old age profession of rural families of India. It is the most potent source for subsidiary incomes for landless and poor farmers. It is an enterprise with low initial investment but higher economic returns and can easily be managed by women, children and old aged persons of the households. Now-a-days, poultry meat and eggs have been the best and cheapest sources for meeting out the per capita requirement of protein and energy for rural areas of India.
Though India has shown a tremendous growth in poultry production over decades but rural poultry farming is still lagging behind and always found neglected. As it is the best alternative for the small scale farmers to subsidise the income with negligible input, this farming system needs an upliftment with recent advancement of research in the field of rearing of chicks, balanced feeding, disease control and efficient marketing system for the egg and meat. Now-a-days, the backyard poultry can easily start with good egg laying birds of RIR (Rhode Island Red), Chabro, Punjab Red and many low input technology poultry birds developed by CPDOs and some pvt. Organizations in India.
Backyard poultry production system is a low input business and is characterized by indigenous night shelter system, scavenging system, natural hatching of chicks, poor productivity of birds, with little supplementary feeding, local marketing and no health care practice. Poultry development plays a crucial role in increasing egg and chicken meat production. Indian demand for poultry products will be enhanced at 4.8 per cent where as the supply of poultry products will grow at 5.2 per cent per year over the decade which is faster than for any other type of animal product. The production of agricultural crops has been rising at a rate of 1.5–2 per cent per annum, where as eggs and broilers has been shown to rise at a rate of 8-10 per cent per annum but the growth has been mainly restricted to commercial poultry. In India, growth in the livestock sector can definitely contribute to poverty reduction, because of the peoples lived in rural areas depends on livestock for their daily livelihoods. It has also been observed that the demand for the animal protein source is increasing rapidly in developing countries.
Raising of local poultry breeds in backyard is an important source of livelihood for the rural people. Small holdings containing 2-3 hens per unit were found to be more efficient producer of eggs compared to those with 5 or more hens per unit. Main interest of the poultry farmers having backyard poultry is not production of eggs as returns are very low from sale of eggs. They hatch all their eggs and sale them as birds because of broodiness habit of these breeds.
Management of backyard poultry birds —–
Feeding:—-
In backyard poultry farming, the feed cost is considered to be minimum. The birds collect the required protein, energy, minerals and vitamins etc. From snails, termites, leftover grains, crop residues and household wastes. Feed ingredients like broken groundnut straw and wheat grains can also be given to the chicks. The chicks may be supplied with extra concentrate ration@30-60 gm/day/chick for better performance. The chicks need balanced feed during the initial 6 weeks of age under brooder by providing balanced chick feed during the early period of growth. The average body weight of 1.5 to 2.0 kg will be attained up to 5 weeks and if required should be provided with supplemental calcium sources like lime stone powder, dicalcium phosphate (DCP), stone grit, shell grit at 4 to 5 grams/bird/day.
Ingredients for balanced ration ——
Ingredient 0-8 week old birds 9-20 week old
birds More than 20 week old birds
Maize 52 45 46
Soybean 18 – 15
Groundnut oil 13 13 8
Rice polish – 35 –
Deoiled rice polish 15 – 22
Fish meal – 06 –
Limestone – – 7
Dicalcium phosphate 2 01 02
Salt (g) 200 – 300
Vitamins (A,B,D,K) g 15 15 15
B complex 20 20 20
Vitamin B12 15 – –
Trace minerals (g) 50 50 50
Coccidiostat + – –
Floor space: —-
The chick should be provided sufficient feed and floor space. Overcrowding results in stress and mortality chick requires 8 square inches of feeding space. During the 6th week, 1 sq. ft. floor space per chick must be provided to avoid overcrowding.
Space requirement for poultry ——
Age
(Weeks) Floor space
(sq. ft) Feeding space
(cm) Watering space (cm)
0-4 0.5 2.5 1.5
4-8 1.0 5.0 2.0
8-12 2.0 6.5 2.5
Ventilation: ——
Supply of fresh air to the chicks is highly essential. Brooding will cause depletion of oxygen and build up of carbon dioxide, ammonia etc., the airtight curtains should be avoided. It is recommended to keep a gap of 3.5 inches between the ceiling and side curtains to facilitate gas exchange between the house and environment. In extreme weather conditions, windows, doors and fans need to be effectively used to maintain optimum ventilation.
Beak trimming: —-
Trimming of beak is an important managemental practice. This is done to
prevent cannibalism and wastage of feed. Beak trimming is a sensitive operation and it
should be done by trained people. The beak trimming is done at 3rd week and one third of upper beak should be trimmed.
Litter management:—–
Litter management place a vital role in controlling the disease in the flock. When birds are housed on deep litter, placing of waters and their maintenance should receive due attention to keep the litter dry. The litter should be stirred at regular intervals
depending on the environmental temperature, humidity, ventilation fecal moisture content, quality of water system.
Health issues: —–
Rural chicks need brooding care during the initial 6 weeks of age. After 6 weeks, they can be let free for scavenging in the backyard. The excess males can be reared separately and marketed for meat purpose. The night shelter should have good ventilation and protection from predators and plenty of clean water should be made available. The birds must be vaccinated against Marek’s and Ranikhet diseases. There should be periodic de worming at 3-4 months intervals.
Importance of local breeds in backyard poultry farming system —-
Smallholder backyard poultry production utilizing local breeds is expected to come under serious competition with the commercial poultry sector and if not well planned the genetic resources of local poultry shall be lost. Conservation of local poultry breeds along with improvement for traits like meat and eggs will increase competitiveness to survive in the market. The socio-religious use of local poultry breeds, superior adaptability in their habitat, ability to perform in low input production system and the production system which is similar to organic production will be the competitive advantages of backyard system over commercial poultry production. Poultry keeping in backyard gives very high return as the investment is very low. The local breeds of poultry/indigenous poultry genetic resources are held in high esteem even after 50 years of industrial poultry production because of the following reasons:-
• Local poultry breeds exhibit superior adaptability in their habitat and possess the ability to survive, produce and reproduce on low plane of nutrition and sub-optimal management.
• The inputs required are very small, as they scavenge their feed requirements and are raised with little veterinary care.
• They possess the ability to protect themselves from predators.
• All the local breeds show broodiness and hatch their own chicks making the system auto generating.
• People have a preference for eggs and meat of indigenous poultry compared to those realized from farm-bred chickens consequently eggs and meat from local breeds are sold at a premium price.
• Cock fighting is a popular sport for the ethnic tribes and the local breeds are superior to exotic breeds in fighting.
• Use of coloured bird for socio-religious use.
Points kept in mind for backyard poultry farming —–
• Trainings:Poultry farmers must approach to animal husbandry department /Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s to obtain the basic training on backyard poultry farming. This is very useful for rearing of chicks, feeding, housing and disease management.
• Exhibitions:Through regular exhibition of local poultry breeds in Kisan Melas, Animal Camps, Livestock Championship and other poultry exhibitions. This helps in the selection of good quality birds.
• Breeding of local poultry breeds:Since most of the small holder poultry farmers are poor, Government should extend assistance to improve the poultry farming system by providing good quality chicks to the backyard poultry and suggest for multiplication of birds at their own level from these good quality hens. Within a time frame the skills are to be transferred to farmers at village level. Attempt, however, should be made to retain broodiness in the local stocks since it makes the system auto generating. These hens are used for producing the chicks at home level.
• Record keeping:In order to improve egg production there is a need to record the performance of individual hens for egg production. It is not a problem to obtain this information since each hen lays her egg in a separate nest regularly. This will provide information on laying capacity and hatching performance for each hen. Those hens with higher egg production and hatchability should be selected to reproduce next generation.
• Vaccination schedule: Follow the vaccination schedule given below:
Age of birds Name of vaccine Name of disease Doses Route of vaccination
Day old chicks HVT MD Vaccine Marek’s disease 0.2 ml s/c or i/m
4-7 days F-1/Lasota Ranikhet disease One drop Eye or nostril
14 to 18 days Intermediate plus Gumboro disease – Drinking water
35 days F-1/Lasota Ranikhet disease One drop Eye and nostril
6 to 7 weeks Chicken embryo adopted Fowl Pox 0.5 ml Wing stab method
8 to weeks Strain killed vaccine Ranikhet disease 0.5 ml s/c or i/m
• Extension services:Extension support for health care, input supply, market linkages and other aspects should be readily available at village level. The people should participate in the health care and breed development programme.
In order to increase poultry production at the farmers’ level, a systemic training program should be organized specifically for rural communities. Additionally, extension and motivational work along with technical support should also be conducted in the villages to en-courage farmers to rear and consume more backyard system of poultry production, since this is a means of sustainable livelihood of poorer sections of the society and will help in food production, food security and providing employment to rural peoples. Lack of technical knowledge, lack of suitable germplasm, decrease in availability of natural resources of feed and inadequate veterinary support is the alarming constraints of the traditional backyard poultry production system.
Challenges in rural poultry farming in India —–
The native chicken varieties adopted in the free range backyard conditions in rural areas have low productivity and their contribution to the total egg output is almost static for the last few decades. Therefore, the consumption of eggs in the rural areas is far below the national average across the country. Increasing the genetic potential of the local chicken varieties greatly helps in increasing the availability of poultry products in rural areas. The chicken varieties being used in the intensive poultry farming can not survive in free-range, where the disease challenge is high, climatic variations are harse and adverse and vary greatly from place to place and season to season. Adapting the intensive poultry farming in smallscale in rural areas may not be economically viable due to limitations in management, high input cost and non-availability of inputs in rural/ tribal areas. However, due to nonavailability of poultry products, the prices are up to double in rural areas compared to those prevailing in the other part of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to popularize suitable chicken varieties, which can thrive in backyard free-range conditions without expensive inputs like commercial feed, supplement and medicine etc. Predator menace, harse and diversified climatic conditions, diseases, consumer preferences, lack of commercial feed etc. are some of the major issues, which need attention while popularizing birds suitable for free range backyard farming. Adapting rural poultry farming in backyards of household can ensure the the availability of eggs and meat in rural and under developed areas; which will heil in alleviating the incidence of protein deficiency particularly in rural areas.
Thus the genetic improvement of poor yielding indigenous poultry birds through crossbreeding, upgrading and selective breeding to maximize their production along with local adaptability, economic feeding practices, proper health care and management practices will lead to optimization of production. MSP for livestock products, market development, product processing, packaging, value addition, cold storage facilities, easy availability of high yielding germplasm, livestock insurance, adopting diversified and integrated farming, contract livestock farming, adopting PPP model, strengthening extension services, repetition of Nammakal model for poultry production, increasing backyard poultry farming, promoting organic farming to specific areas along with increasing funding, subsidy and easy availability of bank loan for livestock & poultry farming are the key ways to double the farmers income. Farmer is not a labour or poor among the poorest, he is the ANNADATA in real sense. Agriculturer (Farmer) needed to transform into entrepreneur to double the income adopting innovative approach and technology.
Coloured Chicken varieties-Backyard farming——
Nandanam Chicken-1• & Nandanam-Broiler II (TANUVAS, Chennai) Giriraja (UAS,Bangalore),• Indian Broiler developed at Bangalore under AICRP on Poultry (IBB-83)• Swarnadhara (KVAFSU),• Coloured broilers-Raja II under AICRP on Poultry, Bangalore• B2 – Broiler developed by IPPM, TANUVAS• Vanaraja, Gramapriya and Krishi-bro (PDP, Hyderabad)• Krishna-J (Jabalpur farm varsity)• Grama Laxmi (Kerala Agricultural University) and Kalinga Brown (Bhubaneshwar-based• poultry organisation — CPDO) Development of scavenging chicken at CARI, Izatnagar with native fowl base CARI NlRBHEEK• CARI SHYAMA• UPCARI• HITCARI• Nandanam Chicken – I• This strain was developed from the Sterling strain of Rhode Island Red• breed. Nandanam chicken – I is a purebred having dark red plumage with medium sized body and is a dual-purpose breed Nandanam Broiler – II• This is a coloured broiler chicken developed through sustained selection and• breeding for 10 years in the synthetic broiler scheme. Multi coloured feather pattern with good survivability under the backyard• system are the advantages of this breed Vanaraja Vanaraja is a multi-coloured dual-purpose chicken variety developed at Project Directorate on Poultry, Hyderabad, for free range and rural backyard rearing. The
plumage colour and disease resistance of Vanaraja is similar to native chicken. Vanaraja grows fast and produces more eggs than native chicken Gramapriya Gramapriya is a multi-coloured egg purpose chicken variety developed for free range and rural backyard rearing. This bird lays more number of eggs than native chickens and eggs are tinted brown in colour and heavier than native chicken eggs.This bird has better adaptability to adverse conditions and better immunocompetence. Cari Nirbheek It is cross of Indian native breed Aseel with CARI Red. Birds are active, larger in built, pugnacious in nature with high stamina and majestic gait. They are able to save themselves from their predators due to its fighting characters and activeness and are adapted to all climatic zones of the country. Cari Shyama It is cross of Kadakanath breed of Indian native chicken with CARI Red. Birds have plumage of various colours dominated by black. The skin, beak, shank, toes and soles are dark gray colour. Most of the internal organs show the characteristics black pigmentation. Varying degree of blackish colouration is also found in skeletal muscles, tendons, nerves, meninges, brain and bone marrow. Upcari Indian native chicken with Frizzle plumage has been crossed with CARI Red for development of UPCARI birds These multicoloured birds have single comb and medium body size. Presence of Frizzle plumage helps in fast heat dissipation due to which birds are better adapted to tropical climate especially for arid zones. Hitcari Indian native chicken with Naked neck plumage has been crossed with CARI Red for development of HITCARI birds which are adapted to tropical climate specially for hot and humid coastal region of the country.
Jharsim: A location specific rural poultry variety for Jharkhand Jharsim is a dual purpose location specific poultry variety suitable for Jharkhand state. The variety is developed under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi Centre. Kamrupa: A dual purpose variety for free range farming in Assam Kamrupa is a multi-coloured bird for rural poultry production developed under All India Coordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding at Assam Agriculture University, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam. It is three way cross developed using Assam local ecotype (25%), Coloured Broiler (25%) and Durham Red (50%) population. Pratapdhan: Dual purpose coloured bird for Rajasthan Pratapdhan is a dual purpose chicken variety to cater to the needs of rural poultry keepers of Rajasthan. It was developed as part of AICRP on Poultry Breeding by MPUAT, Udaipur. It resembles local birds of Rajasthan. Name Type Purpose Institutions Giriraja Breed cross Dual Dept. of Poultry U.A.S., Bangalore Swarnadhara Breed cross Egg Dept. of Poultry, Bangalore KVAFSU ((B) Vanaraja Breed cross Dual P.D.P. Hyderabad A.V.M Breed cross Meat A.V.M.Coimbatore Krishna.J Synthetic Egg Jabalpur Krishnapriya Breed cross Dual Kerala CARI-Gold Breed cross Dual CARI, Izat Nagar Croiler Synthetic Meat KECG Delhi B2 Synthetic Meat IPPM,TANUVAS Nandanam IBB 83 RAJA II Synthetic Synthetic Synthetic Dual Dual Dual IPPM,TANUVAS AICRP,Bangalore AICRP,Bangalore SATPUDA-DESI Synthetic Dual Yaswant Agritech Pvt Ltd. SATPUDA-SPK Synthetic Krishibro : The intensive commercial broiler production depends mostly on white plumage bird. Though the performance of these birds are extremely good , the acceptability of birds having multicoloured feather pattern better in rural areas due to aesthetic aspects, native look cultural and religious reasons.They are generally sold at a premium rate compared to commercial white broilers. Krishibro(Directorate of Poultry Research, ICAR) is a coloured chicken for commercial broiler production. Coloured plumage, high livability and better immunocompetence are positive characteristics that made the success of this bird.
LIT CHICKEN VARIETIES: Central Poultry Breeding Farm ,Hesserghatta,Bengaluru CHABRO -Rural Meat Type bird,Multi coloured Plumage,60 days body weight: 1.6 – 1.7 kg. Fit for backyard farming KAVERI -Egg type rural bird,Multi coloured plumage ,180 egg production,1.6 kg body weight Good scavenging bird ASEEL CROSS – Rural Dual type 110 days body weight: 1.2 kg 120 – 140 egg production Good Scavenging, dominating bird Two colours – Kala (black) and Peela (red) KALINGA BROWN-Cross of White leghorn and RIR Lays more than 200 brown eggs Suitable for both backyard• & intensive farming More chicken varieties from CARI
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
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Reference-On Request.
