Pooja R. Bahurupi, Sonal N. Solanke, Ashwini P. Bansod and Ganesh S. Dalve
Introduction:
Backyard poultry Farming is a promising option for rural livelihoods. It requires low initial investment. Boost up family income for better utilization of family laborers who are not able to perform other works like old family members or children. It is a potent tool for upliftment of socio economically backward people. Backyard poultry production can cater the nutritional requirements of the family. Acts as an ATM, because as per family need the birds and eggs can be sold at any time with cash in hand. Quality of chicken and egg is better in terms of organic farming as the birds are raised in stress less environment and consumers are willing to pay higher prices for high quality desi chicken meat or egg. Most of the backyard poultry production comprises of rearing indigenous birds with poor production performances. However, over the period of time improved strains have been introduced by extension and development agencies. In order to enhance the socioeconomic and nutritional status of the rural population, there is a need to promote backyard poultry farming with improved chicken varieties that are suitable under village condition. several chicken crosses were developed to meet the demand of backyard poultry farming depending on the specific need of people of the region.
Vanaraja:
• Vanaraja is a dual-purpose variety developed by the Project Directorate on Poultry Hyderabad for free range farming in rural and tribal areas.
• Males weigh about 1.2 to 1.5 kg at 10 wks and females lay about 120-140 eggs in lying year.
• Attractive feather colour
• Low input cost
• Disease resistance
• Better survival rate
• Large brown egg resembling desi egg
• Desi hens can be used for brooding of vanaraja eggs
Krishibro:
• Developed by the Project Directorate on Poultry (ICAR), Hyderabad.
• Multi-coloured commercial broiler chicks
• Attain body weight by 6 weeks of age with less than 2.2 feed conversion ratios.
• The survivability of this bird up to 6 weeks of age is around 97%.
• These birds have attractive colour plumage and are
well adapted to tropical weather conditions.
• The commercial Krishibro has highly resistance against the common poultry diseases like Ranikhet and Infectious bursal disease.
• Advantages : Hardy, Well adapted and Better survivability
Gramapriya:
• It was developed by the Project Directorate on Poultry based in Hyderabad.
• Gramapriya is a layer type variety
• The bird has the production potential of 230-240 eggs in a year and can lay 160-180 eggs in free-range conditions with minimum supplementary feeding.
• The males weigh around 1.2 to 1.5kg at 15 wks. of age
• The bird has coloured plumage and lays bigger (57-59g) and brown eggs.
• It is hardy and livability is high.
Giriraja:
• Giriraja breed of chicken suited for mixed and backyard farming developed by Karnataka Veterinary, Animal, and Fishery Sciences University in Bangalore
• Females lay 130-150 eggs per year, with each egg weighing 52-55 grams.
• The eggs have a good hatchability (80-85 per cent), and enable farmers to raise their own stock. Their shells are brown in colour and thicker than that of other commercial eggs.
• The bird’s exhibit better growth compared to local varieties
• Being good scavengers, they feed on a variety of insects and green foliage. They can also be fed on farm and kitchen waste.
Swarnadhara:
• Swarnadhara is a hybrid chicken breed developed at department of Avian Production and Management (DVPM), Hebbal, Bangalore.
• It is a Hardy bird having high egg production potential along with better growth compared to other local varieties and are suited for mixed and backyard farming.
• The bird can be reared for its eggs and meat.
• Hens attain a body weight of about 3 kg and the cocks about 4 Kg by 23rd week.
• They lay about 180-190 eggs in a year.
• The eggs have good hatchability (80-85 per cent)
• The eggshell is brown in colour and thicker than that of other commercial eggs
• They can be raised as free roaming birds and can be fed with locally available materials
Gramalakshmi and Gramasree:
• These two varieties have a high production potential along with better growth rate suited for mixed and backyard farming developed by College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy.
• Gramalakshmi birds are white in colour with black speckles throughout the body while
• Gramasree birds are dark brown with a sprinkling of black, and grey on different parts of the body.
• The hens attain a body weight of 1.4 kg in five months and start laying eggs after 160 days.
• The males attain a body weight of 1.5 kg in three months and are popular for their meat, which is low in fat content compared with present day broilers.
• Both the varieties lay about 200 eggs each year with each egg weighing about 50 grams.
• The eggshell is brown in colour and thicker than that of other commercial eggs and does not break easily.
• The birds are hardy and require little care and can be reared in the open.
Atuhulya:
• High producing heat tolerant Athulya strain (ILM90) of layer chicken is developed for high egg production with desirable egg weight at college of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy.
• Athulya is a white coloured bird that attains maturity at an early age of 123 days.
• It produces 280-290 eggs an year.
Jharsim:
• The variety is developed under All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi
• The name Jharsim is derived from Jhar for Jarkhand and sim meaning hen in tribal dialect.
• These birds have attractive multi-colour plumage
• The birds weigh 400-500g at 6 weeks and 1600-1800 g at maturity under backyard system.
• The age at first egg laying is 175-180 days and egg weight is 52-55g at 40 weeks of age.
• The birds have the potential to lay 165-170 eggs and under backyard system.
• This variety can provide higher supplementary income and nutrition through both egg and meat to rural/ tribal population of the state.
Kamrupa:
• “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, and Guwahati, Assam.
• It is three way cross developed using Assam local ecotype (25%), Coloured Broiler (25%) and Dalhem Red (50%) population.
• This variety has coloured plumage, mediocre body weight and longer shanks with optimum egg production.
• Under backyard system, the body weight at 8 and 20 weeks is 500-650 grams and 1300-1500grams, respectively.
• The male birds weigh 1800-2200 grams at 40 weeks of age
• Annual egg production is 118-130 eggs with an egg weight of 52 grams.
Pratapdhan:
• It was developed as part of AICRP on Poultry Breeding by MPUAT, Udaipur. It resembles local birds of Rajasthan.
• Attractive multicolour feather pattern, as rural people like coloured birds from aesthetic point of view and better looking. Because of colour plumage birds have camouflagic characters to protect themselves from predators.
• Longer shank length which help in self protection from predators in backyard areas. Good adaptability in backyard/ free-range,
• It has good immune competence
• It has capacity to survive on low plane of nutrition (low and negligible input) and harsh climatic conditions.
• Produce brown shelled egg.
• Fast growth rate with average adult body weight at 20 week of age ranged from 1478 to 3020 g in males and 1283 to 2736 g in females.
• Higher egg production of 161, which is 274 % higher the local native (43 eggs).
RAJSREE (Raja- Rajendranagar and sri-money):
It is combination of 3 exotic (White leghorn, Rhode Island Red and Dahlem Red) and non -descript breed
Poultry Research Station (PRS) of Sri P.V. Narasimha Rao Telangana State University for Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences, (SPVNRTSUVAS), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, has developed a promising dual purpose backyard poultry variety, Rajasri as it is hardy, attractive with multi-coloured plumage, capable of self-propagation, have good body conformation with capacity to escape from predators, a good scavenger and less susceptible to diseases. Moreover, their multi coloured plumage, resemble to desi birds, which fetch almost double the price when compared to broiler chicken.
Eggs being brown shelled will also fetch more price when compared to commercial white shelled eggs, he says.
• Egg production: 150 -160 eggs per annum
• Body weight by 18 weeks of age: 1.5 kg
• Age at first egg: 5-6 months
• 20 weeks Rajasri male weight: 1750 gms
• 20 weeks Rajasri Female weight: 1500 gms
Himsamridhi:
The new variety was developed by crossing Dahlem Red and native bird under All India Coordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding, Palampur Centre coordinated by ICAR – Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad
• Weight at 20 weeks of age: 1500-2000 g.
• The age at first egg: 24 weeks
• Egg production: 180 eggs per annum.
Kaveri:
Color pattern of this bird is multicolour, single comb, excellent flock uniformity, shank and skin color is yellow, low early chick and laying mortality, early age at sexual maturity, egg color is brown with widely acceptable by consumer, well protected from predator and over all a suitable birds for rural backyard poultry farming
• Body weight at 6 week: 750 g
• Body weight at 20 week: 2000-2200 g
• Age at sexual maturity: 183day
• Hen house egg production: 120
• Hen day egg production: 140
• Egg weight: 55g
• Feed consumed/bird/day: 135g
• Livability: 93
Breeds from Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), Izatnagar
Desi Types / Backyard Types
CARI NIRBHEEK (Aseel Cross):
• Aseel is well known for its pugnacity, high stamina, and majestic gait and dogged fighting qualities. The name Aseel appears to have been given to this indigenous breed because of its inherent qualities of fighting.
• Andhra Pradesh is said to be the home of this important breed. The best specimens of this breed, although rare, are encountered with the fanciers and the people engaged in cock-fighting show throughout the country.
• Aseel is larger in built with noble looking and dignified appearance.
• The standard weight varies from 3 to 4 kg for cocks and 2 to 3 kg for hens.
• Age at sexual maturity (days) 196 days
• Annual egg production (number) 92
• Egg weight at 40 week (g) 50.
CARI SHYAMA (Kadakanath Cross):
• It is locally known as “Kalamasi” meaning the fowl having black flesh. Jhabua and Dhar districts of Madhya Pradesh and the adjoining districts of Rajasthan and Gujarat spreading over an area of about 800sq. miles is considered to be its home tract.
• These are mostly reared by tribals, adivasis and rural poor. It is considered to be a sacred bird and offered as sacrifice to Goddess after Diwali.
• The colour of the day old chicks is bluish to black with irregular dark stripes over the back.
• The flesh of this breed though black and repulsive to look at, is considered not only a delicacy but also of medicinal value.
• The tribal uses Kadakanath blood in the treatment of chronic disease in human beings and its meat as aphrodisiac.
• The meat and eggs are reckoned to be a rich source of protein (25.47% in flesh) and iron.
• Body weight at 20 weeks (g) 920
• Age at sexual maturity (days) 180
• Annual egg production (number) 105
• Egg weight at 40 week (g) 49
• Fertility (%) 55
• Hatchability FES (%) 52
HITCARI (Naked Neck Cross)
• Naked neck is relatively larger in built with long cylindrical neck. As the name indicates, neck of the birds is fully naked or only a tuft of feathers is seen on the front of the neck above crop.
• The resulting bare skin becomes reddish particularly in males as they approach sexual maturity.
• Trivandrum region of Kerala is considered to be the homeland of Naked neck
• Body weight at 20 weeks (g) 1005
• Age at sexual maturity (days) 201
• Annual egg production (number) 99
• Egg weight at 40 week (g) 54
• Fertility (%) 66
• Hatchability FES (%) 71
UPCARI (Frizzle Cross):
• Unique scavenging type birds developed with native breed base, having typical desi fowl look, better tropical adaptability and disease resistance, exceptional growth and production performance. Best suited breed for backyard system of poultry production.
• Four varieties of UPCARI birds suitable for different agro-climatic conditions are available.
Kadakanath x Dehlam Red
Aseel x Dehlam Red
Naked Neck x Dehlam Red
Frizzle x Dehlam Red
Performance Profile
• Age at sexual maturity 170-180 days
• Annual egg production 165-180 eggs
• Egg size 52-55 g
• Egg colour Brown
• Egg quality Excellent Internal quality
• Livability above 95%
• Temperament Active and good forager
Layers
CARI- PRIYA LAYER:
• First egg at 17 to 18 weeks
• 50% production at 150 days
• Peak production at 26 to 28 weeks
• Liveability of grower (96%) and layer (94%)
• Egg production peak 92%
• Hen Housed to 72 wk. more than 270 eggs
• Egg size Average
• Egg weight 54 g
CARI- SONALI Layer (Golden – 92):
• First egg at 18 to 19 weeks
• 50% production at 155 days
• Peak production at 27 to 29 weeks
• Livability of grower (96%) and layer (94%)
• Egg production Peak 90%
• Hen Housed to 72 wk. more than 265 eggs
• Egg size Average
• Egg weight 54 g
CARI-DEVENDRA:
• A medium -sized dual- purpose bird
• Efficient feed conversion – High positive return over feed cost
• Superiority over other stocks- Low laying house mortality
• Body weight at 8th week-1700-1800g
• Age at sexual maturity-155-160 days
• Annual egg production- 190-200
Broilers:
CARIBRO-VISHAL (CARIBRO-91):
• Weight at day old : 43g
• Weight at 6 weeks : 1650 to 1700g
• Weight at 7 weeks : 2100 to 2200g
• Dressing percentage : 75%
• Livability percentage : 97-98%
• Feed conversion ratio at 6 weeks : 1.94 to 2.20
CARI-RAINBRO (B-77):
• Weight at day old : 41g
• Weight at 6 weeks : 1300 g
• Weight at 7 weeks : 1600 g
• Dressing percentage : 73%
• Livability percentage : 98-99%
• Feed conversion ratio at 6 weeks : 2.3
CARIBRO-DHANRAJA (Multi-Coloured):
• Weight at day old : 46g
• Weight at 6 weeks : 1600 to 1650g
• Weight at 7 weeks : 2000 to 2150g
• Dressing percentage : 73%
• Livability percentage : 97-98%
• Feed conversion ratio at 6 weeks : 1.90 to 2.10
CARIBRO-MRITUNJAI (CARI Naked Neck):
• Weight at day old : 42g
• Weight at 6 weeks : 1650 to 1700g
• Weight at 7 weeks : 2000 to 2150g
• Dressing percentage : 77%
• Livability percentage : 97-98%
• Feed conversion ratio at 6 weeks : 1.9 to 2.0
