PERFORMANCE OF INDIGENOUS CHICKEN IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS OF ASSAM UNDER BACKYARD FARMING SYSTEM
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Date
2021-12
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College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati
Abstract
The study was conducted on indigenous chickens of Darrang and Udalguri district of Assam to evaluate growth, performance and reproductive traits. Data on body weights relating to 747 birds were used in the study. The data of 115, 137 and 95 number of birds were utilized for age at first egg, annual egg production and reproductive traits respectively. Fifty eggs were randomly collected for the study of egg quality traits. Data were collected during the period from August, 2020 to June, 2021 through field survey and interviewed the farmers with pre-tested questionnaire. The overall least-squares means of body weight at day old stage, 20 weeks and 40 weeks were found to be 28.332±0.218, 745.719±4.479 and 1296.984±6.971 g respectively. The body weight of males at 20 weeks and 40 weeks were found to be 779.924±7.995 g and 1389.121±11.670 g and the corresponding values of females were found to be 711.513±5.407 g and 1204.846±8.691 g respectively. Chicken of Darrang district had higher body weight of 29.002±0.304, 750.310±6.215 and 1302.030±9.596 g at day old stage, 20 and 40 weeks of age than Udalguri district with 27.662±0.314, 741.128±6.461 and 1291.938±10.142 g respectively. Significant effect of district on body weight at day old stage (P<0.01), 20 weeks (P<0.05) and 40 weeks (P<0.01) were observed. The overall least-squares means for age at first egg was found to be 199.286±4.236 days. The least-squares means for age at first egg in Darrang and Udalguri district were 196.741±7.986 and 201.831±9.022 days respectively which were found to be non-significant. The overall least-squares means for annual egg production was found to be 65.236±0.813 numbers. The least-squares means for annual egg production in Darrang and Udalguri district were 67.901±1.137 and 65.570±1.162 numbers respectively which were found to be significant (P<0.01). The overall mean for egg weight (g), Albumen index, Yolk index, Haugh unit, Shell thickness (mm) and Shape index were recorded as 40.54±0.63, 0.077±0.003, 0.502±0.006, 70.213±0.700, 0.323±0.003 and 75.725±0.407 respectively. The egg shell colours were mostly light brown followed by creamy white. The average fertility and hatchability were recorded as 90.75 % and 87.42 % respectively.