GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FAMILY POULTRY PRODUCTION IN INDIA

Dr.A.K.Thiruvenkadan and J.Muralidharan, Dr.R.Rajendran and Dr.R.Saravanan

Professor and Head
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding
Veterinary College and Research Institute
Orathanadu-614625, Tamil Nadu, India
Email:drthirusiva@gmail.com
Traditional backyard poultry keeping has been practised since time immemorial in different
parts of the world. Worldwide, this backyard poultry sector consists of chickens (63 %), ducks
(11 %), geese (9 %), turkeys (5 %), pigeons (3 %) and guinea fowls (3 %). Raising of local poultry
breeds in backyard is an important source of livelihood for the rural people of India. The growing
demand for indigenous eggs and low investment in backyard sector provides opportunity for the
rural poor particularly, women for more gainful supplementary income generation opportunities for
the family. Backyard poultry in India is characterized by small flock size consisting of 5-10
predominantly non-descript birds maintained in extensive system under zero input conditions, but
fetch the owners much needed animal protein and supplementary income. These birds are entirely
raised in the backyards, spread across all categories of households. They largely subsist on
scavenging in gardens, village alleys and surroundings of the farms by feeding on crop residues,
insects, worms and green forage. The most preferred quality chicken meat and egg come from
backyard poultry sector, which is sold at a premium market price. Small farming families, landless
labourers and people who are below poverty line are able to raise the indigenous chicken with low
inputs and harvest the benefits as eggs and meat via scavenged feed resources. Both heavy- and
light-type native breeds exist in natural habitats. In heavy types, the adult female body weights are
between 2.0 and 3.0 kg, whereas in light breeds, body weight ranges from 0.9 to 1.5 kg. The
importance of backyard poultry is well recognized by Government of India and special programmes
are formulated for its promotion. In addition to native chickens, there is a growing demand from
the farmers for the exotic hybrids suitable to family production system. Hence, efforts have been
diverted into producing simply-housed, dual purpose breeds and hybrids with the improved
production profiles.

Utilization of native chicken breeds for the development of suitable

scavenging chicken has resulted in great success in our country. These hybrids are readily accepted
by the rural farmers owing to their similarity of the typical appearance of the local birds and
characteristically very low operational cost but significant returns under the existing methods of
rearing in the rural areas. Hence, the commercial hybrid cross between a native breed and an exotic
breed would be a good proposition for the ideal replacement of native scavenging chicken in the
backyard poultry keeping. The introduction of different exotic crossbreds like Vanraja, Giriraja,
Nadanam, Grampriya, Hitcari, Upcari, which resemble indigenous fowl in body conformation,
multi coloured plumage, dull shanks, pink skin and single comb, to scavenging in small scale

poultry operations by both public and private sector organisations, have generated new
opportunities for poultry production in rural areas. These improver birds have more economically
viable characteristics which are of great importance for village production of eggs and meat.
Promoting improved strains of birds would make an impact on development programmes for small
scale poultry keeping. The availability of leaner, tastier and less watery poultry meat has attracted
the attention of the semi-urban and urban consumers, resulting in more local hatcheries adding a
semi-commercial component in the rural poultry keeping. The quick return scheme for raising
meat chickens and the gradual return scheme for egg production, whilst maintaining traditional
scavenging husbandry practices using replica indigenous or synthetic hybrid prototype birds, has
generated new hopes in rural-based family poverty alleviation programmes.
Key words: Family Poultry production, indigenous chicken breeds, backyard

1. INTRODUCTION
Traditional backyard poultry keeping has been practised since time immemorial in different
parts of the world. Worldwide, this backyard poultry sector consists of chickens (63 %), ducks (11
%), geese (9 %), turkeys (5 %), pigeons (3 %) and guinea fowls (3 %) (Besbes, 2009). In most of
the developing countries, indigenous poultry genotypes constitute between 80 and 99 % of the
poultry populations that are kept in villages (Sonaiya and Swan, 2004). There are two forms of the
traditional backyard systems:

Unimproved backyard system: Use of low-input, low producing native birds, brooding,
scavenging, no regular water or feed supply, little or poor night shelter, no vaccination and
medication .

Improved backyard system: Use of genetically improved birds, scavenging, regular water,
supplementary feeding, improved shelter, care of chicks in the early age, vaccination against
prevalent diseases and deworming (Gueye, 2005).
Being called Family Poultry, Smallholder poultry, Scavenging poultry, or Village

poultry the different systems of poultry rearing with various levels of intensification are now
adopted by poor, marginal as well as richer members of the society with intensification according to
their economical status and requirements (Singh, 2007). .
Raising of local poultry breeds in backyard is an important source of livelihood for the rural
people of India. The growing demand for indigenous eggs and low investment in backyard sector
provides opportunity for the rural poor particularly, women for more gainful supplementary income
generation opportunities for the family. Backyard poultry in India is characterized by small flock
size consisting of 5-10 predominantly non-descript birds maintained in extensive system under zero
input conditions, but fetch the owners much needed animal protein and supplementary income.
These birds are entirely raised in the backyards, spread across all categories of households. They

largely subsist on scavenging in gardens, village alleys and surroundings of the farms by feeding on
house hold waste, crop residues, insects, worms and green forage. The most preferred quality
chicken meat and egg come from backyard poultry sector, which is sold at a premium market price.
The importance of backyard poultry is well recognized by Government of India and special
programmes are formulated for its promotion (Khan, 1984; Sonaiya, 1996). Therefore, different
states in India have taken steps for strengthening of Departmental Poultry & Duck farms under
Centrally Sponsored Scheme and District Poultry Hatcheries under SGSY Infrastructure
Development Fund in order to promote the low input technology birds in the backyard sector.
Through this, the States expects to enhance food security at household levels and improve
nutritional status (Khan, 2002).
2. GENETIC RESOURCES FOR RURAL POULTRY
2. 1 Indigenous Breeds of Chicken in India
India is rich repository of chicken genetic resources with 18 breeds of fowl along with
various indigenous breed crosses. The breeds habituated in different agroclimatics zones of India
have evolved more through natural selection than through deliberate intervention by man. These
breeds are important to rural backyard poultry keeping due to their better adaptability and better
disease resistance (Khan, 1984; Sonaiya, 1996; Kitalyi, 1996; Sheldon, 1998). Small farming
families, landless labourers and people with below poverty line are able to raise these chickens with
low inputs and harvest the benefits as eggs and meat via scavenged feed resources (Robert and
Gunaratne, 1992; Sonaiya, 2005). Both heavy- and light-type native breeds (Tables 1 and 2) exist
in natural habitats. In heavy types, the adult female body weights are between 2.0 and 3.0 kg,
whereas in light breeds, body weight ranges from 0.9 to 1.5 kg .
Table 1. Classification of indigenous breeds of chicken
Breed
Type
Heavy
Type

Light
Type

Breeds and distribution area

Characteristics

Aseel (Central India), Chittgong (Eastern India),

Deothigiri (Assam), Danki (Andhra Pradesh);
Ghagus (Karnataka), Tellichery (Kerala), Punjab
Brown (Punjab).
Ankaleshwar (Gujrat), Bursa (Gujrat, Maharashtra),
Hirranghatta Black (West Bengal), Kadaknath
(Madhya Pradesh), Kashmir Faverrolla (Kashmir),
Miri (Assam), Naked neck (West Coast), Nicobari
(Andaman Nicobar), Kalasathi (Andhra Pradesh) and
Tani, Titri (Uttar Pradesh)

Body weight
Male - >=3.0 kg
Female - >=2.0 kg.
Egg Production : 30-60 eggs
Body weight
Male - 1.6 to 2.0 kg
Female - 0.9 to 1.4 kg.
Egg Production : 40 - 90 eggs
Source: Khan (2008)

Table 2. Performance of Indigenous chicken breeds

Parameters

Aseel Danki Punjab Ghagus Kadaknath Kashmir Naked

Brown
Favorolla Neck
Body weight -Cock 4.00
3.1
2.2
2.16
1.60
1.9
1.8
(kg)
Body weight -Hen 2.59
2.2
1.6
1.433
1.13
1.4
1.0
(kg)
Age
at
sexual 196
180150150180
210
201
maturity (days)
240
180
180
Annual
egg
92
25 -35 60-80
45-60
105
60-85
99
production (number)
Egg weight (40 week)
50
46.16
46
40.25
49
45.76
54
(g)
Fertility (%)
66
55
66
Hatchability FES (%)
63
60-85 60-80
81.36
52
64
71
The special features of these native breeds are:

Well adapted to traditional backyard farming

Low or no inputs and survive well on scavenging and leftover feed

Hardy and better resistance to diseases

Thrive well in harsh conditions and from predation

Good mothering ability

Adaptive advantages of coloured

plumage, smaller body size, alertness and fighting

qualities

Tastier meat when compared to broilers.

Supplementary source of income to the rural poor and contribution to family nutrition
In spite of the above advantages the major limiting factors are:

Low egg production and

Slower growth rates

Because of the above shortcomings in rearing of the native breeds, there is an increasing

demand from the farmers for the exotic hybrids suitable to family production system. These birds
need to be multi-coloured and their eggs must be brown for the better acceptability from the
farmers. More importantly, they must have the ability to grow fast and produce fairly good number
of eggs. In addition, they should have the ability to evade predators, disease resistant and thrive
well in village free range conditions with the scavengeable feed resource. Hence, efforts have been
diverted into producing simply-housed, dual purpose breeds and hybrids with improved production
profiles.

2. 2 Commercial Hybrids Developed in India

The need for development of varieties suitable for backyard production in India was
visualized by poultry breeders during eighties and the research in this field has been made for
production of the improver varieties suitable for the rural areas under backyard environment.

large number of commercial hybrids both for eggs and meat have been developed and tested with
good success by the various institutions in India (Table 3) and Bangladesh and similar approaches
are being practised in China and African countries. In India, the release of Giriraja variety can be
viewed as the first initative by poultry breeders to develop varieties suitable for backyard rearing.
Due to heavy demand from the farmers for the improved varieties, many institutions developed
different hybrids (Table 3) suitable for backyard production viz. Vanaraja and Grampriya (Project
Directorate of Poultry, Hyderabad). Nandanam chicken-I and Nandanam broiler-II (Tamil Nadu
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu), Gramalakshmi and Gramasree
(Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookot,Kerala) and

CariNirbeek, Cari

Syhma, Upcari, Hitcari (Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh). Majority of
these chicken varieties resemble the native chicken, grow fast and produce more number of eggs
(Table 4), require low input (like feed, management, health care, housing, etc.) and sustain different
vagaries of the climatic and environmental changes (Khan, 1994; Khan, 2008; Singh, 2002).

Table 3. Commercials hybrids developed in India for backyard poultry rearing

Name of hybrid
Duel/meat
Giriraja

Vanraja
Nandanam Chicken 1
Nandnam Broiler 2
Gramalakshmi

Caribro-Vishal
Cari-Rainbro
Caribro-Dhanraja
Caribro-Mritunjai
Caribro-Tropicana

Type

Feather
pattern

Place of origin

White Plymouth Rock x

Red Cornish x New
Hampshire
Red Cornish x Random
bred meat control
Developed from Rhode
Island Red breed
Breed cross
Australop
X
White
Leghorn

Graded Brown

Karnataka Veterinary and

Fisheries University, Bidar,
Karnataka
PDP, Hyderabad, Andhra
Pradesh

Broiler cross
Broiler cross
Broiler cross
Broiler cross
Broiler cross

Graded Brown
Mixed Brown
Mixed Brown
white in colour
with
black
speckles
White
colourd broiler
Multi-coloured
Multi-coloured
Multi-coloured

TANUVAS, Chennai,
Tamil Nadu
KVASU, Pookot, Kerala

CARI, Izatnagar

Egg type
Cari-Nirbheek
Cari-Shyama
Cari-Devendra
Upcari
Hitcari
Cari-Sonali
Cari-Priya
Grampriya

Gramsree

Aseel x Delhem Red

Brownish
Kadaknath x Delhem
Brown
Synthetic broiler line x Graded Brown
Rhode Island Red
Frizzel x Delhem Red
Multi Colour

CARI, Izatnagar

Naked Neck x Delhem

Brown
WLH x RIR
Whitish Brown
Superior male and female White
lines of White Leghorn
Random bred control Whitish Brown
PDP, Hyderabad, Andhra
population
x
White
Pradesh
Leghorn
WLH x RIR
Whitish Brown
KVASU, Pookot, Kerala
Source: Ayyagari, 2001; Singh, 2002; Khan, 2008

Table 4. Performance of broiler hybrids of India

Name of the
Body weight Dressing
hybrid
at 7-10
percentage
weeks (kg)
Giriraja
Vanaraja
Gramalakshmi
Caribro-Vishal
Cari-Rainbro
Caribro-Dhanraja

1.3 - 1.4
1.12 - 1.57
1.7
2.0 to 2.2
1.6
2.0 to 2.2

75-80%
73%
80%

Caribro-Mritunjai
Caribro-Tropicana

1.8-2.0
1.8

75-77%
74%

Table 4. Performance of layer hybrids

TRAIT
CariCari
Nirbheek
Shyama
Body weights at 20 1800-2000
1800weeks (g)- Male
2000
Body weights at 20 1200-1400
1050weeks (g)-Female
1200
Age at sexual
174
167
maturity (days)
Annual egg
160-180
180-200
production
(number)
Egg weight at 40
53
54
weeks (g)
Survivability (%)
90-95
90-95
after 6 weeks

Livability
percentage
95 - 98
95 - 98
>96
97-98
98-99
96-98

Feed
conversion
ratio (6
weeks)
2.4
1.7 to 2.10
2.3
1.75 to 2.10

Egg production

120-150/500 days
147 eggs /annum
180-200 eggs
-

97-98
1.7 to 2.10
97.0
1.9
Source: Ayyagari, 2001; Singh, 2002; Khan, 2008

Hitcari Upcari CariCariPriya

Sonali
180016002000
1900
120011851400
1300
168
162
17 to 18 18 to 19
weeks
weeks
180190> 298
> 280
200
210
eggs*
eggs*

Gramapriya
1200

180-200*

59

58

57

54

53-55

>90

>90

96

96

>96

Source: Ayyagari, 2001; Singh, 2002; Khan, 2008

* Up to 72 weeks

Utilization of native chicken breeds for the development of suitable scavenging chicken has
resulted in great success in our country. These hybrids are readily accepted by the rural farmers
owing to its similarity of the typical appearance of the local birds and characteristically very low
operational cost but significant returns under the existing methods of rearing in the rural areas.
Hence, the commercial hybrid cross between a native breed and an exotic breed would be a good
proposition for the ideal replacement of native scavenging chicken in the backyard poultry keeping.
The promising features of these commercial hybrids are

Colour of the bird: A majority of people in rural areas has a strong liking for coloured birds,
not from the aesthetic point of view but from the survival point of view. Compared to white or
light coloured birds the coloured birds escape from the predators by being camouflaged by their
colour. Because of the multi-coloured plumage pattern the commercial hybrids phenotypically
look like their original native breed

Morphology and temperament of the bird: Due to their relatively lightweight, long shanks,
high stamina and aggressiveness, the commercial hybrids are capable of protecting themselves
from predators. In backyard areas where there is always presence of predators, a lighter
chicken with long shank and strong wings has a greater chance of escaping from predators by
running fast and flying till they reach a safer place.

Productivity of the birds: The commercial hybrids have improved productivity (both egg and
meat) with larger size coloured eggs under free-range conditions in rural and tribal areas. They
lay brown coloured tinted eggs, which is having great demand in the market In addition, the
commercial hybrids have better feed efficiency even with diets containing low energy and
protein and it can perform better in backyard conditions by eating green grass and insects
available in the fields.

Disease resistance: The commercial hybrids are sturdy and resistant to most of the common
poultry diseases because of their high immune competence.

Adaptability to the tropics: They can perform better even in adverse environmental
conditions and better adaptable to the backyard/free range rearing. They have better survival
rate and thrive under low or negligible input cost.

Self Propagation: Self propagation capability is also an important characteristic of these

commercial hybrid germplasm. This is an essential requirement for the scavenging bird. In
remote areas and due to financial constraints of the weaker members of the population it might
not always be possible to get the replacement chicks from the hatchery. Broodiness may
therefore be considered as one of the important characteristics which is essential for self
propagation.

3. BENEFITS OF BACKYARD POULTRY REARING

The traditional free range system is the main component of the family poultry production
and is based on limited inputs which result in low outputs. Hence, broiler/layer hybrids have been
introduced to replace the non-descript low producing birds under this system of managment. The
benefits of the family poultry production are
Generation of self-employment, women empowerment and gross increase in family income
Ready availability of cheap source of protein to combat the malnutrition.
Source of backyard eggs to the nearby panchayats
The egg and meat production has been increased.
4. FUTURE NEEDS
Most of the work in backyard poultry breeding was carried out at ICAR /SAU research
institutes and the genetic material is available only in limited quantity . In future when scaling up is
planned, research institutes may not be able to meet the demand. Hence, Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) initiatives need to be planned for future.
Improved varieties so far available also need supplementary diet, health care and
prophylactic measures for optimum performance. Hence developing location specific package of
practices for each of the variety is need of the hour.
As the requirement of individual farmer is very small and are scattered in an operating area,
promotion of chick rearing units as separate enterprise for rural youth may yield desirable results in
scaling up the backyard poultry production.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of different exotic crossbreds like Vanaraja, Giriraja, Nadanam,
Grampriya, Hitcari, Upcari, which resemble indigenous fowl in body conformation, multi coloured
plumage, dull shanks, pink skin and single comb, to scavenging in small scale poultry operations by
both public and private sector organisations, have generated new opportunities for poultry
production in rural areas. These improver birds have more economically viable characteristics
which is of great importance for village production of eggs and meat. Promoting improved strains
of birds would make an impact on development programmes for small scale poultry keeping. The
availability of leaner, tastier and less watery poultry meat has attracted the attention of the semiurban and urban consumers, resulting in more home hatcheries adding a semi-commercial
component in the rural poultry keeping. The quick return scheme for raising meat chickens and
the gradual return scheme for egg production, whilst maintaining traditional scavenging
husbandry practices using replica indigenous or synthetic hybrid prototype birds, has generated new
hopes in rural-based family poverty alleviation programmes.

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