Production Performance and Egg Quality Characteristics of Kadaknath, Rhode Island Red and Indigenous Chickens under Backyard Production System in Balrampur District of Uttar Pradesh, India
Shardendu Narayan Giri *
Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.
S. S. Chauhan
Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.
P. S. Pramanik
Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.
S. S. Kashyap
Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.
M. K. Verma
Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Anup Kumar Singh
Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present study evaluated and compared the production performance and egg quality characteristics of Kadaknath, Rhode Island Red, and Indigenous chickens reared under backyard production systems in Balrampur district, Uttar Pradesh. Production traits, including body weight, age at sexual maturity, egg production, mortality, and egg quality characteristics, were assessed. The results revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences among the three genetic groups. Rhode Island Red birds exhibited significantly higher body weights at 4, 10, 20, and 40 weeks of age (241.99ᵃ ± 2.48 g, 828.17ᵃ ± 2.68 g, 1707.74ᵃ ± 5.51 g, and 2010.19ᵃ ± 6.05 g, respectively), followed by Kadaknath and Indigenous birds. Age at sexual maturity was significantly lower in Rhode Island Red birds (155.87ᶜ ± 0.57 days) than in Kadaknath (196.48ᵇ ± 0.87 days) and Indigenous birds (212.82ᵃ ± 2.17 days). Egg production up to 40 weeks was highest in Rhode Island Red birds (79.47ᵃ ± 1.33 eggs), followed by Kadaknath (41.02ᵇ ± 0.73 eggs) and Indigenous birds (33.47ᶜ ± 0.64 eggs). Rhode Island Red eggs had significantly higher egg weight (55.22ᵃ ± 0.25 g), eggshell weight (5.12ᵃ ± 0.05 g), eggshell thickness (0.35ᵃ ± 0.01 mm), yolk weight (16.51ᵃ ± 0.09 g), yolk percentage (30.07ᵃ ± 0.21%), and yolk colour score (9.89ᵃ ± 0.09). However, Kadaknath eggs recorded a superior Haugh unit value (77.42ᵃ ± 0.37), indicating better albumen quality. The findings indicate that Rhode Island Red chickens are more productive under the evaluated backyard conditions, whereas Kadaknath chickens have an advantage in internal egg quality.
Keywords: Backyard poultry, Kadaknath, Rhode Island red, indigenous chickens, growth performance, age at sexual maturity, egg production, egg quality, Haugh unit, mortality.