Swarnadhara poultry breed's benefits, no chicken feed
Posted by Unknown in Breeds, Chicken, Layer Poultry, Poultry, Zz_Wordpress on Monday 10 September 2012
M.J. PRABU
The eggshell is brown in color and thicker than other commercial eggs |
| MORE YIELD: The birds lay about 180-190 eggs in a year. |
IN AGRICULTURE, even with the best crop production strategies and technical expertise, there is no guarantee that the yield will be bountiful.
Agricultural experts have always been advising farmers to grow multicrops instead of monocrops and rear cattle, goats and poultry along with their crops, because even if the crops fail, the animals and their produce will help the farmers overcome their financial losses.
Hardy Birds
Compared to cattle and goats, which require a hefty investment, farmers can rear country chickens (having coloured plumage) as these birds are hardy, require less space for growing and fetch a good price for their meat and eggs.
The development of a hybrid chicken breed named Swarnadhara by researchers at the Department of Avian Production and Management (DVPM), Hebbal, Bangalore will go a long way to meet the above criteria.
High Egg Production
Swarnadhara chickens have a high egg production potential along with better growth compared to other local varieties and are suited for mixed and backyard farming, according to Prof. K. Venkat Reddy, Associate Professor, Department of Poultry Science, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences University (KVAFSU), Hebbal, Bangalore.
The bird can be reared for its eggs and meat. It attains maturity from the 22-23rd week after hatching.
Hens attain a body weight of about 3 kg and the cocks about 4 kg. "Swarnadhara hens lay about 180-190 eggs in a year. This breed yields 15-20 eggs in a year more than Giriraja chicken breed, which was released by the University in 2005.
(For information on Giriraja chicken breed refer The Hindu, Farmers Note Book dated December- 22-2005.)
"Compared to Giriraja breed, Swarnadhara breed are smaller in size with a lighter body weight, which makes them easier to escape attacks from predators such as jungle cats and foxes.
Good Hatchability
Each egg weighs about 55-60 gms," says Prof. Reddy. The eggs have a good hatchability (80-85 per cent) and enable the farmers to raise their own stock. A day-old chick weighs about 35-40 gm.
The eggshell is brown in colour and thicker than that of other commercial eggs and does not break easily.
"The eggs can be stored for 8-10 days at room temperature during summer and during winter for about 15 days.
The eggs are priced between Rs.3 and 5 in the local market," Prof. Venkat Reddy explains.
The birds are only layers and not brooders (that is, they only lay eggs and do not incubate them).
The eggs have to be hatched by local brooder hens. For backyard rearing, a flock of five hens and one cock can be ideally grown.
The birds are sturdy and have a high longevity. No special care is required to grow them.
Local Feed
They can be raised as free roaming birds and can be fed with locally available materials, according to Prof. Venkat Reddy. Being good scavengers, they feed on a variety of insects and green foliage. They can also be fed on farm and kitchen wastes.
"The birds are resistant to major infections except ranikhet and new castle which are common infections in poultry," he says.
Annual Income
A pair of Swarnadhara chicken fetches an income of about Rs.920 a year through the sale of its eggs and meat. One-day-old chicks and eggs of this breed are priced at Rs. 9 and Rs. 5 respectively and are sold at the university campus, according to him.
For more information readers may contact Professor. K. Venkat Reddy, Associate Professor, Department of Poultry Science, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences University (KVAFSU), Hebbal, Bangalore-560024, Phone: (080) 23414384, 23411483 (ext) 201.
The Hindu
