Contents
One of the most fascinating Biology Topics is the study of genetics and how traits are passed down through generations.
Poultry Farming – Introduction, Benefits, Importance and Management
What is Poultry?
Poultry is defined as the industry in which economically important and food-producing birds are cultured.
Types of Poultry Birds
Principally, poultry birds comprise fowl and ducks. However, presently some other birds have been taken as poultry birds namely guinea fowl, peafowl, swans, quails, pheasant, turkey, etc. Poultry birds are commonly cultured for the production of meat.
Systematic Position of Poultry Bird
Systematic Position of Fowl
- Phylum: Chordata
- Sub phylum: Vertebrata
- Super class: Gnathastomata
- Class: Aves
- Subclass: Neornithes
- Super order: Neognathae
- Order: Ansariformes
- Scientific Name: Callusdomesticus
Systematic Position of Duck
- Phylum: Chordata
- Sub phylum: Vertebrata
- Super class: Gnathastomata
- Class: Aves
- Subclass: Neornithes
- Super order: Neognathae
- Order: Ansariformes
- Scientific Name: Anas poecilorhyncha
Scientific Name of Some Poultry Birds:
Common Name | Scientific Name |
1. Fowl | Gallus domesticus |
2. Indian spot-billed Duck | Anas poecilorhyncha |
3. Swan | Cygnus olor |
4. Turkey | Meleagris gallopava |
5. Japanese quail | Coturnix japonica |
6. Indian peafowl | Pavo cristatus |
A. Fowl
Some wildfowl species
- Red Jungle fowl: Callus gallus
- Grey Jungle Fowl: Gallus Sonneratti
- Srilankan Jungle fowl: Gallus Lafayette
- Green Jungle fowl: Gallus varius
Different Breeds of Fowl
Breeds of fowl are mainly two types such as pure breed and hybrid breed.
1. Pure breed:
The breeds which maintain the same features since their origin are known as pure breeds. The pure breeds are further classified depending on their place of origin, body weight, economic utility, sitting efficiency, etc.
The breeds of fowl on the basis of the place of origin:
There are four types of breeds of fowl found on the basis of their origin and they are Mediterranean breed, American breed, English breed, and Asian breed.
- Mediterranean breed: These forms are available in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, e.g., White Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona etc.
- American breed: These breeds are available in America, e.g., Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire, Rhode Island Red, Rhode Island White, Jersey White Giant, Java, Wyandotte, Lemona, etc.
- English breed: These breeds are available in England. Several breeds of this type are Sussex, Australorp, Dorking, Cornish, Red Cap, etc.
- Asian breed: These breeds are available in Asia, e.g., Aseel, Chittagong, Ghagus, Brahma, Cochin, etc.
Breeds of fowl on the basis of their economic importance:
On the basis of economic importance, the breeds of fowl are classified into three types laying breed, dual breed, and table breed.
- Laying breed: This type of fowl lays more eggs, e.g., Leghorn, Minorca, etc. These breeds lay about 150 eggs in a year.
- Dual breed: The breeds that may give both meat and egg in sufficient amounts are of this type, e.g., Sussex, New Hampshire, Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, etc.
- Table breed: The fowl that is cultured only for meat production is known as table breed, e.g., Aseel, Broiler, etc.
Breeds on the basis of sitting capacity:
These include two varieties of fowl non-sitter and sitter.
- Non-sitter: The fowls that do not like sitting on the eggs are of this category, e.g., Leghorn.
- Sitter: These like to sit on the eggs, e.g., Asian breeds.
Breeds on the basis of weight:
There are two varieties of breeds of this category namely Light class, e.g., Leghorn, and Heavy class, e.g., Rhode Island Red.
2. Hybrid:
When Indian breeds and exotic breeds are hybridized. A hybrid variety is formed. This type of fowl lays more eggs and more in weight.
Characters of Several Breeds of Fowl:
Breed | Colour of Feather | Colour of Egg | Comb Feature | Weight (in kg.) |
1. Plymouth Rock | Grey in colour, breast with white and dark markings. | Brownish | Single | Cock: 4.3 Hen: 3.4 |
2. New Hampshire | Body reddish to copper colour, the tip of the wings & breast moderate in colour. | Brownish | Single | Cock: 3.9 Hen: 3 |
3. Rhode Island Red | Bright reddish to copper colour. Tip of the wing, tail feathers, and neck with black markings. | Brownish | Rose | Cock: 3.9 Hen: 3 |
4. Australorp | Black in colour, dorsal feathers bright and greenish. | Brownish | Single | Cock: 4.5 Hen: 3.4 |
5. Cornish | Body colour varies white feathers with red edges. | Brownish | Pea | Cock: 4.5 Hen: 3.4 |
6. Leghorn | Body colour may be white, brown, silver, or yellowish. | White | Single | Male: 3.4 Female: 2 |
7. Minorca | Black to greenish. | White | Single | Male: 4.1 Female: 3.4 |
8. Brahma | Blue variety light blue, buffight yellow; light variety mostly white, dark variety black to silvery. | Brownish | Pea | Male: 4.5 Female: 4.3 |
9. Cochin | Three varieties of colour – buff, black and white. | Brownish | Pea | Male: 5 Female: 3.9 |
Fowl Diseases and Control
Diseases in fowl may be of two types: infectious and non-infectious. The non-infectious diseases are mainly due to deficiency of nutrition, e.g., Rickets due to deficiency of vitamin D, Paralysis for deficiency of vitamin B2, and Porosis due to deficiency of vitamin B5. Infectious diseases occur due to infections by different microorganisms. Symptoms and remedies for several diseases are given below.
Several Infectious Diseases of Fowl:
Disease | Symptoms | Remedies |
A. Viral Diseases | ||
1. Ranikhet | Breathing trouble, shivering of the body, paralysis of the wings, neck, and legs. | There is no specific treatment for the disease. Only the diseased fowls are kept in isolation. Chickens are given vaccine at 5-7 days and at 6-7 weeks of age. |
2. Marek’s disease | 6-7 week fowls are attacked with paralysis. | No definite treatment is there. One day old chicks are given the vaccine for the disease. |
B. Bacterial Diseases | ||
1. Pullorum | Usually, chicks are attacked by the disease. Fowls become very weak with gloomy feathers. Anus liberates greenish stool. | The application of furazolidone with food gives good results. |
2. Fowl cholera | Frequent excretion of yellowish watery stool. Swelling of the neck and appendages is seen. The body becomes weak. | Application of sulpha drug and TMP combination drugs like sulphathiazole, sulphamethagin, sulpha quinoxaline, chlorosomes, etc. with drinks or food gives good results. Besides the juveniles are given a cholera vaccine to control the disease. |
3. Coryza | Eyelids are swollen. Eyes and nostrils excrete sticky fluid. | Diseased fowls are kept in isolation. Besides the diseased fowls fed with streptomycin or sulphathiazole may give
Good result. |
C. Protozoa Diseases | ||
1. Coccidiosis | Loss of appetite, drowsiness, irregular arrangement of feathers, presence of blood in faecal matters. | Feeding of sulphaquinoflalin, nitrofurazone, and sodium sulfamidine give good result. |
D. Fungus Diseases | ||
1. Aspergillosis | Dyspnea, gasping, and loss of appetite. | There is no definite treatment for the disease. However, the diseased fowls may be kept in isolation from the flock. Some selenium-containing antifungal drug gives good result. |
E. Parasites Diseases | ||
1. Ectoparasite – Mites | Frequent scratching with beak. Irritation on the body. | Spraying pesticides like malathion over the body gives good results. |
2. Endoparasite – Round worm | Loss of weight and anaemia. | Feeding the diseased fowl with piperazine and phenothiazine gives good results. |
Poultry Farming for Fowls
There are various methods of poultry farming for fowls. For example, conventional fowl farming in open space, fowl farming in cages, and farming by deep litter system, For business purposes poultry farming in deep litter system is the best method.
Deep Litter System of Poultry Farming for Fowl
Litter means the bed of grass. In the poultry house a bed formed of grass, hay, etc., of a depth of about 20 cm. is known as deep litter. Farming of fowls in a room having a deep litter is known as a deep litter system. Requirements for the deep litter system are:
(i) House or Room:
The house or room for the deep litter system is actually a large cage in the form of a house made of wood and bamboo. Such an enclosure is usually well-lighted and with an arrangement for good circulation of air. The roof of the house usually contains a shed made of tins or asbestos. The floor of the house is initially cleaned with lime and then bleaching powder.
Following this, the floor is dried and then the litter is spread on the floor which is formed with saw-dust, cottonseed, paddy or barley husk, dried stems of maize and sugar cane, and small pieces of hay. In the initial phase, sawdust is spread on the floor and over that hay sticks are spread to make the litter about 10-15 cm thick. When this litter becomes mixed fully with faecal matters of fowl, a litter of about 5 cm thick is again spread over it. Thus a litter of about 20 cm is prepared. The floor of the farmhouse should have wooden planks with a height of about 5 ft. The walls of the house are set with 2-3 ft. high wood planks from the floor and the upper part of it is fitted with wire nets. On the outside of the wooden wall, food and water remain so placed that they are available to the fowls by extending their heads and necks through a wire net. The walls of the house are also fitted with nests where they can lay eggs within the house.
(ii) Pot of food:
The pot of food for the fowl should be such that during taking of the food it does not get spilled in any way. Further, a fowl should not get much food unnecessarily.
(iii) Water container:
The fowls should be provided with water in a pot. The pot of water should be such that it does not get overturned easily. Sometimes automatic water fountain is used as a water source for the fowls in a farmhouse.
(iv) Pot of sand for bath:
The fowls do not bathe in water, rather they take a sand bath in dry conditions. For this reason, a farmhouse is provided with a big pot filled with sand, dust, and charcoal, with which they run take a bath as per desire.
(v) Resting bar:
Usually 2” x 2” wooden bar is fitted horizontally in the farmhouse along the side walls. On this wooden bar, the fowls take rest when necessary.
Taking care of deep litter:
Proper conditioning of the deep litter is the primary requisite for poultry farming and therefore, the following aspects of the deep litter should be taken care of:
- The deep litter should always remain dry. If some part of the litter gets wet, it should be replaced by dry litter.
- The moist litter is usually treated with quick lime at a rate of 500 g/15 sq. ft or super phosphate at a rate of 1 kg/15 sq. ft.
- Every week the litter is mixed with the faecal matters of fowls with the help of a rake.
- If some part of the litter is condensed by fusion, that should be broken by manipulation.
- The litter thickness should be maintained at 15 cm during summer and 20 cm during winter.
- Every year the replacement of the litter is necessary.
- Usually, at the end of the year, 3/4th of the litter is disposed and the remaining 1/4th of it is mixed with fresh litter.
- To reduce the infestation of insects and acarines in the farmhouse spraying of DDT (10%) is suggested.
Precautions for deep litter system:
The precautionary measures for deep litter system are
- The fowls should be reared at a density rate of one per 3 sq ft. Therefore, the farmhouse should contain only the requisite number of fowls according to the above concentration.
- Care should be taken for well availability of light in the farmhouse and free circulation of air.
- Feeds of fowls should be provided with sufficient amounts of Vitamin A and D.
- In case fowls get infected with some disease, the litter of the room must be replaced as the primary measure of treatment.
Advantages of deep litter system:
- A deep litter system requires less space for rearing fowls and for this, no open field is required for the purpose of roaming fowls. Even the roof of the building may be used for this purpose.
- Everyday cleaning of the litter is not necessary. Labour and cost are sufficiently less in a deep litter system.
- Deep litter is converted into dry compost and therefore, no foul smell is produced and litters may also be used as manures.
- The fowls scratch the litter with their legs and hence, a deep litter system provides the scope for exercise to the fowls.
- The dry deep litter is inconvenient for the growth of infectious agents and therefore, the deep litter system may give protection to the fowls from diseases.
- The fowls rub their body surface on the litter and thereby lice cannot grow on their body.
Advantages of Poultry Farming
- Poultry farming helps in earning money and production of nutritious food.
- The system provides scope for rearing fowl with less expenditure.
- Money invested may be returned within a short period in this method. In broiler production, it takes 6-8 weeks to get the invested money returned.
- In egg production poultry farming takes 22-24 weeks to get the invested money returned.
- The system does not require expensive instruments.
- For preparation of the farm much land area is not required. An unfavourable atmosphere also does not cause any loss to the farmer.
- For such a method of poultry farming the farmer may get sufficient instruction and knowledge from nearby government departments.
- Besides improved variety of chicks and necessary appliances may also be available easily to the farmer.
- Poultry farming generates a good amount of food and economic value.
Food of Fowl
The balanced diet used as a feed for fowl and food used in poultry is composed of many ingredients as in the following table.
Composition of Feed for Fowls:
Component | Mass (in g.) for egg-laying fowl | Mass (in g.) for chick |
Wheat | 30 | 20 |
Maize | 30 | – |
Bran of wheat | 18 | 23 |
Rice bran | 10 | 7 |
Dry fish | 6 | 7 |
Unio dust | 4 | – |
Mineral salt | 2 | 2 |
Vit. A, B2, D, B5 | Sufficient quantity | Sufficient quantity |
B. Duck
Different Breeds of Duck
1. According to the country of origin:
- Mediterranean breed: The ducks available in the regions near the Mediterranean Sea are known as the Mediterranean breed, e.g., Rouen, Rouen Clair, etc.
- American breed: These breeds are available in different regions of America, e.g., Black East Indian, Cayuga, Muscovy, etc.
- German breed: Available in Germany, e.g., Saxony.
- Asian breed: These breeds have originated in different regions of Asia, e.g., Indian Runner, Pekin, Bali, Sylhet Mete, Nageswari, Khaki Campbell, etc.
2. According to Economic Value:
On the basis of economic value, there are three varieties of duck breeds.
- Meat type breed: These breeds are important for meat production, e.g., White Pekin, Iselsberi, Muscovy, Rouen Sweden, etc. The male of this variety measures about 5 kg and the female about 4 kg.
- Egg type breed: This variety is capable of laying more eggs, e.g., Indian Runner, Khaki Campbell, Bali, Orpington, Nageswari, etc.
- Aesthetic breed: The duck of this variety is good-looking, e.g., Frested white, Maleard, etc.
Some Breeds of Duck:
Sylhet Mete | Nageswari | Indian Runner | Khaki Campbell |
1. Available mainly in eastern India. | 1. Available near Sylhet, Kachar, and the eastern region of Bangladesh. | 1. Available mainly in some southern states of India. | 1. Available in many states in India. It is a hybrid variety between the Indian runner and Rouen. |
2. The Feather is light brown, the end portion is blackish, beak is yellow. | 2. Shoulder feather is blackish but abdominal and near the throat the feather is white. | 2. White, throat is long. | 2. Shoulder feather is blackish white, other feathers are grey. |
3. 80-150 eggs lay per year. | 3. 80-150 eggs lay per year. | 3. Average 122 eggs laid per year. | 3. 180-200 eggs, lay per year. |
4. Egg white, average egg weight 56 gm. | 4. Egg light blue, average egg weight 56 gm. | 4. Egg white, weight 56 gm. | 4. Egg white, average egg weight 70 gm. |
5. The weight of a mature duck on average is 1.8 kg. | 5. The weight of a mature duck is 2 kg. | 5. The weight of a mature male duck is 1.9 kg and the female duck is 1.7 kg. | 5. The weight of a mature male duck is 2.2-2.4 kg and the female duck is 2-2.2 kg. |
Different Systems of Duck Farming
(i) Rearing of Duckling:
Ducklings may be reared in a packing box, cage, or bamboo basket. However, all these devices should be strong having arrangements for air circulation. The ducklings are given a balanced diet at regular intervals. The ducklings are also given sufficient water for drinking. They are also allowed to roam in open space with their mother and this practice helps for better growth of the ducklings. The enemies of the ducklings are crows, kites, hawks, and cats and therefore, enough protection should be given to the ducklings from being harmed by the enemies. Besides this, the ducklings may also be reared in a brooder house with air conditioning. They may be reared in the brooder-house for 3-4 weeks.
(ii) Rearing of the Matured Duck:
when the ducklings grow considerably for about 4 weeks they are reared as matured ducks and there are three methods for rearing, such as rearing in open space, quasi-independent rearing, and intensive rearing. Intensive rearing is again divided into two types namely cage rearing and rearing by deep litter system. Rearing of ducks by deep litter system is the best method. On the floor of the house, husks of paddy are spread to form litter and on this litter, the ducklings are reared for the first two months. Then they are made free in the open space. The female duck at the age of 16-18 weeks starts laying egg.
Food of Duck
The food of duck is formed with a mixture of the following:
Bran of wheat | 50 kg |
Rice bran | 20 kg |
Soyabean oil cake | 15 kg |
Dry fish powder | 10 kg |
Minerals | 2 kg |
Molluscan Shell dust | 3 kg |
Total Food Mixture | 100 kg |
Diseases of Duck and Control Measures:
Disease | Symptoms | Control |
1. Viral Hepatitis | Paralysis, enlargement of liver and spleen, loose stool, and slothing of wings. | Vaccination at the proper time may prevent the disease. |
2. Viral Enteritis | Respiratory trouble, loss of appetite, excretion of greenish-white faecal matter, extremely slender body structure. | Only vaccination is the protection for the disease. |
3. Ranikhet Disease | Loss of appetite, breathing trouble, greenish faeces, disease of the eyes, and ultimately death in most cases. | Vaccination at a very early age and one day old duckling is given the Ranikhet F-strain vaccine. |
4. Duck Cholera | Breathing trouble, frequent excreta as liquid & yellowish faecal matter, drowsiness and paralysis, etc. | Infected duck is given sulphamidin sodium, sulphace famine or doccicydin, and hydrochloride with water for the remedy from the disease. To prevent the attack the ducks are given cholera vaccine. |
5. Salmonellosis (Salmonella sp.) | Loss of appetite, disease of the eyes, breathing trouble, loose stool, slothing of the wings, etc. | Feeding the diseased duck with penicillin or furazolidone with water gives good results. |
6. Botulism (occurs by the attack of Clostridium botulinum) | Muscular paralysis of the wings and legs. | The diseased duck is separated from the flock and fed with Epsom salt. |
Some Other Poultry Bird – Turkey
Reared only for meat, slow maturing birds. Incubation period – 28 days. Reproductive capacity low. Weighting male 10-11 kg, female – 6.5 kg. It lays about 70 eggs/year. Marketed at the age of 20 to 26 weeks.
Breeds:
Domesticated breed in India – Broad-Breasted Bronze breed. Other important breeds are Cambridge and Norfolks.
Feed:
Wheat bran, rice, vegetables.
Disease:
They are strong birds but may be attacked by lice and blackhead disease.
Guinea fowls:
These fowls are also raised for meat production. They are kept in semi-wild condition. Incubation period – 28 days.
Management:
Like fowls.
Quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica):
Imported from Japan in the year 1974. They are very comfortable birds. Birds weigh 100-125 gm, and the weight of an egg is 10 gm. The rate of egg production is high. Their meat is very tasteful. Female birds lay eggs throughout the year and start egg-laying at the age of 17 weeks. Males can be detected at 3 weeks of age. They require temperature for their development like other birds. On the whole, they are disease-resistant, but they require a clean and healthy environment. They may be attacked by various worms, coccidia, and fungi. Nowadays, it is assumed that the rearing of quails is profitable.
Animal Breeding
Production of improved breeds of domesticated animals by improving their genotypes through selective breeding is called animal breeding.
Objectives of Animal Breeding:
The main objectives are
- Increased production of milk, eggs, meat, and wool.
- Improved qualities of milk, eggs, meat, and wool.
- Higher growth rate.
- Increased resistance to various diseases.
- Prolonged productive life.
- Acceptable reproduction rate etc.
Methods of Animal Breeding
Two main types of animal breeding are inbreeding and outbreeding.
1. Inbreeding:
It means mating between animals of the same breed for 4-6 successive generations. This method shows good results in the case of cows, buffaloes, poultry, etc. Mating between superior cows and superior bulls of the same breed are good example of inbreeding. Progenies obtained in the first generation are evaluated for superiority and identified for further mating. A superior female (cow) is selected that produces more milk. Similarly, a superior male (bull) is selected that produces superior progeny in comparison to other males.
However, inbreeding results in increased homozygosity. Homozygous condition expresses some harmful recessive alleles due to selection. Some superior alleles accumulate while less desirable alleles are eliminated during selection for superior progeny. Thus many breeds have developed through various degrees of inbreeding. However, continued inbreeding within the small local population reduces fertility and productivity. This is called inbreeding depression. In such cases, the selected animals of the breeding population should be mated with superior animals of the same breed but unrelated to the breeding population.
2. Outbreeding:
Mating between unrelated animals which may be of the same breed, different breed, or between two different species is called outbreeding. Outbreeding accordingly is of three different types outcrossing (between individuals of the same breed having different ancestors), cross-breeding (between different breeds), and interspecific hybridization (between different species).
(i) Outcrossing:
Two unrelated male and female animals of the same breed are crossed. Animals should not have common ancestors for 4-6 generations. The offspring produced in such a cross is called an outcross. Outcrossing overcomes inbreeding depression and is the best breeding method for animals that are below average in productivity.
(ii) Cross-breeding:
It is mating between superior males of one breed and superior females of another breed. The hybrid progeny develops many of the desirable traits of both breeds. Many new animal breeds have been developed by this method. Hisardale is an example of a new breed of sheep developed in Punjab by crossing Bikaneri ewes and merino rams.
(iii) Interspecific Hybridization:
It is mating between male and female animals belonging to two different species. Hybrids are generally sterile in the case of domestic animals and are different from both the parental species. But in some cases, the hybrid may develop desirable characteristics of both parents. Mule is both hardier and sturdier than both of its parents developed from a cross between a female horse (mare) and a male donkey. Mule is used for the transport of heavy articles in different mountainous regions.
Controlled Breeding Experiments
Controlled breeding experiments are carried out by artificial insemination and multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) technology.
1. Artificial Insemination:
It is the introduction of a suitable amount of semen in the reproductive tract of the female when she is in heat in order to bring about fertilization of the released ovum. This process has several advantages-
- The semen can be stored at low temperatures for future use.
- During the natural process, an excess amount of sperm is released and spoiled, this can be prevented in artificial insemination using proper doses.
- The semen of a single bull is sufficient to inseminate a few hundred females.
- The males of high-yielding breeds can be kept in an environment suitable for them.
- The spread of certain diseases can be controlled by this method.
2. Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET) Technology:
In this method, by injecting hormones to the cow with FSH-like activity many ova (6-8 ova) may be released at a time from the ovary. Following this, the eggs may be fertilized artificially (artificial insemination) and the fertilized eggs (at 8-32-celled stage embryo) may be implanted in the uterus of a surrogate mother. This leads to the production of several calves at a time. The genetic mother is available for another superovulation. This technology has been used in cattle, sheep, buffaloes, horses, and rabbits. Attempts have been made to develop high-yielding females and high-quality meat-yielding males in cattle.
Embryo Transfer in Cattle
The following steps are involved in the embryo transfer in cattle:
- A superior breed cow is selected as a donor and a low milk-yielding cow is selected as the recipient (surrogate mother).
- Their heat period is then synchronized using hormone prostaglandins.
- Superovulation is then induced in the donor by injecting stimulating hormone (FSH).
- The donor cow is then artificially inseminated using the semen from the superior top-pedigree bull.
- After seven days the fertilized eggs (embryos) are collected from the uterus of the donor cow and transferred to surrogate mothers to attain maturity.
- The selected embryos are kept at 37°C in the special medium in an incubation. On average 18 superior calves can be produced from one donor cow in a year.
The poultry industry with its production in the form of eggs and meat is of particular importance in providing a balanced diet for the human population. Poultry birds serve human beings in various ways. They are not only efficient converters of agricultural byproducts, particularly of wastes into high-quality meat but also provide eggs, feathers, and rich manure. Proper management of poultry includes improved methods of hatching, rearing, housing, sanitation, prevention of diseases, and a sound marketing arrangement.
The word, poultry has originated from the old French word ‘poult’ means chicken, the young one of common domestic fowl. So this word should have been used only for domestication (rearing) of chicken or fowls. However, poultry also includes ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowls, and pigeons. Poultry is the choice of millions as a staple food the world over. The constant efforts in the field of poultry farming have made it possible to increase the production of eggs in our country. India has become 5th largest country in the world in poultry production after China, the former USSR, the USA, and Japan.
An egg-laying poultry is called egger or layer and the poultry, reared for obtaining meat is called chicken or broiler. Poultry farming is undertaken basically to raise domestic fowl for egg production and chicken meat.
Comparison between Layers and Broilers
Layers | Broilers |
1. Layers are egg-laying birds, managed for the purpose of getting eggs. | 1. Broilers are maintained for getting meat. |
2. Layers start producing eggs at the age of 20 weeks. So they are kept for a layer period depending upon the laying period (about 500 days). | 2. They are raised up to 6-7 weeks in poultry farms and then sent to the market for meat production. |
3. They require enough space and adequate lighting. | 3. They require conditions to grow fast and low mortality. |
4. They require restricted and calculated feed with vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients. | 4. Their daily food requirement (ration for broilers) is rich in protein and vitamins A and K. The fat content also should be adequate. |
Classification of Poultry Breeds
In India, available poultry breeds are included in the following three categories:
(i) Desi or indigenous breeds:
We have only four pure breeds of indigenous or desi fowls. They are Aseel, Chittagong, Ghagus, and Busra. Aseel or Indian game is the most popular breed in India and is selected for poultry farming. This breed provides a high yield of meat and also is a good egg layer. The average weight of cocks varies from 4 to 5 kg and of hens from 3 to 4 kg. There are only four popular varieties of Aseel, namely
- Peela (golden red)
- Yakub (black and red)
- Nurie (white)
- Kajal (black).
The indigenous breeds of poultry are hardy (strong) and possess natural immunity against common diseases. The disadvantages of desi hens are
- They are smaller in size
- They are slow-growing
- They lay less number of eggs (i.e., 60 eggs per year)
- They produce small-sized eggs.
(ii) Exotic breeds:
Exotic breeds mean varieties of other countries or foreign breeds. There are numerous exotic breeds of poultry that have been successfully acclimatized in India. The following two exotic breeds of poultry are most popularly used in our country:
- White Leghorn: This very popular exotic breed of fowl produces long white eggs. Since white leghorn has a small body size (body weight 2.7 kg of cock and 2.0 kg of hen), so needs less feed for its maintenance. Thus, its farming proves quite economical.
- Rhode Island Red. This breed of fowl was developed on a farm in Rhode Island in the U.S.A. This is a dual type of breed, it is a fairly good egg layer and also meat-yielding (broiler). Some other exotic breeds of fowls in our country are Black Minorcha, Plymouth, and Light Sussex (Fig. 1.12).
(iii) Cross breeds or Improved breeds of Poultry:
The majority of the present-day chickens used for the production of eggs and meat are crossbreed blocks. In India, a number of research programmes are going on to produce improved quality commercial egg layers and broilers through cross-breeding. Some improved crossbreed strains of fowl are HH-260, IBL-80, B-77, and ILS-82.
- The poultry industry has shown phenomenal growth in the last two decades. The large increase in egg production in India has been called the silver revolution.
- Central Poultry Breeding Farms at Bombay, Bhubaneshwar, Hassarghatta, and Chandigarh are engaged in scientific poultry breeding programme and have developed high egg-producing hybrid and fast-growing broiler breeds.
Variety Improvement
The programmes of cross-breeding between Indian (indigenous) and foreign (exotic) breeds for variety improvement are focused on developing new varieties for the following desirable traits:
- Quantity and quality of chicks
- Dwarf broiler parent for commercial chick production for summer adaptation capacity/tolerance to high temperature
- Low maintenance requirement
- Improvement in hen housed for egg production and reduction in the size of the layer with the ability to utilize a more fibrous, cheap diet formulated using agricultural byproducts.
Poultry Farming: Egg and Broiler Production
There are two basic targets of poultry farming: (i) obtaining more and more eggs; (ii) getting flesh.
Production of Eggs:
In chickens, egg production is the most important economic trait. A layer starts laying eggs at the age of 20 weeks. The egg production period in the commercial layer is 500 days. To develop new varieties or to improve the quality of chicken with respect to quantity and quality of eggs, the following points are considered:
- Egg number
- Sexual maturity
- Egg weight
- Body weight
- Feed efficiency
- Egg size
- Egg shape
- Shell Colour
- Shell quality
- The internal quality of egg
Production of Vegetarian Eggs:
The fertile eggs rot more rapidly than the infertile eggs, thus, the production of infertile eggs is desired. Hens can lay eggs without a cock and the eggs thus obtained are infertile. Such eggs are called vegetarian eggs.
Production of Broilers
Chickens are raised up to 6-7 weeks in the poultry farm. They grow to a weight of 700 gm to 1.5 kg in this period. They are fed with vitamin-rich supplementary feed for a good growth rate and better feed efficiency. Care is taken to prevent mortality and enable feathering and maintain carcass quality. They are produced as broilers and sent to the market to be sold as meat.
Poultry Care and Management
Good management practices are essential for producing good poultry. These practices are often different for broilers and egg layers.
Housing, Shelter, and Feed: Both layer and broiler breeds require different types of care:
1. Care for the layers:
There are two distinct phases in the life of a layer:
- Growing period: The first phase of the life of poultry (i.e., the layer) is the growing period (upto sexual maturity). During this period the chickens are called growers. The growers require enough space. Over-crowding tends to suppress their growth. The feed is given in a restricted and calculated manner.
- Laying period: The period from sexual maturity till the end of egg laying is called the laying period and the chickens are known as eggers or layers. The layers require enough space and adequate lighting. Light intensity and duration have favourable effect on the laying output of the hens. Feeding with vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients also influences the hatchability of eggs.
2. Care for the broilers:
The housing, nutritional, and environmental requirements of broilers are different from layers. Conditions provided have to be favourable for the fast growth and low mortality of broilers. The ratio for broilers is protein-rich with sufficient fat. In poultry feed, the contents of vitamins A and K are kept high.
Common Infectious Diseases in Backyard Poultry
The poultry birds suffer from various diseases caused by viruses (Flue, Dermitis, Fowl pox, Ranikhet), bacteria (tuberculosis, Cholera, diarrhoea), fungi (Aspergillosis), animal parasites (worms, mites, lice), etc. They also suffer from nutritional deficiency diseases. Some common diseases of poultry have been highlighted in Table.
Some Common Diseases of Fowl and Their Symptoms
Name of Disease | Causative Organism | Symptoms |
1. Dermitis | Virus | Irritation, blisters, and eruption on the skin surface. |
2. Fowl pox | Virus | Wart-like pox lesions on the comb, wattles, eyelids, and feet, lesions in the mouth, difficulty in breathing, yellow cheese-like discharges from eyes and nose. |
3. Fowl Cholera | Bacteria | Loose motions and dehydration. |
4. Aspergillosis | Fungus | Patches on the skin due to the growth of moulds. |