Poultry Breeds
Classification of Breeds of Poultry:
1. Based on utility:
a) Meat Type: Eg: Cornish, Sussex
b) Egg type: Eg: Leghorn, Minorca
c) Dual Type: Eg: Rhode Island Red, plymoth rock
2. Based on origin:
1. Americal Class:
Eg: New Hampshire, White Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Wyandote II.
2. Mediterranean Class
They are light bodied and well developed for high egg production.
Eg: Leghorn, Minorca, Ancona
3. English Class
They are mostly utility breeds noted for their excellent flushing properties.
Eg :Australorp, Sussex, Orphington
4. Asiatic Class
They are large bodied with heavy bones feathered shanks and poor layers.
Eg: Malaya, Brahma, Cochin, Langshan
Indigenous Breeds
- Indigenous breeds are the breeds which resemble the jungle fowls and are found all over India. These breeds are gaining importance due to increasing demand for their quality products.
- Indigenous breeds are well known for their hardiness, adaptability to local climatic geographical conditions and resistance to tropical diseases. Indigenous birds have certain characteristics in common such as a small compact body and body weight of about 1-1.5 kg.
- They vary greatly in their plumage pattern, comb type and body confirmation. The breast bone is low and well covered with feathers which lie close to the body.
- They generally lay brown shelled small eggs. The hens are broody. The birds are reared in a free range backyard system. Scavenging with supplementation of kitchen waste is the most common feeding system.
- Till date, a total of 19 breeds have been recognized and registered as native breeds of chicken in India. They are Aseel, Kadaknath, Ghagus, Nicobari, Ankaleshwar, Bursa, Chittagong, Denki, Daothigir, Haringhatta Black, Kalashthi, Kashmir Faverolla, Miri, Punjab Brown, Tellicherry, Mewari, Kaunayen, Hansli, and Uttara. Among these popular breed such as aseel and kadaknath is explained in detail.
Commercial Broiler strains
Eg. Cobb, Hubbard, Lohman, Anak 2000, Avian -34, Starbra, Sam rat etc.,
Commercial Layer Strains
Eg.BV-300, Bowans, Hyline, H & N nick, Dekalb Lohman etc.
Native breeds of egg type chicken in India
| Breed |
Body weight(20 weeks) |
Age at sexual maturity (days) |
Annual egg production (No.) |
Egg weight at 40 weeks (g) |
Fertility |
Hatchability FES (5) |
| Aseel |
1220 |
196 |
92 |
50 |
66 |
63 |
| Frizzle |
1005 |
185 |
110 |
53 |
61 |
71 |
| Kadaknath |
920 |
180 |
105 |
49 |
55 |
52 |
| Naked neck |
1005 |
201 |
99 |
54 |
66 |
71 |
Other commercial varieties of broiler chicken in India
| Breed |
First egg |
50% Production |
Peak production |
Livability |
Egg production peak |
Feed efficiency |
Egg weight |
Net egg
production (72 weeks)
|
| ILI-80 |
17-18 weeks |
150 days |
26-28 weeks |
Grower (96%)
Layer (94%)
|
92% |
2.1 |
54 g |
280 eggs |
| Golden-92 |
18-19 weeks |
155 days |
27-29 weeks |
Grower (96%)
Layer |
90% |
2.2 |
54g |
265 eggs |
|
|
|
|
94% |
|
|
|
| Priya |
17-18 weeks |
150 days |
26-28 weeks |
Grower (96%)
Layer (94%)
|
92% |
2.1 |
57g |
290 eggs |
| Sonali |
18-19 weeks |
155 days |
27-29 weeks |
Grower (96%)
Layer (94%)
|
90% |
2.2 |
54g |
275 eggs |
| Devendra |
18-19 weeks |
155 days |
27-29 weeks |
Grower (97%)
Layer (94%)
|
90% |
2.5 |
50 g |
200 eggs |
Commercial available meat-type chicken in India
| Breed |
Weight at six weeks (g) |
Weight at seven weeks (g) |
Food Conversion Ratio |
Livability (%) |
| B-77 |
1300 |
1600 |
2.3 |
98-99 |
| CARIBRO-91 |
1650 |
2100 |
1.94-2.2 |
97-98 |
| CARIBRO Multicoloured |
1600 |
2000 |
1.9-2.1 |
97-98 |
| CARIBRO Naked necked |
1650 |
2000 |
1.9-2.0 |
97-98 |
| Varna |
1500 |
1800 |
2.1-2.25 |
97 |
