Division of Veterinary Physiology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Alusteng, Srinagar, Kashmir – 190006, India.
* Corresponding author, Division of Animal Physiology, NDRI, Karnal-132001, Haryana.
The indigenous chicken of Kashmir thrives at an altitude of 1500 to 2000 meters amsl. The carcass characteristics of both sexes and egg quality were evaluated in the native chicken. Twenty adult cock and hen were procured from different places of Kashmir known for indigenous chicken rearing. Birds were slaughtered by halal method; scalding temperature of 62–63°C did work optimally for 1.5 minutes for cock and 55 seconds for hen. The average live weight was 1.72 ± 0.04 kg and 1.25 ± 0.02 kg for cock and hen respectively, which differed significantly (P< 0.01) between the two sexes. Dressing percentage of 70.11 ± 0.66 for cock and 63.80 ± 1.59 for hen were significantly different (P< 0.01). There was no significant difference in blood and feather percentage whereas the carcass yields did differ significantly (P<0.01) between the two sexes except for wings. The fresh eggs procured revealed average weight of 46.06 ± 0.48 g, length 5.33 ± 0.09cm, breadth 3.92 ± 0.02cm, albumen 56.46%, yolk 33.68% and shell 9.83% that were comparable with the Indian Standards for eggs.
Kashmir, Indigenous chicken, Carcass character, Egg quality
