Comparative growth performance of Nicobari fowl and their cost effectiveness under backyard and intensive system

Performance of growth traits of a total of 177 Nicobari fowl maintained under backyard farming system (field condition) and 70 Nicobari fowl maintained under deep litter system (intensive) were studied. The traits taken were body weights at weekly interval from 4 to 11 weeks of age and growth rates at different periods. The mean of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 weeks body weights under backyard and intensive (deep litter) systems were 53.07±1.41 and 74.38±2.32, 80.74±1.93 and 101.0±3.60, 112.02±2.45, and 116.7±3.64, 147.59±6.82 and 149±6.82, 182.79±5.11 and 222.3±12.60, 190.47±6.86 and 272.8±14.4, 230.09±8.54 and 341.9±16.70 and 272.50±10.03 and 396.8±18.80 respectively. The growth rate under backyard fanning system was highest in the period of 4–8 weeks of age (3.79±0.23) and lowest in first 4 weeks of age (1.74±0.06), while, under intensive system (farm condition) the growth rate was highest between 6–10 weeks of age (8.65±0.98) and lowest in first 4 weeks of age (1.90±0.16). In this study significantly higher body weights at 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11 weeks of ages were obtained for the birds reared under deep litter (intensive) than backyard farming system. The growth rates in period of 0–6, 0–8, 0–10 and 6–10 weeks of age under two management systems differed significantly. Average daily feed consumption increased with the age of the birds under intensive system. It was 24.48 g in 11th week of age and the average daily feed consumption between 4–11 weeks of age was 18.19 g. The feed conversion ratio was best (1.90) in 8th week of age under intensive system and lowest in 6th week of age and the average feed conversion ratio between 4–11 weeks of age was 3.41. The cost of production of the birds under backyard farming system was lower than the cost of production under intensive management system.