Rajasri - a designer fowl introgressed with genes from native birds evolved for backyard production system

RAJASRI-a designer fowl suitable for backyard production was evolved at AICRP on poultry breeding, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad by crossing four different breeds. It is different from other rural poultry varieties as it has broad genetic base and introgressed with genes from local birds. The average body weight at 20 and 40 weeks age was 1309±7.65 and 1529±8.86 g in females; 1750±6.98 and 1950±8.36 g in males, respectively. The average age at first egg was 161.83±0.23 days. Annual egg production was 152.4±1.52 which ranged between 99 and 210 with mature egg weight of 55 g. The performance of these birds is very much encouraging as reported by the farmers rearing them under free range conditions in different locations.