Production performance of improved varieties and indigenous breed of chicken in Jharkhand

The present study was conducted to compare the production performance of improved varieties like Vanaraja and Grampriya and indigenous Aseel poultry birds maintained under AICRP on Poultry breeding at Ranchi Veterinary College, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi (Jharkhand). The evaluation of body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, age at sexual maturity, egg production rate and internal egg quality trait such as shell thickness, albumin index and shape index was done. Improved varieties birds had significantly (P<0.01) higher body weight, higher feed intake, better FCR, better egg production rate, early sexual maturity and higher egg weight than local Aseel birds. The study concluded that Vanaraja and Gramapriya birds perform better than local Aseel birds of Jharkhand under same management and rearing conditions.