Studies on different traits of PB-2 × Indigenous × Dahlem Red crossbred chicken under extensive system of rearing

A study was undertaken in a crossbred chicken population (PB-2 × Indigenous × Dahlem Red) being maintained under the project AICRP on Poultry Breeding. A total of 1210 nos. of chicks were hatched out during the period from February to March’2013 which were utilized for different production, egg quality and carcass characteristics traits. The age at sexual maturity was recorded as 153.25±4.56 days, egg production and egg weight up to 32 and 40 weeks were recorded 42.52±1.29 nos., 70.19±2.56 nos., 42.33±2.59 g and 54.93±2.68 g, respectively. Among the egg quality traits shape index, albumin index, yolk index, Haugh unit and shell thickness were recorded as 75.25±3.64, 0.084±0.001,0.401±0.009, 78.44±1.37 and 0.291±0.004, respectively. Among different carcass traits live weight(g), dressed weight(g), dressing percentage, eviscerated weight(g), eviscerated percentage and giblet weight(g) were recorded as 19312±182.3, 1468.7±172.4, 76.05±4.85, 1385.12±169.05, 71.72±3.85 and 83.60±4.16, respectively.