Growth and Mortality Patterns in Uttarafowl

A study was conducted to evaluate the growth and mortality pattern of 275 chicks of two ecotype viz., comb and crown sex wise which were obtained in six hatches at Instructional Poultry Farm of G.B.P.U.A. & T., Pantnagar. In the present study overall mortality in a period of 24^th weeks in comb female and crown female ecotypes were 12.6 and 10.4 per cent, while in comb male and crown male were 8.5 and 6.8 per cent, respectively. There was no significant (P<0.05) difference of day old body weight of the chicks between two ecotypes of Uttara fowl. The results revealed that there was significant (P<0.05) difference in body weight at 4^th and 12^th weeks of age between the male comb and crown ecotypes of Uttara fowl. Also there was significant (P<0.05) difference in 16^th weeks body weight between the female comb and crown ecotypes of Uttara fowl. Significant (P<0.05) differences in 20^th and 24^th weeks body weights between the males of crown and comb ecotypes of Uttara fowl as well as in female of both ecotypes. Highest 24^th week body weight was found in comb male (1780.18±34.69) than the crown male (1699.43±33.49) followed by crown female (1484.22±19.22g) than the comb female (1389.12±18.85 g). Average body weights at first egg in comb and crown ecotypes of Uttara fowl differed significantly from each other. Thus Uttarafowl has lower mortality rate and comparable body weights with that of other indigenous breeds of chicken.