Impact of training on poultry farming and evaluation of improved Nicobari fowl under intensive and extensive management systems in Andaman, India

N C Choudhuri*,**, G Paul*, A K Maiti*, M S Kundu** and A Kundu**

*Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani -741235, West Bengal, India
**Division of Animal Science, Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair, Andaman
ncc_pb@rediffmail.com

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of training programme on poultry farming with Nicobari fowl and to study the different traits under backyard system with supplemental feeding. It is an endangered and endemic poultry germplasm of Andaman and Nicobar Island and highest egg producer among all the indigenous breeds of India. Some farmers provide small low cost houses for the shelter of birds using local materials. Some farmers even did not provide any house and the birds used to take shelter in the bushes or trees for shelter at night. Usually, the birds after laying in the morning used to walk to long distance in search of feed and used to come back only at dusk. There are three strains of Nicobari fowl, namely, Brown, Black and White Nicobari fowl. The total estimated population of this breed is about 7524.

The percent adoption of training programme varied widely. It was highest in 1997 (76%). The body weight at 8 week age and weight at maturity for males differed significantly. Annual egg production under backyard was 151 eggs and henhouse egg production under deep litter was 41.56 %. There was no significant difference of age at first egg and egg weight between different management systems. The hatchability under natural incubation was higher. The mortality percentage also was higher in backyard condition. So the impact of training on poultry farming and rearing of improved Nicobari fowl was beneficial under backyard condition.

Keywords: back yard, deep litter, impact of training, improved Nicobari fowl

Introduction

Nicobari fowl is an endangered and endemic poultry germplasm of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Nicobari fowl is highest egg producer among all the indigenous breeds of India, with comparatively better disease resistance and survivability than exotic commercial breeds of chicken under extensive management system (Chatterjee et al 2003a). There are three strains of Nicobari fowl, namely, Brown, Black and White Nicobari fowl. The total estimated population of this breed is about 7524 as observed by Chatterjee and Yadav (2003). Nicobari fowl is comparatively resistant to New Castle’s disease and Marek’s Disease (Rai and Ahlawat 1995). According to Bessei (1989) backyard chicken production on small farms under an extensive management system contributed a considerable amount to cash income of rural families in Pakistan. The birds which are reared under backyard (extensive) production, seldom receive proper feed, housing and health coverage against infectious diseases, which results in huge economic losses. Farooq et al (2000) reported the impact of female livestock extension workers on rural household chicken under the care of women. Realizing the need to increase rural household chicken production as a means of alleviating poverty, training programmes were conducted. The objective of the present study was an effort to assess the impact of training given to the rural farmers and to evaluate performance of a genetically improved strain of Nicobari fowl under intensive and backyard management system.

Materials and methods 

Training programmes conducted for farmers

A total number of 399 farmers of 11 villages of South Andaman were given practical training for backyard poultry farming. On skill development regarding backyard poultry production, special attention was paid on taking care of the newly hatched chicks, better housing and feeding, control of internal and external parasites and diseases, selection and storage of eggs for better hatchability, hatching of eggs, etc. The farmers were trained to work for vertical expansion of the backyard poultry production system taking into account of the limited resources of the farmers to keep the operational cost to minimum.

Housing and feeding under backyard

Some farmers provide small low cost houses for the shelter of birds using local materials. In corners of the house bamboo baskets were used for laying. Some farmers even did not provide any house and the birds used to take shelter in the bushes or trees for shelter at night. Usually, the birds after laying in the morning used to walk long distances in search of feed and used to come back only at dusk. The birds full filled their nutritional requirement for maintenance and production by searching and consuming feed around the household. The feed consumed (supplemental feed) varied from 12-25 g/day/bird. Out side the house birds used to take insects, pests, wild seeds, grains, grasses and other vegetations.

Traits studied

Growth production and reproductive traits and mortality (%) at different periods were recorded for individual birds. Growth traits measured were body weight at day old, at 8^th week of age and at first egg. Age at first egg (days) and annual egg production (in number) were measured. Among production traits, mortality (%) during brooding, growing and laying were also included in the study. Causes of mortality were also confirmed through post mortem. The hatchability (%) under backyard has also been observed.

Population size

A total of 957 chicks, 460 growers and 86 layers under backyard and 151 chicks, 132 growers and 58 layers under deep litter were studied. A total of 566 eggs were set for hatching under natural incubation during 1997-2002. Only genetically improved Nicobari fowls (Black and White) were supplied to the farmers and studied.

Management under deep litter

The birds under deep litter system were kept under standard feeding and management practices.

Statistical analysis

The means and analysis of variance of various groups were calculated using a standard statistical package. The results are means±SE.

Results and discussion 

Nicobari fowl is an endemic and endangered breed of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Chatterjee et al 2003a; 2004a). The performance of original Nicobari fowl under backyard and intensive management has been studied (Chatterjee et al 2003b, 2004a, 2004b).However the information on the performance of genetically improved Nicobari fowl under backyard system is meager.

Impact of training

The percent adoption of training programmes varied widely (26 to 76%) among the farmers in different years. It was highest in the year 1997 (76%) followed by the year 2001 (55.17%). However, during the other years, impact of percent adoption was moderate or poor (Table 1).

The causes of low adoption of this technology may be multifarious like non-agricultural background of the farmers, lack of availability of improved Nicobari fowl or shift of farmer’s attention towards other agricultural ventures. The percent adoption of poultry farming has also been described by Srivastava et al (2003) among the farmers of different set of villages.

Performance of growth, production and reproductive traits

The body weights of the chicks at day old stage did not differ significantly (p<0.05) between backyard and deep litter system of management. This might be due to the fact that the average egg weight under both the systems did not differ. However, body weight at 8 weeks of age and weight at maturity for males differed significantly (p<0.05) between these two systems of management (Table 2).

The lower body weight under backyard might be due to lesser feeding, care and management. Moreover, due to higher energy requirement of the birds under backyard system for their movement in the plain and hilly areas, the body weight at 8 weeks and at maturity under backyard management among the birds of Middle Andaman, Chatterjee et al (2003b and 2004b) also reported similar observations for the same breed under backyard and intensive management.

Annual egg production under backyard was 151 eggs and hen house egg production under deep litter was 41.56% (Table 2). These values are higher as compared to the observation on original Nicobari fowl under different systems of management made by Chatterjee et al (2003a,b). There was no significant difference (p<0.05) of age at first egg and egg weight between different management systems (Table 2). The performance of growth and production traits of the improved Nicobari fowl was better than the original Brown Nicobari fowl. 

Hatchability

The average percentage of hatchability during the whole investigation period was 56.22%, which varied from 48 to 65%. The highest hatchability was observed during the year (1998), followed by 1999 and 1997. The hatchability under natural incubation was higher for this breed. This is also correlated by Chatterjee et al (2003b).

Mortality

The mortality (%) during brooding period under both the systems was very high. The mortality percentage of the birds during all the three periods were significantly (p<0.05) higher under backyard system (Table 2). The causes of mortality of the birds under backyard system were diseases, poor management and attack by various predators like reptiles, eagles etc, (Table 3).

Diseases, reptile attack and road accidents were the primary causes of death of the birds under backyard system. Rate of mortality of Nicobari fowl in different area was found to vary. Due to short leg, the Nicobari fowl can not move faster like other birds. Lack of proper housing and management were also responsible for higher mortality under backyard system.

Conclusion 

• The average percent of adoption of backyard poultry farming was 39.60% throughout the investigation period. Initially in the year 1997, the percent adoption was highest. The body weight of the birds under backyard system at 8 weeks of age and at maturity (for males) was significantly lower than under deep litter system. Death/mortality (%) at every period was significantly higher under backyard system. Among the causes, diseases, reptile attack, road accident, wild cat attack and poor management were found to be the major causes of death. The average percentage of hatchability under natural incubation was 56.22. So the impact of training on poultry farming and rearing of improved Nicobari fowl was beneficial under backyard condition.

References 

Bessei W 1989 The problems of extension in rural poultry production in developing countries. Poultry.Archiv-fuer- Gefluegelkun-de (Germany, FR) 53 (3): 101-107

Chatterjee R N and Yadav S P 2003 Breed descriptor of Nicobari fowl. Annual progress report on NATP on Animal Genetic Resources Biodiversity, proceedings, NBAGR,Karnal.

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Chatterjee R N, Yadav  S P, Rai R B  and Kundu  A 2003b  Evaluation of an endangered poultry germplasm under backyard Island milieu. In: proceeding of XXI conf. of Indian poultry science Association held at CARI, Izatnagar, OAS 14:50

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Chatterjee R.N, Yadav S P, Rai R B and Kundu A 2004b Evaluation of Nicobari fowl under back yard Island milieu. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 74(9): 992-993

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Farooq M, Shoukat  K ,Asrar M, Shan Mussawar, Durrani  F R, Asghar A and Faisal S 2000  Impact of female livestock extension workers on rural house hold chicken production. Livestock research for Rural Development 12 (4): 1-10 http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd12/4/faro124.htm

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Srivastava  N, Choudhuri N C, Chatterjee R N and Kanaklata 2003 Extent of adoption of recommended poultry farming technologies by commercial poultry farmer of Andaman District. (Personal Communication).

Received 5 November 2008; Accepted 9 November 2008; Published 1 February 2009

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