Performance profile of Kadakanath desi hens under normal rearing system

Attempts were made to study the general performance profile of Kadakanath hen under normal system of rearing. One hundred and twenty healthy adult hens from the same hatch and nearly similar body weight were taken. For the fertility and hatchability studies 30 cocks were also reared and maintained under uniform husbandry conditions in individual cages. They were allowed to get the normal/breeder ration and water ad libitum with 14 h light per day. Various general performance characteristics, egg quality traits, and biochemical aspects (hormones and antioxidants) were examined at the age of initial egg production (21 weeks) and 1 year completion (52 weeks of egg production). Results of this study indicated that a significant (P<0.01) increase in body weight, egg weight, feed efficiency and average production per hen was noticed at the age of 52 weeks when compared to 21 week. However, between these 2 intervals, no significant differences were noticed in relation to egg quality traits, serum hormones and blood plasma antioxidants. First egg in flock was recorded in 145 day whereas the average age of first egg production was found 162 day after hatch. Total egg production was recorded 105 eggs per hen in duration of 21 to 52 weeks. Nearly 45% birds were producing the eggs at the age of 52 weeks. Fertility and hatchability (fertile egg basis) was noticed 81 and 87%, respectively. Hatchability on total egg set basis (TES) was found poor (70%). From this study, it may be concluded that more research work is needed to establish the base line values of general performance characteristics of Kadakanath fowl under the normal system of rearing in order to enhance poultry production in our neglected desi fowl.