Comparative evaluation of egg quality traits of native chicken population of Bhubaneswar with other improved chicken breeds

A total of 600 eggs were collected from nine chicken breeds at 25^th, 54^th and 74^th weeks of age for egg quality traits and compared between each population. Out of these nine population one was non-descript Bhubaneswar local fowl, two Indian native breeds of Kadaknath and Aseel, two meat type strains of Black Rock and Red Cornish, two dual type strains of Dehelem Red and Rhode Island Red, one improved rural based chicken of Vanaraja and one commercial broiler breed of V₂ Chabro. The mean egg quality traits of local non-descript fowl i.e. egg weight, volume, shape index, albumin index, yolk index, albumin weight, yolk weight, shell weight, shell thickness and Haugh Unit score were estimated as 30.79±2.3g, 30.60±2.5 cu.ml, 59.15±0.95, 0.10±0.06, 0.20±0.02, 15.42±1.9 g, 10.36±1.10g, 5.02±0.16g, 0.37±0.02mm and 65.33±1.14 at 25^th week; 36.47±0.37g, 33.08±3.40 cu.ml, 60.79±1.03, 0.08±0.03, 0.29±0.08, 16.17±0.35, 6.34±0.45g, 0.40±0.05mm and 63.10±0.30 at 54^th week and 49.99±0.31g, 47.44±0.32 cu.ml, 60.85±1.31, 0.10±0.01, 0.20±0.17, 26.71±0.93g, 16.10±1.92g, 7.26±0.21g, 0.36±0.01mm and 71.10±0.32 at 74^th week of age, respectively. Mean values of other five groups were estimated and compared with each other. A significant difference was observed in egg weight between the six groups. Chronologically, the dual type, exotic layer, rural based improved variety and commercial broiler have higher egg weight at any age then Indian native breeds and non descript local chickens. So far as other quality traits are concerned, dual types of fowl may suggested to be encourage the rearing of these species in village conditions in place of native chicken.