A study on the performance of the Daothigir breed of chicken under intensive system of management in Assam

Abstract

A study has been under taken to set up a benchmark on the performance of Daothigir birds under intensive system of management. The different traits measured were body weight of the birds at various week of age. Conformation traits and FCR at 5th week of age, age at maturity, egg weight at 32nd, 42nd, 52nd, 72nd weeks of age, egg production upto 72nd week, fertility and hatchability of egg, carcass characteristics and egg quality. Body weight at day old of combined sex was recorded as 25.50±0.95 g. Daothigir breed attained 1020.70±108.90 g body weight at 20th week of age. The Feed Conversion Ratio, breast Angle, shank length and keel length recorded at 5th week of age were 3.10, 41.5°, 5.06±0.05 cm and 5.45±0.20 cm respectively. At the end of 72nd week the egg production was recorded as 124.60±6.90 numbers. Albumen index, yolk index and haugh units recorded at the end of 72nd week in the present study were 3.85±0.93, 0.49±0.43 and 83.16±3.34 respectively. The dressing and giblet percentage for both male and female recorded in the present study are 73.88±2.68, 72.22 ±3.51 and 5.76±0.67, 6.75±1.02 respectively. Therefore it can be concluded that Daothigir has the production potential for higher production.