A nucleus-breeding flock of selected Black Bengal goat was established in the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) with the objective of conservation and improvement of the breed. A total of 120 does of different generations (70=foundation stock, 45=First generation and 5=Second generation) and 20 bucks (15=Foundation stock and 5=First generation) were used to study the genetic parameters of Black Bengal goat on productive and reproductive traits. Animals were bred naturally. Goats were reared under intensive and semi-intensive management to compare performance. Birth weights of kids were 1.49±0.13 and 1.28±0.11 kg, respectively for intensive and semiintensive rearing system. Number of services required for each successful conception was 1.16±0.019 with an average gestation length of 143.33±0.68 days. Litter size increased (P<0.001) linearly with parity. Average litter size of Black Bengal goat was 1.94±0.06. Rearing system, season, parity, generation and generation × parity interaction did not affect (P>0.05) the post partum estrous interval. Young females attained puberty at an age and weight of 186.02±10.52 days and 9.4±0.52 kg, respectively. In case of intensive rearing system it took 139 days to show 1st heat compared to 198 days in semi-intensive rearing system. Intensive system reduced the age at 1st kidding to 284±31.2 days from 370±25.5 days in semi-intensive system. The effects of parity, generation, and generation × parity interaction on kidding interval were not significant (P>0.05). The average daily milk yield and lactation length was 1.088 kg (750g suckled milk + 338g from hand milking) and 68.07±2.83 days respectively. The effect of parity and generation on doe weight after kidding was significant (P<0.01) but the effect of generation × parity interaction was not significant (P>0.05). Heritability estimates from sire and dam component for birth weight, weight at 3, 6, 9, 12 months of age and litter size were 0.92, 0.48, 0.34, 0.45, 0.88 and 0.17, respectively. Heritability estimates only from sire component for birth weight, weight at 3, 6, 9, 12 months of age and litter size were 0.05, 0.28, 0.77, 0.29, 0.18 and 0.15, respectively. Repeatability estimates for birth weight, litter size, kidding interval and daily milk yield were 0.47, 0.15, 0.02 and 0.49, respectively. Keywords: Black Bengal goat; Performance traits; Heritability; Repeatability DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i1.6401J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(1): 67-78, 2010

The Phenotypic characteristics of three genotypes of native chicken comprising of Non-descript Desi (ND), Hilly (H) and Naked Neck (NN) were studied. A total of 180 individual chickens (Male: ND= 20; H= 20 and NN=20; Female: ND= 40, H=40 and NN = 40) were characterized under intensive management system for qualitative and quantitative traits. The results indicated that the predominant plumage color of three types of native chickens was black brownish (33.33%) followed by white with black tips (28.33 %) and red brownish (18.33%). Values indicate that 35% of native chickens had whitish shank color followed by yellowish 31.68%; black 11.66 % and others 21.67 %. All hens of ND, H and NN laid light brown (62.42%) to cream or off white (30.28%) colored eggs. Variations were also found on quantitative traits such as shank length, body weight and reproductive traits on intensive management system. number of eggs/ hen from starting to ten months of laying were 108, 104 and 112, respectively in ND, H and NN genotypes. Three native chicken genotypes showed distinct physical variations for both qualitative and quantitative traits under intensive management system. Keywords: Native chicken; Quantitative traits; Qualitative traitsDOI: 10.3329/jbau.v8i1.6402J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(1): 79-82, 2010

The study was conducted to compare the performance of chickens of non-descript desi (ND),

ABSTRACT. This work is part of a long-term selection program carried out (i) to assess the performance of three indigenous chicken genotypes under intensive management and (ii

A study was conducted with four types of quail named Japanese (J), White (W), Black (BL) and Brown (Br) quail in BLRI, Savar, Dhaka to understand their productive and reproductive performances. A total of 1953 day-old chicks of quails were produced in successive two hatches. The highest fertility and hatchability were observed in White (98.13%) and Japanese (73.20%) types compared to their counterparts. White quail was significantly better for egg weight and chick weight than other the three types. The 5th week body weights were 117.94 ± 10.70, 114.71 ± 11.13, 98.28±9.69 and 107.24±8.98 g, respectively for W, Br, J and Bl. Significantly higher body weight was found in W and Br followed by Bl and J quail at different ages. The total number of eggs upto 24th week of age was 81.23 ± 0.67, 83.05 ± 0.69, 90.52± 0.56, and 93.31 ± 1.05 respectively, for W, Br, J and Bl and these significantly (p<0.001) differed among all genotypes. It may be concluded from the present findings that the performances of W and Bl quail were superior for body weight and egg number, respectively to the others. These findings give us more impetus for continuing the quail breeding research for producing a suitable meat type quail or egg type quail in the country.The Agriculturists 2014; 12(2) 151-155