Mewari is an indigenous chicken breed and Pratapdhan is a dual purpose chicken variety developed using Mewari, coloured broiler and Rhode Island Red. Pratapdhan birds were well accepted by the farmers of Rajasthan and adjoining areas. The study was undertaken for comparative evaluation of Mewari and Pratapdhan chicken under intensive system. The data were analyzed using factorial design with genotype, sex and generation (2 × 2 × 3) as main effects. The body weights differed significantly at all ages with significant higher weights in Pratapdhan as compared to Mewari chicken. Sex had significant effect on body weights at all ages except at 2nd week. Males had significantly higher body weights across the genotypes and generations. The interaction effects were significant between the genotypes, sex and generations, except at 2nd week of age. The body weights showed an increasing trend over the generations with few exceptions. ASM and egg weights significantly varied between the genotypes and across the generations with significant interaction effects. The average annual egg production and egg weight (72 weeks) in Mewari and Pratapdhan chicken were 92.02±0.52 and 158.25±1.20 and 46.85±0.22 and 55.74±0.28, respectively. The fertility per cent was 80.39±1.45 and 83.28±0.64 in Mewari and Pratapdhan, respectively. The results suggest that Pratapdhan could be one of the potential improved germplasm for backyard poultry production.
Mewari, an indigenous chicken breed, was characterized for phenotypic parameters, growth, reproduction and production traits under the hot tropical climate of India. The data collected on 690 chicks were analyzed for effect of sex, hatch and their interaction on body weight and body measurements. The body weights of males were significantly higher at different weeks except at day old. Significantly higher shank and keel length was found in males as compared to females. The effect of hatch was significant on mean body weights at all ages, on shank length and breast angles at 8 weeks of age. The fertility and hatchability on fertile eggs set (FES) was 74.15±4.29% and 71.37±8.15%, respectively. The age at first egg (AFE) in the flock was 142 days and the age at sexual maturity (ASM) was 181.2±3.85 days. The average egg weights at 28 and 40 weks of age were 36.61±0.29 and 42.59±0.37 g, respectively. The hen day egg production (HDEP) up to 40 and 52 weeks of age was 28.93±0.13 and 59.87±0.14 eggs, respectively. The annual HDEP up to 72 weeks of age was 86.37± 0.13 eggs. The growth and egg production of Mewari chicken is comparable with other indigenous breeds. Mewari, a newly registered indigenous breed, needs to be further studied for various parameters to conserve and improve the breed for higher productivity.
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