International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
L Babita Devi, Chongtham Sonia, Dilrash M and Kshetrimayum Mahesh Singh

abstract
Backyard poultry plays an important role for sustainable livelihood especially for rural farmers. Majority of the people usually reared nondescript local indigenous birds in the backyard system which is low in production and productivity. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the performance of Vanaraja, a high yielding dual purpose birds in the backyard system of Churachandpur district of Manipur under Front line Demonstration programme during the year 2016 and 2017. Parameters including body weight, age at first egg, annual egg production and egg quality parameters were assessed during the present study. The physical qualities of egg like egg weight, length, width, shape index, shell weight and thickness, albumin weight, height and index, yolk weight, height and index and Hauge index was also recorded. The results indicate that Vanaraja female and male birds attained average body weights of 2537.93±37.99gm and 2920.37±64.73gm respectively at 6 months age. The average age at first egg lay was recorded 160.00±1.49 days; Annual egg production per bird was 151.48±1.89. The egg weight, length and width of vanaraja bird under backyard were recorded as 55.26±0.68 gm, 5.24±0.12 cm and 3.62±0.11cm respectively. Shape index, Albumin index and yolk index were found to be 68.79±1.13, 0.11±0.00 and 0.46±0.02 respectively. Shell weight was 4.49±0.05g and Shell thickness 0.36±0.00 mm. Albumin Width and height were 52.54±0.66 µm and 6.00±0.03 respectively. Yolk Width and Height were recorded as 35.50±0.76 and 15.97±0.25 respectively. In the present study, the Hauge Unit was found to be78.51±0.34. The study revealed that the bird is well adapted to the local traditional managemental practices and has potential to perform well in terms of production under low investment.