Laying performance of Vanaraja birds in high altitude areas of Arunachal Pradesh under backyard system of rearing

M.Bhattacharya, R.Buragohain, F.A.Ahmed, P.K.Pathak and M.K Ghosh
National Research Centre on Yak (ICAR)
Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh

Vanaraja, a dual-purpose bird, evolved by the scientists of PDP, Hyderabad, having a blend of indigenous look and moderate production performance, has potentiality to provide economic support to the tribal people and expected to give household food and nutritional security. In the present study, productive performance of Vanaraja birds were recorded under scavenging system of rearing in high altitude areas (5000 to 8000 ft. above msl) of Arunachal Pradesh. Birds of 6 th weeks of age were distributed to about 194 farmers of different locations and during this period, age at first lay, feed consumption, body weight at first lay and total nos. of eggs laid per bird per month were recorded. The birds were letting loose during the day time by most of the farmers and offered on an average 40-50g/bird of concentrate feeds in terms of crushed maize, boiled rice, broken rice and kitchen waste etc. About 40-50% of feeds was provided and the rest 50-60% of their requirement was met by scavenging themselves in the form of insects, worms, seeds of grasses, tender leaves of grasses etc. in their surrounding. The age at first lay ranged from 172-185 days (on an average 179.65 days i.e. approx. 6 months) and the average body weight at the time of egg production ranged from 1.62 – 2.56 kg per bird. The average egg production per bird per month was 13.8 nos. The average egg size varied from 46-55g and the colour was brown as the other local birds, which normally lay on an average only 80-120 nos. of egg per years. The mortality of birds were very negligible ranging from 0-8% only. The egg and meat of Vanaraja was found very popular in Arunachal Pradesh. There was record of selling the egg @ Rs.4-5/- per egg and meat @ Rs. 80-120/- per kg by the farmers in the local markets. Thus, it may be concluded that with the backyard system of rearing, the Vanaraja birds significantly contribute to the overall economic returns in terms of egg and meat. There is potentiality for socio-economic upliftment by rearing Vanaraja birds by the tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh.

Source : IPSACON-2005

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