NARMADANIDHI : Dual purpose coloured bird suitable for rural and tribal areas poultry farming in Madhya Pradesh
All India coordinated Research Project on Poultry Breeding Deptt. of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Nanaji Deshmukh Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwa-Vidyalaya, Jabalpur has developed a dual purpose coloured chicken Variety (replica of deshifowl) i.e. Narmada Nidhi which resemble to desi fowl/native chicken in appearance but having higher production potential under backyard, free range scavenging. It is having 25% inheritance of native i.e. local breed Kadaknath and 75% of improved broiler germplasm (Jabalpur col.). Well know for high suitability and adaptability under rural management system. It Produce brown shell egg weighing around 51g. Male attained 1 kg body weight in 9-10 weeks of age and body weight at 20 weeks ranged from 1550 to 2210g in males and 1310 to 1730g in females. The female matured on an average 161 days of age (intensive) and produces 181 eggs in backyard 4 times higher than the local native (45 eggs) and 195 under semi intensive system of management. Dual purpose coloured bird ‘Narmada Nidhi’ is thus and outcome of specific breeding approaches aiming to utilize maximum heterosis, higher potential in the progeny.
