Genetic and phenotypic response in Vanaraja male line chicken under short term selection experiment

The genetic and phenotypic response for 6 weeks shank length (SL6) and correlated response for body weights at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of age were evaluated in short term selection experiment in Vanaraja male line (PD-1) utilizing the data collected for the last 6 generations in a pedigreed mating. The direct response in SL, the primary trait was 2.01±0.85 mm on genetic scale and 2.35±0.36 mm on phenotypic scale. The SL was 68.07±0.004 mm in first generation of study (S4) which gradually improved to 81.01±0.002 mm over the last 6 generations. The correlated genetic response in body weight at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of age was in positive direction though not significant. The body weights improved as correlated response to the primary trait. The phenotypic response in body weights was in positive direction and significant at 6 weeks of age; however at 2 and 4 weeks, it was not significant. The effective population size (Ne) ranged from 150 to 167, the selection intensity (i) between 0.24 to 1.09 and rate of inbreeding from 0.0029 to 0.0033 in the last 6 generations. The realized and estimated heritability estimates were 0.17 and 0.12 for 6 week shank length, respectively. The study concluded that, the genetic and phenotypic responses were positive over the generation with a gradual improvement in the primary trait as well as the juvenile body weights in PD-1 line. The improvement trend was also reflected in Vanaraja, a terminal cross produced for rural/backyard poultry using PD-1 as male line

ICAR-DPR Annual Report

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Poultry Production and Disease Management

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Livestock Research for Rural Development

Not AvailableNative chickens are the mainstay of backyard or free-range systems of farming in India. They contributed about 11.5% to the total egg production of the country in the year 2019. Over the years their contribution to the total egg production is declining. Furthermore, they were neglected due to their low production potential and given the least importance in the past. However, in recent years native chickens are gaining importance due to the increasing demand for their meat and eggs. Consumers are willing to pay a higher price for meat and eggs of native chickens due to their perceived health benefits. A total of 19 breeds were recognized and registered as native chicken breeds at the breed registry (ICAR-NBAGR). They are known to be hardy, able to thrive under adverse climatic conditions, and also reported to be resistant to bacterial and parasitic diseases. Studies on some of these native breeds carried out at intensive system indicated that there is high genetic diversity and they possess unique characteristics which are lacking in the improved or commercial chickens. In this paper, the status of native chicken production with respect to characterization for growth and production traits, immune competence/ disease resistance carcass and meat quality traits, nutrient requirements and improvement studies, and challenges to the native chicken production in the country are discussed. Authors believe this information could be useful for the characterization and improvement of the performance of native chicken breeds in India and other developing countries

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Not AvailableThe Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway is one of the innate immune defense mechanisms against pathogens in vertebrates and invertebrates. However, the role of TLR in non-MHC genetic resistance or susceptibility to Marek’s disease (MD) in the chicken is yet to be elucidated. Chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells from MD susceptible and resistant lines were infected either with Marek’s disease virus (MDV) or treated with polyionosinic-polycytidylic acid, a synthetic analog of dsRNA, and the expression of TLR and pro-inflammatory cytokines was studied at 8 and 36 h posttreatment by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Findings of the present study reveal that MDV infection and polyionosinic-polycytidylic acid treatment significantly elevated the mRNA expression of TLR3, IL6, and IL8 in both susceptible and resistant lines. Furthermore, basal expression levels in uninfected CEF for TLR3, TLR7, and IL8 genes were significantly higher in resistant chickens compared with those of susceptible chickens. Our results suggest that TLR3 together with pro-inflammatory cytokines may play a significant role in genetic resistance to MDDepartment of Biotechnology (GOI

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Not AvailableIn the study we report the unusually slow mobility of W chromosome specific DNA fragment. The primers designed to amplify a 481 bp DNA fragment of W chromosome of female chicken revealed its size on agarose gel electrophoresis to be 556 bp. The mobility of this fragment was still slower in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This trend was observed in indigenous, exotic and Vanaraja varieties of chicken. This phenomenon of slow mobility of W chromosome specific DNA fragment was cross checked with the control DNA fragment of 256 bp. Delayed migration of PCR products was observed for other fragment of W chromosome repeat as well. Sequencing of PCR products revealed that the fragments were comprised of clusters of A (2-5) and T (2-5) sequences separated by (5-7) relatively G/C rich sequences. The anomalous behavior of slow migration of W chromosome specific fragments could be attributed to the occurrence of DNA curvatures because of the above mentioned sequence characteristicsSERC, Department of Science and Technolog

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Not AvailableThe objective of the present study was to evaluate/compare the sensory attributes of eggs and meat, egg qualities, proximate composition of eggs, and semen qualities of slow growing native (Miri and Mizo-local) and fast growing improved chicken varieties (Gramapriya and Vanaraja) under hill ecosystem of northeastern India. Significantly higher egg weight, egg volume, and albumen volume were observed in Gramapriya followed by Vanaraja, Mizo-local, and Miri chickens. However, yolk volume was significantly higher in Vanaraja and Gramapriya varieties as compared to native chickens. Yolk to albumen ratio was significantly lower in Gramapriya as compared to Vanaraja and Miri chicken. Consumer liking of eggs for aroma, flavor, and overall acceptability of Miri, Mizo-local, and Vanaraja were significantly higher than that of Gramapriya. Genetic groups did not differ significantly in appearance and proximate composition of eggs. No significant differences were observed between various genetic groups for sensory attributes of meat samples. Semen volume was significantly (p < or = 0.01) lower while sperm concentration was significantly (p < or = 0.01) higher in native chicken as compared to the improved chicken varieties. However, pH, mass activity, sperm motility, and livability did not differ significantly among genetic groups although Mizo-local had significantly higher abnormal sperm count. The study concluded that the genetic groups with different growth rate differed significantly for various egg quality parameters and semen characteristics but not for sensory attributes of meat and proximate composition of eggs.ICA

Kadaknath: a popular native chicken breed of India with unique black colour characteristics

Not AvailableKadaknath is the most popular native chicken breed of India. This breed is experiencing higher demand due to its unique characteristics and perceived health benefits of its meat and eggs. The entire bird including plumage, skin, shank, and internal organs is black. The black colour of this bird is due to hyperpigmentation associated with the fibromelanosis character. Three varieties of the Kadaknath breed have been identified based primarily on plumage colour: jet black, pencilled and golden. Kadaknath is a small-sized bird with small shanks (51.5 mm at 8 weeks). It attains the body weight of 865 g at 20 weeks. Cocks and hens weigh about 1500 and 1200 g, respectively, at 40 weeks. The average age at first egg is high (185 days) and the egg production potential of this breed is somewhat less (50 to 55 eggs in 40 weeks). Egg production up to 52 weeks was 90 to 105 eggs and the annual egg production is estimated to be in the range of 120 to 140 eggs. This breed has good fertility (80 to 85%) and hatchability (83 to 90%) status. Eggs are small in size (42 to 45 g) but have good shell quality (10.47% shell) with light brown to brown coloured shells, and low yolk to albumen ratio (0.51). Consumers prefer Kadaknath meat due to its desirable flavour and lean meat (0.11 to 0.52% abdominal fat) as compared to broiler meat (1.74 to 1.85% abdominal fat). Increased demand for healthier meat among consumers has led to the rearing of Kadaknath birds in intensive and semi-intensive systems around the major cities in India. The current paper describes the growth, production, and reproduction performance, status of immune-competence, carcase characteristics, meat quality, egg quality traits and future research needs of the Kadaknath breed.Not Availabl

ICAR-DPR newsletter July to December 2021

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Annual Report 2021. ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad

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