Production performance of indigenous Nicobari fowls, Vanaraja and their various F1 crosses under hot humid climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

The present study evaluates the production performance of indigenous Nicobari fowls, Vanaraja and their various F1 crosses under hot humid climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Birds (600) with 60 in each group were used for the study. The birds were evaluated for weekly body weight (g) from 0 day to 8 weeks of age, monthly body weight (g) from first month to fourth month of age, shank length (mm), feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) up to 8 weeks of age, age at sexual maturity (ASM in days), annual egg production as hen house egg production (AEP as HHEP), and different egg quality traits at 40 weeks of age. At the end of fourth month of age, the body weight of Vanaraja was highest (3,394.24±23.31 g) among all the genetic groups studied. White Nicobari × Vanaraja recorded significantly higher body weight (1923.10±18.81 g) in comparison to all the F1 crosses except Vanaraja × White Nicobari. Age at laying was found lowest (136 days) in White Nicobari among pure varieties and White Nicobari × Vanaraja (146 days) among F1 crosses. Annual egg production of Black Nicobari was found highest (192.14) among pure varieties and White Nicobari × Vanaraja (184.95) excelled in annual egg production among the F1 crosses. The highest egg weight was observed in Vanaraja and White Nicobari × Vanaraja among the pure and crosses respectively. In conclusion, White Nicobari × Vanaraja was a very suitable and promising dual purpose bird under the local climatic condition of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.