IMPROVED DESI CROSS
IMPROVED DESI CROSS
Four types of high yielding germ-plasm suitable for backyard poultry production have been developed with native fowl base especially suitable for different climatic regions of the county. These birds combination of 50% native and 50% exotic blood and possess other characteristics essential for backyard/scavenging poultry production. Phenotypically these birds look like their original native breed with two or three times more egg production with bigger size and weight, better tropical adaptability and disease resistance along with capability of bearing the stress of sub-optimal feeding and management.
It is a cross of Kadakanath breed of Indian native chicken with CARl Red. Birds have plumage of various colours dominated by black. The skin, beak, shank, toes and soles are dark gray colour. The peculiarity of this bird is that most of the internalorgans show the characteristic black pigmentation. Varying degree of blackish colouration is also found in skeletal muscles, tendons, nerves, meninges, brain and bone marrow. The black colour of muscles and tissues is due to deposition of melanin pigmentwhich causes increase in protein and decrease of fat and muscle fiber length. This variety is ideally suited for rearing in tribal areas due to preference for dark meat by the tribal population.
| Production Characteristics | |
| Body weight at 20 weeks (Males) | 1460 g |
| Body weight at 20 weeks (Females) | 1120 g |
| Age at sexual maturity days | 170 |
| Annual egg production | 210 |
| Egg weight at 40 weeks | 53g |
| Fertility | 85% |
| Hatchability (FES) | 82 |
