Bhopal: New Disease Resistant Chicken Breed Developed

A veterinary university in Madhya Pradesh has developed a new breed of disease-resistant chicken which would soon be available at cheaper prices.

"Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur district has developed the new breed of chicken christened 'Narmada Nidhi'," varsity's Professor O P Shrivastava said.

"The new protein-rich rooster carries genes of fowl breeds - Kadaknath and Jabalpur colour," he said.

Kadaknath is a local breed of chicken found in tribal dominated Jhabua and Alirajur districts of MP.

The 'Jabalpur colour' breed chicken is an improved breed of chicken developed by the university, he said.

The new 'Narmada Nidhi' breed of chicken is cheaper and rich in nutritional values and has been developed for the weaker section of society in rural areas, he said.

The bird can survive on the leftovers in rural households. It is disease resistant and does not need vaccination against diseases as the foreign poultry fowls require, Shrivastava said.

Notably, the development has come at a time when the rates of staple pulses consumed in households have sky-rocketed, as a result of which people are looking for cheaper options to include in their daily diet.

He said a country household fowl lays 45 eggs, whereas Narmada Nidhi is expected to produce 181 eggs per year.

An egg laid by 'Narmada Nidhi' breed of hen would cost around Rs 4, as against a normal egg cost of Rs 6. The rate of the chicken of this new breed would be priced at around Rs 80-90 per kg, as against the prevalent rate of Rs 120 per kg for chicken in the market, he said.

The taste of the new breed egg is akin to that produced by country household hens which fetch a good price in the market, he said.

"We are hopeful that the new breed of hen will be a hit in poor households in villages as it is going to be too cheaper," he said.

"We are going to hand-over 35 new breed fowls to 35 tribal families at a function shortly," he added.