Avian Genetics & Breeding

Research Activities & Achievements

• Quail improvement: Quails were introduced in the country at this Institute in 1974 with the import of hatching eggs from University of California, USA. The egg and meat lines were evaluated and selected for various economically important traits. Mean body weight at 5th week of age (marketable age) has improved from 110 to 240g. The egg weight has improved from 7.5 to 14.5g. Few more lines were added from Federal Republic of Germany during 1978 and from Korea in 1980. Initially, there was only one feather-colour variant, however, during last decade, four more variants have been developed.
• Guinea fowl improvement: Three variants of Guinea fowl are being maintained and improved genetically. At 12 weeks of age (marketable age) the body weights of CHITAMBARI, KADAMBARI and SWETAMBARI varieties range from 970-1000 g, 950-1000 g and 920-980 g, respectively.
• Improvement of native fowl for rural poultry: Work on collection, evaluation and utilization of Aseel and Kadakanath native fowl breeds was initiated during 1976 and later on Naked Neck and Frizzle ecotypes were included in the year 1992. Morphological and molecular characterization and evaluation for their growth, production, feed efficiency, immunocompetence profiling and combining ability for above mentioned traits with Dahlem Red (exotic breed from Germany) were completed. Large variations were observed among various pure breeds for all the traits which showed that all the breeds deserve conservation. Immunocompetence study of Indian native breeds indicated that they have better disease resistance in comparison to exotic breeds. In genetic distance study at molecular level, Kadakanath was found to be at greater genetic distance than other three breeds.Two indigenous chicken breeds namely Ankaleshwar in 2007 and Nicobari in 2010 have also been added. Besides, parent stocks of Vanraja commercial cross has also been introduced recently.
• Improvement of layer chicken (AICRP Component): White Leghorn pure strains at CARI under AICRP have covered 31 generations of selection with the production profile of its commercial cross namely CARI-PRIYA (white egger) of more than 300 eggs on hen house basis with an average egg weight of 57 g and feed efficiency of 1.77 kg feed/ dozen eggs which is quite comparable with the leading commercial of the country.
• RIR Improvement: The mean for egg production, egg mass, ASM, EW40, body weights at 20 and 40 weeks of age were 99.24 eggs, 5015.55 g, 140.58 days, 50.54g, 1570.25g and 1825.84g in RIR selected strain. Corresponding means in commercial CARI-SONALI (tinted egger) were 105.70 eggs, 5508.03g, 149.82 days, 52.11g, 1447.77 and 1681.44 g. CARI-Debendra(Dual purpose), meant for rural poultry production, has the corresponding values of 95.82 eggs, 5422.45g, 154.27 days, 56.59g, 2214.36 and 2928.39 g.
• Improvement of broiler chicken (AICRP Component): CARIBRO-Vishal (white plumage), developed at this institute, attained 2.1 kg in 7 weeks with FCR of , while CARIBRO-Dhanraja (coloured plumage) gained approx. 1500-1700 g at 6 weeks of age with 1.92 FCR and mortality below 3%. This apart, CARIBRO-Mritunjaya (suitable for hot & dry region), introgressed with Naked Neck gene and CARIBRO-Tropicana (suitable for hot & humid region), introgressed with both Naked Neck & Frizzle genes have also been developed at this Institute, with body weight close to 1400-1500 g and FCR of
• Dissemination of improved germplasm: The pure line stock of quails, guinea fowl, ducks, turkey, egg and meat type chickens, developed at CARI, have been supplied over a span of more than 3.5 decades, to various govt./ semi-govt. & private agencies throughout the country, which is a significant and remarkable contribution of institute towards bringing self-sufficiency in the country.

Avian Biotechnology

• Genetic characterization: RAPD & microsatellite markers used for Duck, Quail, Turkey, Desi fowl, Layer & Broiler.
• Sex differentiation: PCR-based methods standardized for various poultry species.
• Immunocompetence profiles: Traits studied in Aseel & Kadaknath; demonstrated genetic control over immune response.
• Transgenic sperm & gene silencing: Myostatin silencing, recombinant cytokines production, and cloning studies achieved.
• Comparative & functional genomics: MHC & cytokine gene studies, SNP analysis, marker-assisted introgression of Naked Neck gene.
• Parthenogenetic development: Karyotyping & microarray studies in turkey embryos.