Evaluating the performance of Vanaraja chicken under free-ranging conditions in the temperate climates of Kashmir

Introduction

Free range poultry farming is a system designed to raise chickens that allows the birds more space to roam freely for at least a part of the day; providing them access to the natural environment compared to the confined ones. This low input system is particularly suited for small and marginal farmers, offering seamless integration with other agricultural activities in a harmonious manner. As an ecofriendly approach to food production, this system of rearing birds has gained increased attention. It offers a multitude of benefits for both birds and the farmers, allowing chickens to engage in natural behaviors like dust bathing, foraging and perching, leading to improvement in overall welfare and reduced stress levels (Lay et al. 2011) [9] . This system of rearing not only helps in production of quality poultry products but also offers a low cost sustainable and ecofriendly solution for disposal of food waste (Singh et al. 2019) [16] . Besides offering a reliable source of income and high-quality nutrition, the system has the potential to offer round the year employment opportunities particularly for women and economically weaker sections of the society (Das et al. 2020) [4] . The activity aligns well with their house hold responsibilities and provides a sense of financial stability, security and empowerment (Kumar & Reddy, 2018) [8] . Additionally, the chickens help in control of pests and weeds and enhance soil fertility through their droppings. The ever-increasing demand for wholesome, hygienic and organic poultry products has provided a much-needed impetus to backyard poultry rearing, through introduction of elite chicken strains. Vanraja-a dual-purpose poultry bird has been widely adopted in free range farming across India. The breed is recognized for its adaptability in harsh climatic conditions, disease resistance and contribution to the rural livelihood and economic security (Rao et al. 2013) [13] . The breed has been reported to outperform native breeds in overall production under extensive system (Ahmed et al. 2020) [1] . The available information mainly highlights the www.extensionjournal.com performance of this bird under backyard scavenging system underscoring its suitability for small scale poultry farming (Shekhar, 2020; Islam et al. 2024) [15,6] . Limited information is available on the performance of this bird under free range conditions in temperate climates of Kashmir. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the overall performance of Vanaraja birds under free-ranging conditions in Kashmir.

Materials and Methods

For evaluation of performance of Vanaraja poultry birds, a total of 217 unsexed Vanaraja chicks were provided to progressive poultry farmer from village Malangpora. To ensure proper brooding, vaccination and to reduce early chick mortality, the chicks were brooded for four weeks in the nigh shelter build at the perimeter of 2 kanals of a properly fenced plot of land. Fencing provided a secure and safe environment for the birds to forage, post transitioning to free range. During the brooding period, the chicks were vaccinated as per recommended schedule and fed 'Broiler Chicken Starter. Afterwards, birds were provided broken mill rice along with foraging in the open, during the day. Supplemental commercial layer feed at the rate of 30g per bird, along with multivitamins and minerals was provided to cope with the deficiency. For maximizing profits, all the male birds were sold as they reached desired market and age. This helped to enhance welfare of female birds and reduce competition for resources allowing them to flourish. The performance data with respect to body weight gain, egg production, mortality and feed consumption was collected through personal visits and using a purpose oriented structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed statistically by using standard statistical analysis techniques in excel spread sheet.

Results and Discussion

The present study provides an account of the productive and reproductive performance of Vanaraja birds reared under free-range conditions, emphasizing their growth trends, egg production, mortality rates, and economic viability. Data pertaining to body weight body weight gain, age at first egg/sexual maturity (days), egg production and weight, morbidity, mortality and economics are presented in table 1. Of the 217-day chicks 98 were male and 117 females, with their sex being identifiable by around 8 th week. Two chicks died of yolk sac infection during brooding and four hens were preyed upon by a cat. Average weight of the egg was 70g and the farmer sold them directly to the consumers at rupees 10 per egg. Male birds were sold at 170 rupees each. The returns foregone which otherwise could have been realized, were 41880 rupees. An inadvertent and accidental spillover of poisonous chemicals sprayed by a neighboring farmer on his crop resulted in death of 113 hens at around 64 th week of age. Despite these losses, the unit yielded positive economic gains with a benefit cost ration of 1:1.38. The body weight progression from day-old to 52 weeks indicating a steady growth trend is in consonance with the available literature. Similar to the results of the present study, Mahanta et al. (2021) [10] and Islam et al (2024) [6] , reported that Vanaraja birds under free range and backyard conditions exhibited a body weight of 1.5-2.0 kg at 20 weeks. Chauhan et al. (2024) [2] reported that Vanaraja birds under backyard conditions demonstrated growth traits with average body weight of 2.80 kg at 40 weeks of age. Developed as a dual-purpose bird, Vanaraja outperforms the indigenous chickens. The differences are more pronounced with age. The birds performed well under the temperate climatic condition of Kashmir. However, their reduced agility makes them more vulnerable to predators and increases their susceptibility to infectious and non-infectious diseases. This system of rearing allows chickens to engage in natural behaviors like dust bathing, foraging and perching, leading to improvement in overall welfare and reduced stress levels (Lay et al. 2011) [9] . It promotes health and strengthens immune system, contributing to higher production. Vanaraja birds are known for their early maturity and egg production. The birds are reported to attain sexual maturity between 160 to 180 days (Kumaresan et al. 2008) [7] . Egg production at an early age offers faster returns on the investment compared to the native strains-raised under low input systems of rearing. However, productive performance of Vanaraja under low input scavenging systems, under temperate conditions of Kashmir largely unexplored. Further susceptibility to environmental hazards and stressors demands systemic evaluation. The hens on an average produced large sized eggs. As per available literature, the egg production varies widely, with reports suggesting egg production between 98 to 120 eggs per hen in certain regions (Chauhan et al. 2024) [2] to a high of 170 eggs per hen (Shekhar, 2020) [15] . The results of the present study corroborate with Rajkumar et al. (2018) [12] , who reported egg production between 90-110 eggs per bird annually. However, Pathak and Nath, (2013) [11] reported slightly lower egg production under free range rearing compared to intensive systems, where birds can lay 110-130 eggs per year, attributed to differences in feeding, climate, and predator threats in extensive systems. The hens produced consistently larger eggs as they aged, indicating its superior egg production traits when compared to indigenous chicken strains. The average weight of egg (70.00 g) and body weight at first egg (2070 g) are in concurrence with Kumaresan et al. (2008) [7] . Consistent production of eggs of higher weight is a desirable trait as production of larger eggs is crucial for sustaining the poultry production in rural areas. Sexual maturity at 189 days (27 weeks) aligns with findings of Sahoo et al. (2019) [14] , who reported hens reaching sexual maturity between 175 and 195 days under free-range conditions. Similarly, Zuyie et al. (2009) [18] reported a mean age at first egg between 187 to 189 days. Mortality during the early period was negligible. Maintaining a healthy flock from the start till the completion of laying cycle is crucial in harvesting maximum returns. Mortality due to infectious causes was negligible and only two chicks died during the brooding period. However, due to inadvertent and accidental exposure to toxic substance, the entire flock of hens was wiped out, which reduced the chances of reaping any financial gains to zero. A common threat to birds under free range, which can significantly contribute to revenue foregone, is predation and exposure to toxic substances. Gagoi et al. (2020), reported that external threats; predators (dogs, cats, snakes) and exposure to toxic substances can greatly reduce overall productivity of the system. Conan et al. (2021) [3] , suggested for adopting www.extensionjournal.com improved bio-security measures, secure night shelters and rotational grazing hours, to mitigate such losses. The birds are docile and highly vulnerable to predation by stray animals. The docile nature, fast metabolism and rapid growth rate often predispose Vanaraja to a range of ailments including muscular dystrophy, ascites, leg deformities, development of vices, cannibalism and sudden death syndrome (Sridhar and Reddy, 2012) [17] . Despite these losses, the system remained economic viable yielding a benefit cost ratio of 1: 1.38, due to higher production potential of the birds. Economics of Vanaraja chicken rearing in present study are similar to that of Shekhar, (2022) [15] . The returns foregone due to mortality (INR 41,880) emphasize the need for better management practices. Conan et al. (2021) [3] found that predator control and supplementary feeding can reduce mortality by 15-20%, increasing overall profitability in backyard poultry systems.

Conclusion

The performance of Vanaraja under free range observed in the present study is comparable to reported values in existing literature, with slight variations due to management practices. The body weight gain and egg production remained within expected limits, with a slightly lower output than intensive systems. Mortality due to predation and exposure to poisonous chemicals impacted the overall farm operation and reduced chances of economic returns to zero. The data obtained suggests that Vanaraja farming under free-range conditions is a profitable venture, provided that adequate bio-security and predator protection measures are implemented and sufficient and low-cost resources are at disposal. for the birds to perform optimally. However, more such multi-location studies across Kashmir valley need to be carried out, to ensure accuracy and broader applicability of the results.

References

1. Ahmed N, Abbas M, Akand AH, Khan AA, Bulbul KH, Ali L. Comparative study of growth and production performance of Kroiler, Vanraja, and desi birds under extensive system of rearing in cold, arid area of Kargil, Ladakh. Indian J Anim Sci. 2020;90(5):813-815.
2. Chauhan DS, Pant Jugran H, Negi GCS, Bisht DS. Income generation potential of backyard poultry in rural areas of Central Himalaya. Worlds Poult Sci J. 2024;1-15.
3. Conan A, Goutard FL, Sorn S, Vong S. Biosecurity in village and other free-range poultry-trying to square www.extensionjournal.com the circle? Front Vet Sci. 2021;8:678419.
4. Das S, Sharma R, Gupta A. Economic benefits of backyard poultry farming: a gender perspective. Agric Econ Rev. 2020;29(3):112-125.
5. Gogoi P, Nath P, Kalita N. Mortality pattern and management interventions in backyard poultry farming. J Livest Res. 2020;15(2):76-85.
6. Islam MRU, Gani G, Ganie AA, Paul S, Shergojri SA, Mir IA, et al. Performance of Vanraja birds under backyard scavenging system in Pulwama and Srinagar districts of Kashmir Valley. Int J Vet Sci Anim Husb. 2024;9(5):167-170.
7. Kumaresan A, Bujarbaruah KM, Pathak KA, Chettri B, Ahmed SK, Haunshi S. Analysis of a village chicken production system and performance of improved dualpurpose chickens under a subtropical hill agro ecosystem in India. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2008;40:395-402.
8. Kumar V, Reddy P. Women empowerment through poultry farming: case studies from India. J Gender Stud. 2018;12(1):35-49.
9. Lay DC, Fulton RM, Hester PY, Karcher DM, Kjaer JB, Mench JA, et al. Hen welfare in different housing systems. Poult Sci. 2011;90(1):278-294.
10. Mahanta JD, Sahoo PK, Devi L. Performance evaluation of Vanaraja birds in extensive rearing systems. J Anim Husb. 2021;19(4):45-53.
11. Pathak PK, Nath BG. Backyard poultry farming in India: a review. Worlds Poult Sci J. 2013;69(3):531540.
12. Rajkumar U, Sharma RP, Chatterjee RN. Performance of Vanaraja birds under different rearing systems. Indian J Poult Sci. 2018;55(2):85-92.
13. Rao SVR, Raju MVLN. Different concentrations of organic trace minerals on Vanaraja chickens for freerange farming. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2013;45:14471451.
14. Sahoo PK, Behera BK, Mohanty SR. Growth and reproductive performance of Vanaraja birds in rural conditions. Asian J Poult Sci. 2019;13(1):22-29.
15. Shekhar S. Growth, performance, and economics of Vanaraja poultry birds under the backyard system of rearing at Koderma, Jharkhand, India. J Entomol Zool Stud. 2020;8(5):934-937.
16. Singh R, Patel N, Verma K. Environmental benefits of organic poultry farming. Environ Res J. 2019;22(4):98105.
17. Sridhar K, Reddy VRA. Effect of vitamin E and selenium on performance and immunity in broilers. Vet World. 2012;5(12):734-736.
18. Zuyie R, Sharma VB, Bujarbaruah KM, Vidyarthi VK. Performance of Vanaraja birds under extensive system of rearing at different altitudes in Nagaland. Indian J Poult Sci. 2009;44(4):411-413.