Faculty & Staff

All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Poultry, Mannuthy.

Origin & History

A centre of All India Co-ordinated Poultry Improvement Project for eggs was sanctioned by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Campus of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy in the year 1976. This centre received 800 pullets and 204 cockerels of both ‘IWN’ and ‘IWP’ strains of White Leghorn in two consignments from Hyderabad centre on 20.06.1978 and 21.06.1978. This centre is being involved in selective breeding of IWN and IWP stains for egg production through intra-population selection. The technical programme assigned to this centre with time to time modifications over the years was adhered strictly in refining these populations.

 The objective of the project during the initial years was to evolve a commercial strain capable of producing 200 standard sized eggs in 500 days, which received revisions during 1986, 1992 and 2000 to set higher targets of 250, 270 290 and 300 eggs respectively. The current goal of 305 eggs was set at XXVI workshop held at AAU, Anand in 2008. The target for egg size was fixed as 52g at 40 weeks of age in the XXVII workshop held at BAU, Ranchi.

 These populations were subjected to selective breeding through intra-population selection (using individual, full sib and half sib information) only for egg production in first two generations. The decline in egg size in these populations well as in other stocks maintained at other AICRP centres prompted the need for the inclusion of egg weight also as independent culling level in the selection programme from third generation. The number of sires and dam bases used for breeding were 40 and 240 (1:6) respectively for many generations until S13. In S14, this was enhanced to 50 and (1:8). From the very next generation (S15), this was again modified as 50 and 300 respectively and is being followed till today. The population size for testing was 1500 pullets at housing in many generations from inception. The population size was further enhanced to 2500 from S17 generation which was again revised to a range of 2000 to 2500 from S20 generation. The age at selection was also received periodical revisions. These populations were selected for part record egg production to 280 days (40 weeks) for several generations in the beginning until S13 except in S9. A severe disease outbreak forced the scientists to advance the selection age to 32 weeks in the S9 generation.

 The decline in residual egg production of strains maintained in different AICRP centres due to selection based on part-record egg production over several generations called for an upward alteration of testing period to improve the persistency in these populations. For the very same reason, the testing period of IWN and IWP strains was also enhanced from 40 weeks to 60 weeks (S18) to 64 weeks (S19). Since then the selection is being carried out based on egg production to 64 weeks.

 Rigorous selection for egg production for several generations brought about early maturity in these populations as a correlated response. As per the workshop decision, age at housing was also advanced from 20 weeks to 18 weeks (S16) to weeks (S17) to enable the collection of complete egg production records. The natural pen mating with trap nesting followed in the earlier generation was discontinued with the introduction of artificial insemination in cages from S16 generation in the year 1997.

 A genetic control population (CP) of 200 birds is being maintained along with the selected populations from S10 generation. The hatching eggs of control population are being supplied by PDP, Hyderabad in every generation.

Mandate

Main objective

To develop a commercial layer of an average yield of 305 eggs during 500 days of age with 52 g average egg weight at 40 weeks of age and less than 1% laying house mortality per month.

Objectives-XIII plan

To develop location-specific chicken varieties and their dissemination for   village poultry
Conservation, improvement, characterization and application of local native and elite layer germplasm
To develop a package of practices for village poultry and entrepreneurship in rural,   tribal and backyard areas etc.

• Funding   - Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi (75%) &Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad, Kerala (25%) Monitored by -Directorate Poultry Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad.
• General functioning (RF…)- nil
• Staff structure

Scientific

• Senior Scientist
• Farm Manager / Assistant Professor

Technical

• Senior Farm Supervisor
• Farm Supervisor G I
• Farm Supervisor G II / Farm Assistant

Administrative

• Section Officer
• Assistant
• Computer Assistant
• Class IV

Supporting staff

• Permanent Labourers

Details of livestock/ facilities available

Projects (EAPs, State Plan)

Projects (EAPs, State Plan)