Comparative performance of two synthetic backyard poultry varieties

Two different synthetic backyard poultry varieties were developed using Rhode Island Red (RIR), White leghorn (WLH), Dalhem Red (DR) and local non- descript birds. In both varieties local non-descript birds contributed 25% of inheritance, while major contributing exotic breeds differed. Both the varieties laid the first egg in about 150 day's of age. Egg production up to 40 weeks of age was 76±1.66 eggs, and 79±1.07, egg production up to 64 weeks of age was 144±2.06 and 145±1.58 eggs during third generation of random mating respectively. Annual egg production was 155±2.57 and 156±1.92 eggs under farm conditions and did not differ significantly. Egg weight at 40 week age ranged between 49.7±0.36 to 55.6±0.31 g and 49.4±0.24 to 50.2±0.23 g, while it ranged between 54.1±0.29 to 58.6±0.26 g and 52.5±0.14 to 55.0±0.19 g at 64 weeks of age in both the varieties respectively. However mortality at various stages was significantly different in both the varieties. During chick stage mortality ranged between 2.70 to 7.91% in Var-I while it was only 1.09 to 4.11% in var-II. Similarly Var-II registered lower mortality during growing and laying phases.