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CARI Nirbheek (Aseel cross) rural chicken Photo: placeholder pending image-fill pass

CARI Nirbheek (Aseel cross) rural chicken

CARI Nirbheek is a synthetic rural chicken variety developed by ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute (ICAR-CARI), Izatnagar, by crossing the Indian game breed Aseel (Aseel Indigenous Cock Fighting) as the male line with the institute's CARI Red female line. The cross combines the hardiness, alertness and field robustness of Aseel with the productivity of an improved coloured layer, producing a backyard bird that is heavier and more visually distinctive than commercial rural lines.

Origin and distribution

The variety was released in the early 2000s as part of CARI's rural-poultry portfolio together with CARI Debendra (Cari Debendra Dual), CARI Shyama (Cari Shyama Kadaknath Cross) and the Upcari and Hitcari lines. Day-old chicks are distributed through KVKs, state poultry farms and SHGs under the Rural Backyard Poultry Development component of the National Livestock Mission (National Livestock Mission), with significant uptake in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and the eastern states.

Morphology

Plumage is multi-coloured, predominantly black with red and brown patches reflecting the Aseel parentage. The body is upright and broad-shouldered, with adult cocks weighing about 2.5-2.8 kg and adult hens 1.7-2.0 kg by 20 weeks. The bird retains an alert carriage and good predator-avoidance behaviour in scavenging conditions.

Performance

Under backyard rearing with a modest supplement, hens lay 160-180 eggs per year. Egg weight averages 50-55 g and shell colour is light brown. Age at first egg is about 180 days. Cockerels reach a saleable weight of 1.5-1.8 kg in 13-15 weeks. The Aseel-derived hardiness translates into low mortality under rural conditions, even though peak egg production is lower than that of pure improved layers such as Gramapriya (Gramapriya Rural Layer).

Management

Day-old chicks are brooded (Brooding Chicks) for 4-6 weeks before release to a fenced run or homestead area. A low-cost night shelter with deep litter (Deep Litter System) is sufficient. Vaccination against Newcastle disease (Ranikhet Newcastle Disease), fowl pox and infectious bursal disease is essential because of the long scavenging window. The variety is typically distributed in batches of 45 or 90 chicks per household under state rural-poultry schemes, and is often combined with self-mixed feed (Self Mixed Poultry Feed) and a short brooding service from KVK mother units.

See also: Vanaraja Rural Dual Purpose Chicken, Country Chicken Nattu Kodi, Kadaknath Mp Jhabua Gi.

References

  1. CARI Improved Varieties — Nirbheek. ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar.
  2. Improved indigenous chicken varieties. vikaspedia agriculture portal.