CARI Shyama (Kadaknath cross) black-meat chicken Photo: placeholder pending image-fill pass

CARI Shyama (Kadaknath cross) black-meat chicken

CARI Shyama is a synthetic dual-purpose rural chicken developed by ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute (ICAR-CARI), Izatnagar, by crossing Kadaknath (Kadaknath Mp Jhabua Gi) as the male line with the institute's CARI Red female line. The cross retains the fibromelanotic black-meat trait of Kadaknath in a more productive backyard package, extending the premium black-meat segment beyond Kadaknath's home tract.

Origin and distribution

ICAR-CARI released Shyama in the early 2000s as part of its rural-poultry portfolio alongside CARI Nirbheek (Cari Nirbheek Aseel Cross), CARI Debendra (Cari Debendra Dual), Upcari and Hitcari. Parent stock is maintained at ICAR-CARI; day-old chicks reach farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and other eastern states through state poultry farms, KVKs and SHGs under the Rural Backyard Poultry Development component of the National Livestock Mission (National Livestock Mission).

Morphology

Plumage is uniformly black with a metallic greenish iridescence reflecting the Kadaknath parentage. The skin, shanks, beak and meat retain the dark grey to black colour produced by fibromelanosis. Body frame is medium; adult cocks weigh about 2.0-2.3 kg and adult hens 1.4-1.6 kg by 20 weeks, slightly heavier than pure Kadaknath (Kadaknath).

Performance

Under backyard rearing with a moderate supplement, hens lay 160-180 eggs per year — significantly more than the 120-140 eggs produced by pure Kadaknath. Egg weight averages 50-55 g and shell colour is light brown. Age at first egg is about 175 days. Cockerels reach 1.5-1.7 kg in 14-15 weeks. Meat retains the dark fibromelanotic colour and the premium that goes with it in specialty markets.

Management

Day-old chicks are brooded (Brooding Chicks) for 4-6 weeks on a balanced starter ration before release to a homestead area or a low-cost open-sided shelter (Open Poultry Shed) with deep litter (Deep Litter System). Vaccination against Newcastle disease (Ranikhet Newcastle Disease), fowl pox and infectious bursal disease is standard. The variety is distributed alongside Nirbheek and Debendra under state and central rural-poultry schemes targeting tribal districts and women's SHGs. Compared with pure Kadaknath, Shyama trades a slight reduction in black-pigment intensity for substantially better egg numbers and a faster grow-out, which is useful for households where eggs are part of nutritional security as well as cash income.

References

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