Turkey (Meleagaris gallopavo) is mostly reared for meat purpose and is considered as one of the alternates to chicken. As per 20th Livestock census (2019) the population of turkey has been increased by 55% over last census (19th, 2012). They are found in good numbers in Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Turkey is very popular among health conscious people because of its lean meat. Turkey birds grow very rapidly, but are not a good converter of feed to meat.

Objectives:

• To assess the polymorphism pattern of candidate genes associated with growth, metabolism and feed efficiency in turkey poults (Meleagris gallopavo)
• To study the dynamics of gastro-intestinal microbial population and their association with feed efficiency traits of turkey poults.
• Identification of marker (s) gene and microbiome taxonomy if any for incorporation in selection programme for development of feed efficient turkey line.

Expected Output:

• Molecular breeding, utilizing identified genetic marker (s) in genetic improvement program for increasing feed efficiency of Turkey.
• A genotype-index would be developed by combining more candidate genes used in this study, which have shown high association with improved feed efficiency traits.
• Identification of microbial strains favoring gut health.
• Isolation of probiotic strain for suitable for turkey feeding.

Plants contain an extensive variety of phytochemical compounds with antimicrobial activity (Cowan, 1999), which may have either beneficial or detrimental effects in animals (Panter et al., 2004; Wink, 2004). The removal of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP) from poultry diets has triggered a search for suitable natural alternatives, to combat the increased potential for bacterial disease development in growing flocks, especially under conditions of average management quality. Many medicinal plants, herbs and their products are used in broiler production because of their advantages over antibiotics like herbs have no residual effect and have no toxicity on the body.

Objectives:

1. Extraction and identification of polyphenols from plants/agriculture waste.
2. Evaluation of polyphenols/essential oil, leaf meal alone or in combination as antioxidant , anti-microbial agent and their impact on growth performance and gut health.
3. To study the combination of polyphenols/essential oil and leaf meal for quality aspects of poultry products (meat).

Expected Output:

1. To identify suitable herbal formulation for replacement in-feed antibiotics.
2. To evaluate feed-cost effectiveness for safe poultry production.

Among several dietary components, antioxidants have a special place being major players in the battle for survivability, maintenance, health, productive and reproductive performance of animals. This is largely because of the detrimental effects of free radicals and toxic products of their metabolism on various metabolic processes. Free radicals are atoms, molecules or any compounds containing one or more unpaired electrons. Most biologically-relevant free radicals are derived from oxygen and nitrogen. Both these elements are important for animal life, but in some circumstances they can be converted (deliberately or by chance) into free radical molecules which are highly unstable, very reactive and are capable of damaging molecules such as DNA, proteins, lipids or carbohydrates.

Objectives:

1. To study the possible interactions between antioxidants in different poultry species.
2. To establish optimal combinations of antioxidants for growth, immune response, meat quality and allied traits in different poultry species.

Expected Output:

1. Development of balance and cost effective feed formulae for maximum growth and health status of chicken/turkey.

In India, the poultry sector is highly mechanized, organized and industrialized among all other livestock sectors. The Indian poultry sector is highly diversified ranging from conventional backyard poultry keeping to organized poultry rearing. In India, the value of poultry sector is about 80,000 crore for 2015-16 (DADF, NAP for egg and poultry-2022). Among poultry, more advanced scientific way of rearing is followed in modern Broiler and layer farms. Regarding egg production, India stands at 3rd position in the world with an estimated production of 82.93 billion numbers from 227 million layers.

Objectives:

1 To optimize transportation time for welfare and improved meat quality in marketable broiler chickens.
2 To determine optimum pre-slaughter resting period following transportation of broiler chickens for improved welfare as well as meat quality.
3 To normalize stocking density of broiler chickens for better welfare and optimal production performance.

Expected Output:

1. Establishment of transport & pre slaughter time for better meat quality and overall welfare of marketable broiler chicken.
2. Establishment best and welfare effective stocking density for broiler chicken.

Poultry production is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India with rising rate of 10 percent per annum and it is the major contributor to growing economy of the country. India is the third largest egg producer in the world after China and the USA and the fourth-largest broiler meat producer in the world after China, Brazil and the USA. Currently, the total Poultry population in our country is 729.21 million (as per 19th Livestock Census) and the egg production has increased from around 83 billion nos. in 2015-16 to around 88 billion in 2016-17 registering a growth of about 6% (DAHDF, 2017). The per capita availability of egg has increased from 61 in 2013-14 to 66 in 2015-16. In 2016-17 it is 69.

Objectives:

1. To study the effect of aflatoxin and ochratoxin combination on production performance, immunity, gut health, patho-physiology and expression of growth and immune related genes in broiler chickens.
2. To evaluate the ameliorating efficacy of herbal supplementation (ginger, amla, turmeric and garlic) on combating the toxic effects of aflatoxin and ochratoxin in broiler chickens.
3. To evaluate the ameliorating efficacy of and herbal supplementation (ginger, amla, turmeric and garlic) combinations on combating the toxic effects of aflatoxin and ochratoxin in broiler chickens.

Expected Output:

1. User- friendly technologies/strategies for ameliorating mycotoxicosis
2. User- friendly technologies/strategies for augmenting safe, clean and green poultry production

Although turkeys were introduced in India several decades ago by the Christian missionaries but the turkey farming as such has achieved very little progress. High cost of production, long generation interval and less market demand were the major setback for its low popularity. The main reason for this was that very little attention has been given towards systematic research on turkey management including their feeding breeding, and health cover under the prevailing environment (tropical climate). The major and the only emphasis were given on the development of various strains of chicken both for meat and egg. No interest was shown by the Indian Researchers to develop suitable variety of turkeys, which could be profitable and viable for Indian farmers in terms of body weight and FCR.

Objectives:

1. To improve the body weight of marketable turkey birds.
2. To measure genetic, phenotypic parameters and direct and correlated responses of economic traits.
3. To assess the expression profile of candidate genes associated with growth, metabolism and feed efficiency in turkey poults.

Expected Output:

1. Higher body weight in turkey birds
2. Development of feed efficient line of turkey
3. Development of germplasms suitable for diversified rural poultry production

Increase in antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide problem as to treat resistant bacteria can have severe consequences both for human health and also for animals including poultry than infections with antimicrobial susceptible bacteria. Consequences associated with resistant bacteria include treatment failure, prolonged illness and longer treatment regime with more cost involvement. Important factor in increasing resistance in bacterial population can not only involve more complications in animals including poultry, but have severe consequences for human health also.

Objectives:

1. To assess AMR profile in E. coli isolates from diversified poultry species using safe alternatives to antibiotics as prophylactic agents.
2. Assessment of resistance profile in E. coli isolates from diversified poultry species during production period with interventions of safe alternatives as prophylactic agents.
3. Preparation of package of practices using safe alternatives as prophylactic agents in poultry species.

Expected Output:

Assessment of resistance profile of E. coli with prophylactic antibiotics and exploring role of alternatives in reduction of AMR in E.coli. Assessment of withdrawal period of prophylactic antibiotics.

Poultry represents one of the most commonly available, cheapest and acceptable source of protein that accounts for more than 30 per cent among the livestock. Backed by favourable socio-economic factors, broiler and layer industry is growing steadily to stand at third and fourth in global ranking by producing 88.03 billion eggs (DAHD, 2018) and 3.5 MMT (FAO, 2017) respectively. On other hand, village chicken/backyard poultry production contributes for the rural development by uplifting rural livelihoods and alleviating malnutrition of 313.7 million households who are engaged in it. With 28% layer population, indigenous chickens shares 21% of national egg production. With the development of low input technology or rural poultry varieties, village chicken production has witnessed a paradigm shift in average yield rate of eggs from 96 to 146 (DAHD, 2018).

Objectives:

1. To compare haematological and biochemical parameters in indigenous and improved under different rearing systems.
2. To study the dynamics of digestive system under different rearing systems with or with out post-biotics in chicken.
3. To study the influence of climatic conditions on chicken under different rearing systems.

Expected Output:

The systematic comparative data on Physio-biochemical indices under intensive (controlled) v/s extensive (rural conditions) pertaining to indigenous birds may be made available

With the increasing demand of egg and meat, commercial poultry farming particularly broiler farming and layer farming had become a source of employment and income generation by rural and urban youths. Due to awareness of poultry farming at various platforms through different communication media, there is huge demand of traning on poultry farming. The transfer of technology work of this institute is mainly confined to supply of germplasm and capacity building. Every year 200-300 youths are being trained by CARI, Izatnagar.

Objectives:

1. To study the adoption of various types of poultry and scientific package of practices among trainees.
2. To study the impact of germplasm of diversified poultry species supplied by the Institute.
3. To assess the impact of poultry training programmes on socio-economic status of trainees
4. To study the factors responsible for adoption and non-adoption of poultry farming

Expected Output:

The authentic data on following aspects would be expected from the present study.

1. Extent of new poultry farms established by trainees.
2. Extent of poultry farms scaled up by trainees
3. Enhancement in production of poultry in the area.
4. Extent of income and employment generation from adoption of poultry farming.
5. Reasons for non-adoption of poultry farming after under going training.
6. Merits and demerits of germplasm supplied.

ICAR-central Avian Research Institute has developed several germplasms which are suitable for backyard farming as well as for socio-economic development of poultry farmers. ICAR has been focusing on the plans to work for the tribal community of the society through Tribal Sub-Plan(TSP). Hence, is the project proposal. The Scheduled tribe (ST) population of Uttar Pradesh is 107,963 as per 2001 census, constituting a meager 0.1 percent of the total population (166,197,921) of the State. During census 2011, the ST population was 11,34,273, which constituted approx.. 0.6% of the total population (19,98,12,341) of the state.

Objectives:

1. To disseminate poultry technologies in the target population in the selected districts of UP & Uttarakhand.
2. To provide self-employment opportunities through development of poultry entrepreneurship.
3. To assess socio-economic impact of intervention through poultry technologies.
4. To uplift the socio-economic status of the target scheduled tribes of the target areas of UP and Uttarakhand.

Expected Output:

The project is expected to enrich the target population with technical know-how about poultry production technologies. Simultaneously, the target beneficiaries would be provided with the improved backyard poultry germplasm, which in turn is expected to provide them nutritional security as well as women empowerment. It is also expected that there will be improvement in development of poultry entrepreneurship.

Poultry industry is rapidly growing with a growth rate of 16.81% over the 19th census and a population of 851.81 million has been recorded as per the 2019 (20th livestock) census. The commercial population is 534.74 million with a growth rate of 4.5%. The backyard poultry accounted for 317.07 million showing 45.78% growth rate. Being the third largest producer of eggs in the world, total egg production in the country is 103.32 billion numbers and has increased by 8.5% over previous year with a per capita availability of 79 eggs per annum per individual against the ICMR recommended 180 eggs per annum per individual. The poultry meat contributes for over 50% of total meat production in the country and growth rate of 7.8% compared to the previous year producing 4.06 million tonnes of meat. (BAHS, 2019). Poultry has become one of the most widespread food industries worldwide and the size is expanding faster than other food producing animal industry.

Objectives:

• In vitro characterization of postbiotic metabolites extracted from selected probiotic strains.
• To study the effect of in-feed postbiotics and nucleotides vis-à-vis AGP supplementation on production performance, immunity and intestinal development in broiler chickens.
• To evaluate the synergistic actions of postbiotics under abiotic and biotic stress conditions.
• To validate the postbiotics efficacy under farmer’s field conditions in commercial broiler chickens.

Expected Output:

• Unravelling the potential role of postbiotics in enhancing broiler’s health in response to different stressors.
• Dose optimization of post-biotics of different probiotics origin as a potential anti-oxidant and AGP alternative.
• Development of post-biotic formula for ready to use in feed and water under normal and stress conditions.

Poultry represents one of the most commonly available, cheapest and acceptable source of protein that accounts for more than 30 per cent among the livestock. Indian poultry industry has made a fastest and remarkable growth ever since its inception and is presently emerging as a sunrise sector with a growth rate of 6-8% as against 1.5-2.5% for agricultural crops, posting an annual turnover of 10,000 million dollars and satisfying the hungers of 20 million people through employment. Around 4 lakh farmers are engaged in poultry farming activities with 85% of them having less than 2 ha of land or the landless. Backed by favourable socio-economic factors, broiler and layer industry is growing steadily to stand at third and fourth in global ranking by producing 88.03 billion eggs (DAHD, 2018) and 3.5 MMT (FAO, 2017) respectively.

Objectives:

1. To develop entrepreneur skills among the Socially Privileged Groups (scheduled caste) by providing hands on training on various aspects of chicken production.
2. To enhance the livelihoods of selected beneficiaries through broiler production under integration module where in a centralized model or type of contract broiler farming (CBF) will be adopted.
3. To improve the economic situation of selected beneficiaries through CARI low input technology birds (desi and its crosses).
4. To establish the hatchery unit at village by group participation for ensuring the self-sustainability in continuous supply chain of chicks.
5. To develop resource material on practical aspects of chicken production and management for the benefit of selected beneficiaries.

Expected Output:

1. Enhancement of skill and knowledge levels among the beneficiaries regarding the potential prospects of chicken production, management, and its significant role in alleviating poverty and mitigating mal-nutrition problems mainly in villages.
2. Livelihood upliftment of beneficiaries with integrated commercial broiler farming approach that assures sustained incomes despite the odds in broiler marketing scenario.
3. Ensuring the self-sustainability in terms of availability of germplasm throughout the year and ensures sustained income.