EFFECT OF REARING SYSTEM IN PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND EGG QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF VANARAJA LAYERS (GALLUS GALLUS DOMESTICUS)

Abstract

This paper presents investigation on the production performance and egg quality characteristics of Vanaraja
layers in three different rearing system i.e. conventional cage rearing, free range or backyard system of rearing
and semi intensive system of rearing. A total of 60 laying hens of Vanaraja were taken of same age between 18
to 20 weeks and maintained in 3 different rearing systems for 120 days. All the birds were divided equally
among three rearing system. Analysis of data on 60 eggs revealed significant differences in egg quality and
production performance and proximate chemical composition. The production performance of Vanaraja was
recorded to be highest (89.27%) in caged system as compared to free range and semi intensive. Detailed analysis
of the physical characteristics of eggs of Vanaraja layers showed significant differences (P?0.05) in different
housing system .The research work revealed that birds reared in semi intensive system produced heaviest eggs
of (54.50g), higher egg volume of (51.29ml), highest Haugh unit i.e. (79.791), heaviest shell weight of (4.12g),
thickest shell of (0.395cm) and with heaviest albumin and yolk weight of (32.09g) and (21.03g) respectively.
However the birds reared in caged system showed the highest shape index of (74.90%) and lightest shell of
(3.65g), whereas the birds reared in backyard or free range produced eggs of comparatively lower egg quality
characteristics. Proximate chemical composition of eggs of Vanaraja birds also differed significantly (P? 0.01)
at different housing system. Higher values of moisture content, fat and energetic value was observed in caged
hens as compared to free range and semi intensive. The research was carried out in poultry unit of Centurion
University of Technology and Management, Odisha, India.