National Avian Research Program

National Avian Research Program

Introduction

National Avian Research Program (SARP) coordinating office is located at Khumaltar Lalitpur within one kilometer of Satdobato cross-road of the ring road in Kathmandu valley which was established in 2048 B.S. as a national commodity program with sole responsibility of improved technology generation in swine and avian species throughout the country. It has a national mandate on research and development of non-ruminant sector of the nation. At the same time, different non- ruminant commodities are limited within some pockets across the country. Pig is common among eastern and central mid-hill and western Terai. Poultry is prominent among central mid-hill districts and entire Terai belt while rabbit is usually found around central to mid-western mid-hill. Mostly, these animals are backyard commodities of the backward communities across the country and partially commercialized at valleys and few basins of Terai.

NARP works in coordination with other related offices to deliver its services throughout the country. The offices under NARC working in coordination with NARP are NASRI and its disciplinary Center, Directorate of Agricultural Research (Far Western Province), Dipyal, Doti Directorate of Agricultural Research (Karnali Province), Dasharatpur, Surkhet, Directorate of Agricultural Research (Lumbini Province), Khajura, Banke, Directorate of Agricultural Research (Gandaki Province), Lumle, Kaski, Directorate of Agricultural Research (Province 2), Parwanipur, Bara and Directorate of Agricultural Research (Province 1), Tarahara, Sunsari etc. The research activities of SARP are carried out on station and/or at outreach research sites. Major line agencies/stakeholders working in collaboration with SARP are Department of Livestock Services (DLS), respective Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Expert Centre in the provincial and local level, NGOs (CEAPRED Samarth, Li-Bird etc), farmers’ groups and cooperatives.

Livestock sector is one of the vital components of the agriculture system of Nepal. Non-ruminant livestock species such as poultry is major commodity contributing to the domestic meat production in the country.  In aggregation, the promotion of  poultry  is necessary to reduce rural poverty and generate rural employment especially for women.

Goal

  • Establish non-ruminant production as an agro-enterprise for small holder farmers
  • Improve the commercialization of poultry sector with more research on commercial scale production
  • Improve the access of farmers to the research outputs of NARP and its partner entities

Vision

The multidisciplinary research in the field of management, nutrition, breeding and health conducted for  non ruminant species like poultry    generates technologies as per the need of the country whose dissemination to farmers and stake holders  brings prosperity and development in livestock sector and play a major role for reducing poverty.

Objectives

Avian Research Program (ARP) under Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has the following mandates:

  • Identify in consultation with relevant stakeholders (Directorates of research from 7 different province, local and provicial level stake holders and farmers) problems and constraints limiting meat and egg production in the country.
  • Conduct applied and adaptive research trials both on stations and on farms addressing the identified researchable problems.
  •  Disseminate the technologies via directorates of research from 7 different provinces, local and provincial level stake holders either through publications or other feasible means for extension in the farmers’ field.
  • Maintain pure line pig and poultry nucleus stock in research stations and make available the genetic materials to the breeders.
  • Develop suitable strains of pig adapted to different agro-ecological zones.
  • Introduce and develop suitable line for other avian species such as turkey, quail and duck.
  • Improve the handling, storage, processing and preservation techniques of egg, meat, fiber and pelt.
  • Develop measures to control and eradicate poultry, swine and rabbit diseases
  • Demonstrate improved husbandry practices and suitable technologies to farmers in pig, poultry and rabbit husbandry.

Strategies

  • Make available a number of breeds to be chosen according to ecological/cultural niche.
  • Explore alternative sources of feed to address the increasing competition between human and livestock for feed.
  • Develop research-farmer-extension mechanism to effectively deploy the research outputs.
  • Explore the ways to widen the diversity of feed sources to promote economic production of poultry at commercial level.
  • Develop NARC knowledge base on other avian species by tapping the need of new frontier industries.
  • Develop breeds of domestic choice for production as well as for consumption.
  • With the available resources, develop package for rabbit meat production.
  • Develop strength on the post-harvest processing of Angora wool.
  • Diversify the use of rabbit products e.g. skin to the growing need of leather industry inside and abroad

Mandate

  • Study, research, monitoring and guidelines on poultry birds at national level.
  • Conservation, promotion and use of native / local, poultry birds  species found in their area of ​​work (area of ​​influence).
  • Necessary assistance to the concerned bodies for preparation of policies and programs related to poultry birds
  • Production and distribution of improved  poultry birds. Capacity building of manpower related to poultry birds
  • Coordination and cooperation with national and international organizations with the approval of the Council

Working context

Avian Research Program is a national commodity program with sole responsibility for the study and research of non-ruminants specially  poultry . Since its inception (2048 BS) with the formation of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, the program has been conducting research on the needs of the nation which are farmer-friendly, participatory and multidimensional research on these livestock. Additionally, the program has been conducting the research activities within the SARP farm and different outreach research sites including farmer field as well. The outputs and results gained from the research in the form of applied and adaptive technologies have also been disseminated to the farmers and this is a continuous process. As in the recent scenario there is drastic change in political and administrative structure of our country in the form of federal structure which has been further divided into 3 administrative levels as central, provincial and local level. The previously established technology transfer pathway is now insufficient to achieve the goal of the commodity. Therefore the linkage of research conduction and technology transfer needs to be modified. The program is located in Khumaltar, Lalitpur and there is utmost need to widen the area of research to reach farmers of different agroecological zone in this newly formed political and administrative structure to accomplish major goal of “commercialization of pig, poultry and rabbit farming and increase farmers income thereby improving the financial condition and nation’s prosperity”. Hence, NPRP program has prepared road map for the dissemination of developed technologies via co-ordination between central, provincial and local level which is illustrated in image feature as below.

Generated Technology for Poultry

  1. Breed development
    Poultry:
  • Giriraja breed was introduced and maintained for the upgrading local hens as well for backyard poultry farming. It weighs up to 1 kg in 6 weeks age and up to 5 kg in 10 months age and hen produces 150-160 eggs per annum.
  • Pure line New Hampshire and Black Australorp birds are maintained at the government hatcheries to support rural backyard poultry farming to alleviate poverty.
  • New Hampshire and Black Australorp improved for rural poultry production. Nucleus flock of pure breed of New Hampshire and Black Australorp poultry is maintained. These breeds are seems to be suitable for income generation for resource poor rural farmers and may be used for extensive and semi-intensive system of rearing.
  • It is recommended that the Giriraja and New Hampshire both breeds could be used to upgrade the local native chickens, because the 50% (GR x N) chicken weighs 2.5 kg. And gives 120-150 eggs/annum. In case of 50% (NHxN) chicken it weighs 2.0 kg. And gives 140-160 eggs per annum.
  1. Feeding Package
    Poultry:
  • Crude protein level in broiler diet can be substantially reduced when the diet is formulated by supplementing with synthetic amino acids. In a study conducted at Khumaltar, broiler feed on diets with crude protein percent 19 and 16 (starter and finisher) balanced by incorporating synthetic amino acids have shown better growth and higher profit than the birds fed on conventional diet with 23 and 18 percent CP for starter and finisher broilers.
  • For backyard poultry farming, inclusion of 10 percent Comfrey grass in the pure line layer (New-Hampshire) diet resulted, laying 173 eggs (0.561 eggs per day), similar laying performance as from the birds given only layer diet. Similarly, 20% feed replacement by green grass (comfrey) had 160 total eggs (0.520 eggs per day). Total benefit was Rs. 224 and 233 for 10 and 20% respectively.
  • A study conducted using 20% berseem (20% of DM required) had also the similar performance compared to poultry concentrate ration.
  • Effect of pellet feeding vs mass feed of same composition on egg production showed that 1.8 Kg. of feed required for dozen eggs in case of pellet feeding, while 2.8 kg of feed required for same number of eggs.
  • Experiments were conducted to find out the possible level of berseem and oats that can be used in poultry diets. The results has indicated that berseem can be used up to 20 percent in poultry diet. Economic analysis shows that the feeding of control diet gives profit Rs. 159.00 and feeding of 20 percent berseem gives Rs.339.00 by one Giriraja birds in 12 months of period.

3 Health Package
Poultry:

  • Control and management of sudden Egg Drop Syndrome (EDS-76) of poultry: Vaccine to be used and time of vaccination was studied and recommended for inclusion in poultry routine vaccination schedule.
  • Control strategy of IBD in commercial poultry: Pathogenicity and immuno-suppression by available vaccine was evaluated and prevention of subclinical IBD, monitoring maternal derived antibodies for optimal time of vaccination and standard hygiene and biosecurity measures were recommended.
  • Management & control strategy of ND in poultry: Efficacy of oral ND (F1, La Sota & NDV4) vaccine in drinking water was studied and recommended for mass application.
  • MD control in commercial poultry: New vaccine (Ripen cell associated) and vaccination strategy was identified and recommended for mass application.
  • Detection of Aflatoxin in poultry feed and feed ingredients. Detection of aflatoxin by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) has been established.
  • Immunodiagnostic reagents (Salmonella colored antigen): Salmonella colored antigen has been prepared for diagnostic and research use.

4 Production Management Package
Poultry:

  • For backyard poultry farming in the rural areas without electricity, cold brooding box was designed and successfully tested in the farmer’s field. This box was of 2 feet in length, 2 feet in width and 1.5 feet in height and space between inner and outer surface of the box was 1.5-2 ” in which farmers could use cotton, papers or pieces of clothes for insulation. Farmer could brood 20-25 chicks in this box. Result showed 0-2% mortality by using this box in remote areas.
  • It is recommended that the Giriraja breed is suitable and profitable for higher meat and eggs production under scavenging/semi-scavenging system in the eastern terai region. It can weigh up to 1.0 kg. in 6 weeks and up to 5 kg in 10 months and can give 150-160 eggs per annum.
  • It is recommended that the Giriraja and New Hampshire both breeds could be used to upgrade the local native chickens, because the 50% (GR x N) chicken weighs 2.5 kg. And gives 120-150 eggs/annum. In case of 50% (NHxN) chicken it weighs 2.0 kg. and gives 140-160 eggs per annum.
  • The productive performance of the Canadian New Hampshire hens at Avian Research Farm, khumaltar showed that layers started laying eggs at 23 weeks of age and produced on an average of 102 eggs per bird in 130 days laying cycle.
  • The flock testing of New Hampshire poultry birds at Khumaltar farm showed that salmonellosis positive was the main cause of high mortality in the farm.
  • The productivity study on Full Feather and Naked Neck showed that the live weight of matured full feather and Naked Neck birds were 800-900gm and 1000-1600gm respectively. The average feed intake, egg production, total weight of egg, their size and mortality of full feather was 100gm/hen/day, 43 eggs/hen/year, 46.39±2.58gm, 20.87±0.11 sq.cm and 43 % respectively. Similarly feed intake, egg production, total wt of egg, their size and mortality of Naked Neck was 100gm/hen/day, 27 eggs/hen/year, 47.14±2.05 gm, 21.20±0.12sq cm and 37% respectively. The hatchability of full feather bird was 85.5% of fertile eggs and 73% of total egg set and for the Naked Neck was 63 % for fertile egg and 55% of total egg set for hatching. There is not significant difference in egg length, egg breath, predicted breaking force, surface area and surface index of these two breeds.
  • The mortality of the birds are reasonably low from 0.62% in Arbor Acre to 8.12% in Indian Hubb chicks. The feed conversion ratio ranged from 2.39 to 2.74 and wt. Gained by individual bird is from 1.94 Kg. to 2.28 in 8 weeks’ time of rearing.
  • Five grams of piled garlic per bird was given every day to the treated group. The control and treated groups had 41 and 30.17% mortality respectively. Significant difference (10.83%) was found in chick’s mortality.
  1. Socio economics:
  • Study on the Role of women in poultry production in the farming system of the midhills and plains of Nepal showed that women shouldered 90 percent of responsibility in backyard poultry rearing. “Pewa system” was found more common in plain than mid-hill. “Pewa system” is a cultural tradition where women are permitted to raise poultry or livestock for her own benefit. In mid hill poultry raisers got Rs. 116 per kg live weight, while in plain (Chitwan) Rs. 91.30 price of the local chicken.
  • On the basis of research conducted on G1 line of German Angora rabbit at Khumaltar Rabbit Research Station, cost benifit ratio was found 1:1.97.

Researchers

  • Mr. Purna Bhadra Chapatain, Senior Scientist (S-4)/Coordinator
  • Dr. Ajit Jha, Scientist (S-2)
  • Dr. Niraj Baskota, Technical Officer (T-6)

Contact Address

National Avian Research Program
National Animal Science Research Institute (NARI)
Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
Tel: (+977-1) 5550536/5535418/5521650 Fax: (+977-1) 5521197
Email: sarp@narc.gov.np
Website: www.narc.org.np