A Pilot Study on Horti-Poultry Integrated Farming Model

Abstract

Aims: Under the innovative concept of integrated farming, a trial using vanraja birds was conducted to find out the comparative performance of birds reared in confinement and outdoor in orchards. Study Design: 600 Vanraja birds of one month age were divided into two equal groups was conducted. One group (T1) that served as control was confined to shed and put on concentrate feeding and the another  group (T2) were given free access to the KVK orchard during day and confined to shelter during night and were allowed to feed on herbage, insects and other scavenging resources during the day and in the evening hours were offered kitchen waste comprising of leftover rice, vegetable waste, egg shells, leftover pulses etc. collected from the hostels of Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Shuhama that are in the close vicinity of the Kendra. Methodology: The two groups of vanraja birds were compared with respect to body weight gain, egg production and mortality rate and at the end of 40 weeks trial the concentrate feeding cost in case of free range reared birds was reduced and there was less mortality, increase in the body weight and egg production with additional income from the existing orchards as compared to the control group kept confined to sheds Results and Conclusion: This innovative model of integrating the poultry with horticulture has been termed as horti-poultry model that proved to increase performance of birds with respect to decreased mortality, lower body weight (fat accumulation) that caused increased egg production and lower mortality. Further an additional income of 101850/hectare of land was observed. The model when replicated in fields is expected to be game changer in improving rural income by rearing birds in orchards.