PROGRAMME

The poultry development programme aims at increasing the egg production in the state. For increasing poultry meat production in the state, maximum stress is laid on the broiler production.

For the supply of day old chicks to the poultry farmers, the Animal Husbandry Department had set up 5 poultry breeding farms at Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kot kapura, Malerkotla and Patiala. These farms continued working up to the year 1996-97. Keeping in view quantum of work handled by these farms and the financial implications, the Govt. decided to close down these farms in a phased manner from 1996-97 onwards. Up to the year1999-2000 ,4 farms were closed down and only one farm at Patiala remained working . From the year 2003-04, Turkey Pilot Project was launched at Govt. Poultry Farm, Patiala with 200 turkey poults. These poults were reared upto 6-8 weeks of age and then supplied to the farmers as a back yard venture.

During the year under report, 2180 turkey poults were received from at Govt. Poultry Farm, Patiala after procuring from CARI, Izzat Nagar, Bareilly, ( U. P. ) Out of which , 1863 Turkey poults were supplied to the backyard poultry. As against, 3390 and 3890 turkey poults were supplied during the year 2005-06 and 2006-07 to the farmers. 317 deaths reported in the flock during the year under report . Hence the stock as on 31.3.08 was nil.

During the year 2007-08, 1350 low-in-put birds were reared at Govt. Poultry Farm for breeding purposes.

INCOME

Name of the Farm	Income ( In lacs Rs. )
Years	2007-08	2006-07	2005-06
Patiala	2.09	4.25	3.63

POULTRY DISEASE DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY

A Poultry disease diagnostic laboratory is functioning at Jalandhar. The summary of work done by the laboratory during three years is given as under :

Classification	Work Done
	2007-08	2006-07	2005-06
No. of birds tested for Pullorum disease ¯
At Govt. farms	Nil	Nil	NIL
At Pvt. farms	1550	2077	3055
Total	1550	2077	3055
No. of postmortems performed ¯
At Govt. farms	Nil	Nil	NIL
At Pvt. farms	2196	2058	2032
Total	2196	2058	2032
No.of samples received	616	1086	1195
No.ofsamples analysed	616	1060	1195
No. of samples remained	Nil	26	Nil

POULTRY SERVICE CENTRES

In order to provide extension service to poultry breeders / farmers, 58 Poultry Service Centres are functioning in the state. The work done at these centres during the three years is given as under:-

Classification	Work Done
	2007-08	2006-07	2005-06
No. of farmers training camps Organized	118	137	146
No. of farmers trained	2349	2292	2872
No. of Birds Vaccinated	11993765	12828238	12931501
NO of Birds de-beaked	1439642	1435450	1592023

Besides the above services shown in the table, the following Extension services were also provided from these poultry service centers at farmers doorstep.

1. Maintenance of strict bio security measures at the farms.

2. Feed formulation for different age groups.

3. Strict sanitation / hygeinic conditions at the farms.

4. Maintenance of good managemental practices at the farms to get better production and minimizing the stress on the birds.

5. Taking samples of blood/serum and morbid material with the help of local veterinary officer for surveillance of Avian Influenza (Bird flu)

Turkey Farming

Turkey farming can provide a new concept to the poultry farmers engaged in broiler production. Turkey is a meat type bird as egg production of this species is very low. Turkey is a bird associated with Christmas and thanks giving among the Christian Population. Turkey bird is easy to raise, does not require any special attention, is hardy and is less prone to diseases as compared to chicken. Turkey is completely resistant to Merek’s disease and I.B. Turkey can also be reared in free range or semi intensive system with minimum investment for housing, equipments and management . So Turkey farming offers good scope and potential. It also provide supplementary income to the rural persons.

Commercial Turkey farming is mainly concentrated in USA, Europe, Israel, Iran and to a lesser extent in Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. In India Broad Breasted Large White and Beltsville Small White breeds of Turkey are popular for meat production and has been maintained at Central Poultry Breeding Farm,, Bangalore and Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar. Turkey meat is of high nutritional value as it is a rich source of animal protein containing all essential amino acids required in human diet. Turkey meat contains high protein and is low in fat and cholesterol than chicken and duck meat.

Nutritive Value of Turkey, Chicken and Duck Meat

Nutrients	Turkey Meat	Chicken,Broiler Meat	Duck Meat
Protein % age	21.81	21.64	18.30
Fat %age	2.57	2.98	6.00
Cholesterol(mg.%)	68	75	76

Turkey farming has been introduced by the Animal Husbandry Department Punjab as a step of diversification from poultry farming in the State. A pilot project with 200 Turkey Poults procured from Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar was launched at Govt. Poultry Farm Patiala in Nov. 2003. These Turkey Poults were reared at Poultry Farm, Patiala and distributed to 20 interested beneficiaries of District Ropar, Patiala & Fatehgarh Sahib as a unit of 10 birds each of 8 week of age and twenty families were benefited with the successful rearing and marketing of these turkey birds upto the age of 20 weeks. Keeping in view the response & demand of the farmers, the Department had placed demand for supply of 3800 turkey poults of 2 weeks age from Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar. Till date about 3500 Turkey Poults has been distributed to the interested farmers for Backyard Turkey Rearing of 10-15 turkey birds and Districts covered under the programme are Patiala, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Faridkot, Moga and Katakpura block.

Rotary Club Shivalik, Chandigarh has adopted Parch Village of District Ropar for Turkey Farming . Department has imparted training to the interested persons for backyard turkey rearing. About 100 birds were supplied in the village during the year 2004 and 45 more turkey birds have been supplied during January 2005. Further, about 100 birds will be supplied in the month of May,2005.

The programme of Turkey Farming will be further strengthened in the State by starting hatching of turkey eggs at poultry farm Patiala.

TURKEY POULTS

RABBIT FARMING

RABBIT BREEDING FARM DHAR, DISTRICT GURDASPUR

The main meat production species of live stock are sheep, goats and pigs. The population of these species is continuously decreasing. In this context poultry meat is the only alternative left for meat eating population. In addition to this rabbit farming is also a successful occupation for meat    production. Animal Husbandry   Department has taken

a venture    by    setting up a   rabbit    breeding farm at Dhar, district Gurdaspur during

the year 1994-95. In addition to meat production, rabbits could also be used for the production of fine quality of wool and can be reared as a pet animal.

                      During the year 1996-97, in the month of October, 100 German Angora rabbits ( 80 males & 20 females ) were imported from abroad.

                        The   strength of this herd as it stood on 31-3-08, was 265 rabbits ( 67 males, 61 females, 91 kits and 46 weaners) corresponding figures for the year 2006-07 was 265 rabbits ( 67 males, 61 females, 91 kits, & 46 weaners) and for the year 2005-06 was 450 rabbits (62 males, 46 females, 122 kits, 80 bunnies and 140 frayers) .

                     During the year under report, 76 kits were born and 123 deaths were reported .The main reason of the deaths mentioned as routine and not due to any disease 40 rabbits were supplied to Punjab Veterinary Vaccine Institute, Ludhiana during the year under report.

INCOME

                        The income from the sale of surplus fodder,and sale of rabbits, wool and

from manure etc. for last three years is given as under.

    Year

Income from the sale of(in Rupees)

Total

Fodder

Rabbits

Wool

Misc.

2007-08

3500

2250

30195

-

39945

2006-07

4000

3150

54834

0

61984

2005-06

4000

10800

Nil

7015

21815