Overview of Growth and Domestication
Scientific Poultry keeping in India was first advocated by Christian Missionaries towards the beginning of the 20th Century A.D.
Organized effort to develop poultry in India was first started in 1957 when the second five year plan (1956-61) was launched.
Hybrid layer strains were introduced into India in 1955 and broiler strains in 1961.
An All India Poultry development Project was initiated by setting up regional poultry farms to acclimatize imported stock.
The period between the II and IV Five-Year plans marked a turning point in the history of the poultry industry in India.
Central Poultry Breeding Farms produced high egg producing strains, and Chandigarh farm evolved fast-growing broiler strains.
Random Sample units conducted egg-laying and broiler quality tests, providing useful information to farmers and breeders.
Central Training Institute for poultry production and management imparted training to State Agricultural and Veterinary University officers.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) sponsored All India coordinated research projects on poultry breeding and nutrition.
National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) handled marketing of egg and poultry meat.
Research projects were conducted in various institutes including Agricultural and Veterinary Universities.
NAFED operated at national and regional levels for the marketing of poultry products.
Historical and Archaeological evidences suggest chickens were domesticated during 5400 B.C.
The term "Poultry" indicates all domesticated species of birds like chicken, ducks, turkeys, Japanese quail, guinea fowls, geese, pigeons, ostrich, emu etc.
Chicken is the most numerous and popular among the domesticated poultry species, accounting for 92 per cent of the total poultry.
Ducks account for 9 per cent of poultry population (FAO, 2008) and are mostly found in coastal states and states with more lakes and rivers.