Selection for egg production in native chicken of Kerala for two successive generations

A study was conducted to evaluate the production characteristics of native chicken of Kerala and to improve its egg production through selection. From the base generation (G0) of native chicken, 775 female and 200 male native chicken (G1) were produced through a pedigreed hatch and the pullets were evaluated till 40 weeks of age for their production performance. Based on egg number 40, selection was carried out in the population using Osborne’s index and 300 dams and 50 sires were selected for producing G2 generation through a pedigreed hatch. The pullets were evaluated for their production performance till 40 weeks of age. The egg production traits were evaluated and compared in two successive generations. The native chicken of Kerala had a hen housed production of 69.83 eggs, hen day egg production of 70.72 and survivor’s egg production of 70.97 at 40 weeks of age. Based on the selection for egg number 40 in G1 generation of native chicken, the hen day egg production (4.56 eggs) and survivor’s egg production (5.90 eggs) was significantly (p