Animal protein is essential for a healthy, capable nation, and 40 to 45 per cent of Bangladesh's animal protein comes from poultry. But more than half of chicken meat comes from commercial broilers, which are not a local breed.

The Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) has used local germplasm to develop a high-meat chicken breed whose meat tastes like local chicken, with much faster growth and higher weight. Named the Multi Colour Table Chicken (MCTC), it suits local weather and averages about one kilogram in just eight weeks. It resists disease and grows fast, and commercial production has begun with the hoped-for results.

Day-old chicks have light yellow to yellowish, black or grey feathers that later turn mixed-coloured like local chickens. The comb is single and deep red, the skin whitish and the neck feathers normal.

At eight weeks, birds average 975 grams to one kilogram, eating 2.2 to 2.4 kg of feed. Mortality is very low, at most 1.5 per cent in BLRI trials. One batch of 1,000 birds raised for eight weeks can earn 45,000 to 60,000 taka, and four batches a year 180,000 to 260,000 taka. Because the taste and feathers resemble local chickens, farmers get more than for Sonali or other cockerels.

Commercial chick production began in June 2020 and is spreading to farms nationwide, which should give small farmers cheaper high-meat chicks, reduce import dependence and help stabilise chick and meat prices.

BLRI chief scientific officer Dr Md Rakibul Hasan said research on MCTC began in 2014. After trials with small farmers, BLRI began commercial production with Aftab Bahumukhi Farms, which now hatches 10,000 to 12,000 chicks a week, and many other companies have applied. The birds suit rural conditions, have good feed conversion and lower heat mortality; farmers sold them at 240 to 260 taka a kilogram when markets were normal.

BLRI Director General Dr Abdul Jalil said BLRI is supplying eggs to the Department of Livestock Services for four government farms in Jashore, Savar, Barishal and Chattogram, which will hatch chicks for farmers. The birds reach one kilogram in just 56 days; the price will be a little higher than broilers but the taste like local chicken. Chicks are available at the Savar farm, and the birds would reach markets from 2022.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.