CENTRE FOR ANIMAL PRODUCTION STUDIES

Backyard poultry includes rearing of native chicken, turkey and Japanese quail. It may also include all poultry production systems other than commercial egg and broiler chicken production. Backyard poultry systems are now considered as the viable livelihood option for small and marginal farmers.

Peruvidai and Siruvidai are the two popular indigenous chicken eco-types of Tamil Nadu, among which Peruvidai is most popular in western districts of Tamil Nadu for meat production and gaming.

Tamil Nadu is one of the leading state in turkey production in India and turkey meat is getting popular. Turkey can be reared in free range or semi intensive systems especially in rural areas for economic enhancement of landless labourers, marginal and small farmers.

Japanese quail farming is a low cost farming with increasing promise. Quails are more disease resistant and do not require any vaccination as that of chicken. Quail rearing requires less rearing space, less fixed investment, lowered recurring contingencies with assured good return on investment in a short period.

The major constraints faced by the rural farmers are the lack of availability of good quality day-old chicks, availability of feed and other inputs, lack of scientific technologies on proper management of backyard poultry.

Considering the facts, the Backyard Poultry Research and Development Centre was established in 1.70.38 Hectares by Government of Tamil Nadu with a budget outlay of 212 lakhs during the year 2022-2023. The major infrastructures created are

• Administrative building
• Training hall
• Hatchery unit
• Native chicken and Turkey - Brooder cum grower house
• Japanese quail - Brooder, grower and breeder house
• Native chicken breeder house
• Turkey breeder house

The station is established under Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Kuppamettupatti hamlet, Nagampalli Panchayat, Aravakurichi Block and Taluk, Karur District on 29.03.2025 with the following