Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the backcross performance of Sonali chicken along with
two other Sonali derived crossbreds in order to develop a slow growingmeat type bird. In total,
five different experiments were conducted in this regard. Initially, a survey was conducted on
Sonali chicken concentrated areas in Bangladesh especially to know the management aspects of
Sonali chicken as well as to collect information of backcrossing with RIR or with other male and
Sonali female. Most of the farmers replied that backcrossed Sonali were better than only Sonali
due to the advantage of plumage color that influence the market price. Farmers wanted to
purchase good quality day old chick (DOC) or authentic male line for their own farm breeding
purposes. Four male lines (Rhode Island Red, Fayoumi, Aseel and Hilly) and Sonali females
were used as parent stocks to produce four genotypes RIR × Sonali, Aseel × Sonali, Fayoumi x
Sonali, Hilly × Sonali in this research(F1). The second experiment was conducted to investigate
the growth performance and morphological traits offour genotypes that were produced from
foundation stock providing Sonali cockerel feed up to 12 weeks of age. Hilly × Sonali?
crossbred chicken were better performance than RIR × Sonali?, Aseel × Sonali and
Fayoumi Sonalio chicken. Hilly Sonali? was also showed higher variation in all
morphological traits including plumage color, beak and shank color than the other three Sonali
derived genotypes which also influenced more 10-15% on live market price. In 3rd experiment,
6 male birds from each of 4 genotype around 1.2 kg of body weight were slaughtered,
eviscerated and dissected to compare all sorts of meat yield and meat quality characteristics
during 0, 15 and 30 days of storage period. The results showed that there were no significant
differences among the genotypes on meat yield, proximate, physio-chemical and biochemical
characteristics of backcrossed Sonali chicken compared to Aseel × Sonali? and Hilly x
Sonali crossbreds. Drip loss, cooking loss, pH and CP% decreased, while DM%, EE%, ash%,
peroxide value, free fatty acid value, thiobarbituric acid value increased with the increasing of
storage time. Experiment-4 was conducted to compare the meat yield characteristics and meat
quality parameters among broiler, Hilly× Sonali? crossbred and indigenous chicken around
1.0 kg body weight during 0, 15 and 30 days of storage period stored at -18°C. A total of 6 male
and 6 female birds of each type of chicken approximately 1.0 kg live weight were slaughtered,
eviscerated and dissected. In both male and female birds, the shank, neck, carcass yield, dressed
weight, breast meat and breast bone weight were significantly (p<0.05) higher in commercial
broiler while wing meat and thigh meat were higher in Hilly x Sonali? crossbred. This finding
seems good in terms of meat quality.The DM% and CP% were significantly higher in
indigenous chicken while drip loss, cooking loss, EE%, ash%, peroxide value, free fatty acid
value and thiobarbituric acid value were found significantly higher in commercial broiler
during different storage time in both sexes. In experiment-5, a feeding trial was conducted with
Hillyd x Sonali crossbred chicken providing four different rations with varying energyprotein levels up to 12 weeks of age. The rations were T1: low energy and low protein (ME
2821.20 kcal/kg and CP 18.08%), T2: low energy and high protein (ME 2819.20 kcal/kg and CP
20.09%), T3: high energy and low protein (ME 2915.18 kcal/kg and CP 18.12%) and T4: high
energy and high protein (ME 2912.01 kcal/kg and CP 20.16%). On the basis of growth and FCR,
the highest performance was found with T2 containing low energy and high protein. On the
other hand, in terms of cost-benefit return, T₁ ration containing low energy and low protein and
T₂ containing low energy and high protein were occupied first and second position, respectively
in the feeding trial. So, on the basis of growth, meat yield and cost effectiveness either T1 or T2
were found better than other rations for Hilly × Sonali? crossbred chicken. It might be
concluded that the Hilly × Sonali? crossbred genotype could be a better option than Sonali
chicken for increased meat production potentiality in Bangladesh. Hilly x Sonali? should be
replaced by Sonali to increase meat production potential.