Kaonayen yet to figure in quinquennial livestock census
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 07 2022:
Though the Breed Registration Committee of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) approved the registration in the year 2015 and even allotted Accession Number as 'Indian Chicken 1200 Kaonayen', locally found Kaonayen breed of chicken is yet to figure in the quinquennial livestock census (LC) .
Earlier, the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare conducted livestock census every five years followed by publication of the report of the 20th livestock survey conducted in the year 2019 by the department of animal husbandry and dairying.
However, Kaonayen (cockfighting breed) is yet to find its place in the latest livestock census.
Head of the department of animal sciences of the college of agriculture of Central Agricultural University professor Dr Th Ranadhir played a key role in carrying out research on Kaonayen and brought attention of this breed of chicken at the national level and registered it as a unique chicken breed.
Kaonayen breed of chicken has specialised character in kicking as the name signifies and even got registration number but effort to popularise and preserve this chicken breed is yet to begin.
Accordingly, forming breeding organisation to start scientific breeding and establish breeding farm will help in conservation and beautification of Kaonayen, observed Dr Ranadhir.
He also said that Kaonayen is still reared in valley districts like Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur and more particularly in Thoubal district.
This chicken breed is also reared in hill districts of the state, he said.
Regarding the origin of Kaonayen, Dr Ranadhir said that most of the Kaonayen rearers have strong belief that it is a cross breed of Meiteiyen and wild chicken originated from the jungle of Burma (now Myanmar) by some football players.
When fully grown, Kaonayen weighs between 2.4 to 3.8 kg and around 3 kg on an average while a female Kaonayen starts laying eggs from five to seven months old and lays 12-15 eggs thrice a year.
On an average, one female Kaonayen lays 35 eggs in a year, he added.
Dr Ranadhir further said that around 56 percent of chicken and ducks being reared domestically are indigenous breeds and livestock rearing in the state is also part of agriculture and allied activities.
Kaonayen is not solely reared for fighting and consumption but is also being reared nowadays for commercial purpose.
A pair of a day-old Kaonayen chick is being sold at Rs 500 and price of one male Kaonayen of one month old is Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000-3,000 when eight months old.
Based on fighting talent, owner could fetch Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000 for one matured male Kaonayen and those interested in Kaonayen have no hesitation in paying such a hefty sum, Dr Ranadhir added.