"Tokbari" - A new and improved backyard chicken crossbreed
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Tripura, a landlocked state in northeastern India, is reliant on livestock and poultry production. The state's poultry sector is characterized by a significant presence of native breeds such as the Tripura Black, Tripura Brown and Chittagong chicken. However, productivity levels of these indigenous breeds have been relatively low. To address this, the ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tripura Centre, has developed the Tokbari chicken—a hybrid aimed at enhancing poultry productivity in rural settings. Developed through crossbreeding, it is a dual-purpose, multi-colored breed with a genetic composition of 25% Coloured Broiler, 25% Tripura Black, and 50% Dahlem Red. It has been tailored to thrive in the region's tropical climate. Tokbari chickens are medium-sized, hardy, and well-adapted to free-range systems. They exhibit high productivity, with egg production of 130-170 eggs annually and a body weight of 2.5-3 kg. The breed is known for its good scavenging ability, immunity, and disease resistance. Mortality rates are also usually low. Tokbari chickens contribute significantly to local food security, offering increased income opportunities for small-scale farmers. The breed combines the hardiness of native chickens with superior egg-laying and meat-producing capabilities, promoting sustainable farming and improving livelihoods in northeastern India. Keywords: Crossbreeding, dual-purpose breed, native, sustainable farming, Tokbari, Tripura. Introduction: Tripura, the third-smallest state of India with an area of 10,491.69 sq. km, is a landlocked hilly state in the northeastern region bordered by Bangladesh on three sides. Livestock and poultry farming constitutes a major contributor to the rural economy and farmers’ livelihood of the state (Debbarma et al., 2021). Among the animal genetic resources of Tripura, Mali pig and Chittagong chicken have been recognized by ICAR-NBAGR, while Tokbari has been developed recently as a promising dual-purpose chicken variety for rural poultry production. Tokbari is a dual-type, multi-colored hybrid chicken variety developed for rural poultry production. This variety is suitable for rural settings, likely offering advantages in terms of adaptability and productivity for small-scale farmers. The development of such breeds is part of broader efforts to enhance poultry production in specific regions, including Tripura, by providing location-specific solutions that can thrive in local conditions
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7160997269
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