BAU Researchers Develop New 'Rongin Murgi' Breed After 15 Years of Study

Researchers at the Department of Poultry Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), have successfully developed a new color meat-producing chicken breed after 15 years of relentless research. Due to its vibrant feather color, the new breed has been named 'Rongin Murgi' (Colored Chicken).

The final results of the research were presented at a ceremony presided over by Professor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali, Head of the Department of Poultry Science, on Tuesday, June 30. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Dr. A. K. Fazul Haque Bhuiyan, attended the event as the chief guest.

Professor Dr. Mo. Bazlur Rahman Mollya of the Poultry Science Department led the development of this new breed. He stated that the project, funded by the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP), was developed over nearly a decade and a half through the preservation, selection, and hybridization of various parent lines, keeping consumer demand and farmers' profits in mind.

The research prioritized the 'sex-linked white line.' Its homozygosity has now reached 89% to 93.11%, which is crucial for commercial production as a stable breed. Additionally, a simple PCR method has been developed to detect the deletion of the SOX-10 gene, which determines feather color, playing a significant role in future breeding programs.

Professor Dr. Mollya added that some parent lines of this breed can produce up to 205 eggs in 62 weeks. While a day-old chick of the conventional Sonali breed usually weighs 26 to 28 grams, the newly developed hybrid line recorded a chick weight of about 38 grams. Every 1-gram increase in a day-old chick translates to an additional 50 grams of final market weight, ensuring extra profits for poultry farmers. Tests conducted at an advanced laboratory in Dhaka confirmed no antibiotic residues in the meat. The ultimate goal is to establish it as a distinct brand of safe, nutritious, and flavorful meat rather than passing it off as a native (Desi) chicken.

A unique aspect of this project was bypassing traditional training centers to provide direct, hands-on training to cluster-based groups of 15 to 25 rural women farmers. Field results showed that providing technical support and timely vaccinations significantly increased growth rates and reduced mortality. Due to high market demand, farmers are selling this chicken at high prices of up to BDT 700 per kg.

Highlighting the field-level expansion of the innovation, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. K. Fazul Haque Bhuiyan emphasized delivering laboratory technologies directly to the doorsteps of farmers. He also ordered the immediate reopening of the university's closed livestock sales center, stating that all dairy, meat, and poultry products produced from university research will be sold directly to the public at affordable prices through this outlet. The event concluded with the serving of dishes prepared from the newly developed chicken breed to the guests.

//DBTech/AH/IH//