Aseel chicken farming in Pudukkottai district: Rearing practices, challenges, and market dynamics

The poultry sector in India operates under two major systems: commercial and traditional backyard poultry farming. Backyard poultry, particularly the rearing of indigenous breeds like Aseel chicken, plays a crucial role in rural livelihoods by providing nutrition and supplementary income. This study examines the rearing, feeding, and marketing practices of Aseel chicken in Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu. Data were collected from 60 farmers across 10 villages using a structured questionnaire, and analyzed using descriptive statistics with SPSS (2019). The study revealed that 55% of farmers relied on bore well water for poultry, while 71.67% did not follow disinfection practices. Vaccination adherence was low, with only 25% of farmers vaccinating their flocks. Mortality was primarily attributed to a combination of predators, heat stress, climatic changes, and diseases (48.33%), followed by predation alone (26.67%). Marketing trends indicated that 55% of farmers sold birds directly to consumers and local markets, while 25% used middlemen. Sale prices ranged between Rs. 250 to Rs. 400 per kg live weight, with higher rates through middlemen. The findings highlight key challenges in Aseel poultry farming, including poor disease management, high mortality, and limited market access. Addressing these constraints through improved vaccination, biosecurity measures, and organized market linkages can enhance the sustainability and profitability of backyard poultry farming in rural India.