Known for its medicinal properties, the endangered poultry bird ‘Kadaknath’ will now be available for the people of Chhattisgarh — thanks to efforts of Kanker-based Agriculture Science Center of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University for discovering ways for natural breeding and artificial hatching of the poultry bird.
The poultry breed ‘Kadaknath’ also known as ‘Kalamans’ is native to Jhabua (MP) and is among the endangered species due to its excessive hunting.Senior officials of the university informed that ‘Kadaknath’ has comparatively more medicinal properties than the birds of other species.
The poultry bird contains 44 per cent of protein while the birds of other species have 18-20 per cent of protein. Besides, ‘Kadaknath’ contains only 1.94 to 2.6 per cent fat while the level of fat in birds of other species range between 13 to 25 per cent.When compared to the level of cholesterol in birth of other species, it will be about 218.12 milligram/100 gram while in ‘Kadaknath’, it remains as low as 59-60 milligram/100 gram.
The officials informed that ‘Kadaknath’ also has prophylactic properties more than the birds of any other species. They added that the climate of Bastar region is ideal for breeding of ‘Kadaknath’ and it will also help to encourage the locals for backyard poultry work.
As per the officials concerned, production of ‘Kadaknath’ will be carried out in Kanker-based Agriculture Science Center while under different schemes of the government, the chickens will be made available to the local livestock owners.