Approximately 110 million birds from nineteen documented indigenous, heavier and lighter bodied chicken breeds and numerous non-descript types are bought and sold at unorganized meat markets in India. Improving the economic production profile for poultry farmers had been a focus since independence. Genetic improvements by selection over seven generations in non-descript chicken breeds has resulted in 19 more eggs and 4 g higher egg weight. Indigenous exotic crossbreds have shown an increase of 24-45 eggs, which has been associated with increased body weight and earlier age of sexual maturity. Heterosis for egg number ranged from 15-23 percent. Hybrids of the Aseel and Delhem Red breeds produced more eggs than either of the parents. Exotic crossbreds, including the Vanraja, Giriraja, Nadanum, Kuroiler (semi-broiler types) and Krishna-J, Grampriya, Krishipriya, Hit-CARI, Up-CARI (lighter weight) were introduced to scavenging in small scale poultry operations by both public and private sector organisations. The production of the Kalyani-DK and Satpura-Desi synthetic hybrid prototypes, which resemble indigenous fowl in body conformation, multi coloured plumage, dull shanks, pink skin and single comb have generated new opportunities for poultry production in rural areas. The Satpura-Desi attained 1.0 kg bodyweight in 8-9 weeks with 2.45 kg feed. In the ‘quick return’ scheme for free range flocks the 200-300 g birds grew to marketable weight in another 50-60 days and were worth 150% in market price compared to the broiler chicken. Whereas, in a gradual income scheme, the egg produced, surplus cockerels and culled hens resulted in a net gain of US$64-70 annually; the quick return scheme for meat chicken produced a net income of US$96 for village women which exceeded the gradual financial returns generated from egg production. Small scale poultry farmers, raising 100-2000 Satpura-Desi chickens, have been able to capitalize on its acceptance as an indigenous breed in the local meat markets, which has been apparent from the sale of 0.67 million chicks in last 12 months.
