This comprehensive book serves as a complete guide to the poultry industry, focusing on its development, management practices, and integration into rural and commercial ecosystems. Covering a wide array of topics, the book explores poultry breeds, breeding techniques, housing, feeding, and rearing systems, alongside brooding, health care, and bio-security measures. Special attention is given to Indian native poultry breeds and their role in rural livelihoods, improved backyard poultry systems, and the importance of organic and hill poultry farming. The text also delves into essential aspects such as egg structure, incubation, hatchery operations, and waste management, offering practical insights for sustainable poultry farming. Furthermore, it addresses integration strategies in commercial production, contract farming, and marketing of poultry products, while including guidance on managing other avian species. With its focus on water quality, health management, and the role of poultry in mixed and integrated farming systems, this book is an invaluable resource for students, professionals, and poultry enthusiasts aiming to enhance their knowledge and practices in poultry production.

Rafiqul Islam: Presently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Poultry Science, CVSc., AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati. Dr. Islam did his Master’s and doctoral in the discipline of poultry from College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022 during the year 2001 and 2020 respectively. He has been actively engaged for more than 13 years in teaching, research and extension. He has been also acting as major guide of post-graduate students of poultry science and other departments. He has been acting as a Co-PI of three projects, one of which is “ICAR-AICRP on Poultry Breeding”. He has published more than 70 research papers in national and international journals, 2 book chapters, 10 popular articles and several research abstracts.

Arfan Ali: Presently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, CVSc., AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati. Dr. Ali did his Master’s and doctoral in the discipline of Veterinary Microbiology from College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022 during the year 2001 and 2022 respectively. He has been actively engaged in teaching, research and extension for more than 16 years. He has been also acting as major guide of post-graduate students of Veterinary Microbiology and other departments. He has published more than 30 research papers in national and international journals, 2 book chapters, 25 popular articles and several research abstracts.

Mihir Sarma: Presently working as Scientist (Poultry Science) in the Directorate of Research (Veterinary), AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati. Dr. Sarma did his Master’s and doctoral in the discipline of Poultry Science from College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022 during the year 1999 and 2018 respectively. He has been actively engaged in teaching, research and extension for than 13 years. He has been also acting as major guide of post-graduate students of Poultry Science and other departments. He has published more than 25 research papers in national and international journals, 2 books, 5 book chapters and 18 popular articles and several research abstracts.

Mustafizur Rahman: Presently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying. Dr. Rahman did his Master’s and doctoral in the discipline of Livestock Production and Management from College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022 during the year 2007 and 2014 respectively. He has been actively engaged in teaching, research and extension for than 8 years. He has published more than 15 research papers in national and international journals, 1 book chapters and 3 popular articles and several research abstracts.

Ashim Kumar Saikia: Presently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Animal Nutrition. Dr. Saikia did his Master’s and doctoral in the discipline of Animal Nutrition from College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati- 781022 during the year 2000 and 2019 respectively. He has been actively engaged in teaching, research and extension for than 13 years. He has published more than 25 research papers in national and international journals, 2 books, 5 book chapters and 18 popular articles and several research abstracts.

Pankaj Deka: Presently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology. Dr. Deka did his Master’s and doctoral in the discipline of Veterinary Microbiology from College of Veterinary Science, AAU, Khanapara, Guwahati-781022 during the year 2001 and 2022 respectively. He has been actively engaged in teaching, research and extension for than 13 years. He has been also acting as major guide of post-graduate students of Veterinary Microbilogy and other departments. He has published more than 75 research papers in national and international journals, 2 books, 3 book chapters and 23 popular articles and several research abstracts.

1. Introduction to Poultry Industry and Its Development in India - Rafiqul Islam and Arfan Ali

2. Poultry Breeds, Their Standards and Performances  - Arfan Ali and Rafiqul Islam

3. Breeding of Poultry, Judging and Culling in Poultry - Arfan Ali and Ashim Kumar Saikia

4. Indian Native Poultry Breeds and Their Importance in Rural India - Mustafizur Rahman and Rafiqul Islam 

5. Improved Backyard Poultry and Their Importance in Rural Eco-System - Rafiqul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman

6. Different Rearing System of Poultry and Their Merits and Demerits - Mihir Sarma and Arfan Ali

7. Poultry Housing and its Layout - Mihir Sarma and Rafiqul Islam

8. Brooding Management in Poultry - Mihir Sarma and Rafiqul Islam

9. Care and Management of Broilers and Layers - Mihir Sarma and  Rafiqul Islam

10. Breeder Flock Management - Rafiqul Islam and Mihir Sarma

11. Feeds and Feeding Management in Poultry - Ashim Kumar Saikia and Rafiqul Islam

12. Egg Structure- Physical and Chemical Composition - Rafiqul Islam and Mihir Sarma

13. Incubation and Hatchery Operation - Rafiqul Islam and Ashim Kumar Saikia

14. Poultry Wastes and Its Management - Pankaj Deka and Mihir Sarma

15. Management of Health Care, Medication and Bio-Security Measures - Pankaj Deka and Arfan Ali

16. Organic and Hill Poultry Farming - Rafiqul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman

17. Poultry Based Mixed and Integrated Farming - Mihir Sarma and Rafiqul Islam

18. Integration in Commercial Poultry Production Contract Farming - Mustafizur Rahman and Ashim Kumar Saikia

19. Other Avian Species and Their Management - Rafiqul Islam

20. Marketing of Poultry and Poultry Products - Rafiqul Islam and Mihir Sarma

21. Water Quality and Its Management in Poultry Production - Pankaj Deka and Rafiqul Islam

Index