Question

The word fowl is used for domestic cock or hen. Which of the following variety/varieties of fowl is/are indigenous one/ones?
(i) Rhode island red
(ii) Aseel
(iii) Plymouth rock
(iv) Leghorn

• A. (i), (ii) and (iii)
• B. Only (ii)
• C. Only (iv)
• D. (i), and (ii)

Answer 1

The correct option is B Only (ii)

The Asil or Aseel is a breed of chicken originating from South Punjab/ Sindh area of Pakistan and India. Similar fowl are found throughout Southeast Asia, such as Shamo and Thai Game. The breed is generally unstandardised in South Asia and India, but popularity has increased in the western world in recent times with the breed standardised in the British, Australian and American standards.
Indigenous fowls are those that, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them.
In a joint effort by the Govt of West Bengal and West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, a programme for in-situ conservation of Haringhata Black and Aseel breeds of indigenous poultry has been initiated for the first time in West Bengal with the financial support being provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt of India.