The growth performance of Spirulina platensis was studied in four different concentrations viz. 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 g/l of papaya (Carica papaya) skin powder media (PSPM) and in control, Kosaric Medium (KM) in triplicate. The initial cell weight of S. platensis was 6.0 mg/l which attained a maximum weight of 913.13 mg/l on the 10th day of culture in the control KM followed by 699.07, 612.13, 538.99 and 377.48 mg/l that grown in 0.40, 0.30, 0.50 and 0.60 g/l of PSPM respectively. Similar trend was observed in the case of chlorophyll a content ranging 3.57 to 8.15 mg/l. The specific growth rate (SGR, µ/day) of S. platensis on the basis of cell weight and chlorophyll a content was recorded in the ranges of 0.41 to 0.50 and 0.41 to 0.49, respectively, for all the treatments. The SGR on the basis of cell weight and chlorophyll a was recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher in KM among all the treatments. On the other hand among the four different concentrations of PSPM, 0.40 g/l showed significantly (p<0.05) higher SGR than others. The pH and other physico-chemical factors were within suitable range of algae culture. The cultured microalga was nutritionally rich.

Cocks and pullets from each of 4 genotypes; Redbro (RbRb), Naked neck (NaNa), Redbro dwarf (Rbdw) and Naked neck dwarf (Nadw) were crossed reciprocally for egg production trial. Egg quality (egg weight, egg diameter, egg length, shell thickness, membrane thickness, membrane weight, shell weight, % of shell, yolk color score, albumen diameter, albumen height, yolk diameter and yolk weight) were compared among 4 genotypes. Daily feed intakes, almost related to respected body size were reduced in Rbdw and Nadw hens by 7.41 and 19.89% than in normal sized RbRb hens. The feed conversion and hen day egg production were highest in Rbdw, intermediate in RbRb and Nadw and lowest in NaNa. Naked neck (Na) and dwarf genotypes had favorable effect on egg fertility and hatchability. Parents in both Na and dw inheritance had favorable shell thickness, shell membrane weight (%), albumen height and diameter, yolk height and diameter, albumen weight and albumen weight (%) and yolk weight, while NaNa had highest yolk weight (%). Both egg weight and chick weight percent were highest in RbRb x