Faisalabad’s University of Agriculture has achieved a major milestone by developing a new breed of chicken that can lay over 200 eggs a year and is more resilient to climate change.
This breakthrough, named ‘Uni-Gold’, is the result of extensive research by scientists in the Department of Animal Husbandry.
According to researchers, Uni-Gold hens have a significantly higher egg production rate compared to traditional desi chickens, which typically produce only 70 to 80 eggs annually.
The new breed is also more feed-efficient and can better tolerate extreme weather, particularly heat, making it suitable for the country’s rural poultry sector. “One of the key features of Uni-Gold is that it lays over 200 eggs per year, unlike local hens which produce far less,” said a scientist involved in the project.
“It also requires less feed, helping it resist heat stress and making it more adaptable to Pakistan’s environmental conditions.” This is the first time in 65 years that Pakistan has successfully developed a native chicken breed with such traits.
Experts say Uni-Gold is ideal for rural poultry farming as it fulfills both egg and meat requirements, offering a promising solution for food security. Plans are already in motion to distribute the Uni-Gold breed to farmers across the country, aiming to boost rural livelihoods and poultry production.
