Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Poultry farming utilizes cross-breeding programmes between Indian (indigenous) and foreign (exotic) breeds to develop new varieties. The primary objective of variety improvement is to produce birds that are efficient, resilient, and commercially viable.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Increasing the number and quality of chicks is a fundamental goal of variety improvement to ensure higher productivity and better survival rates.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Dwarf broiler parents are desirable for commercial chick production. Smaller parents consume less feed and require fewer resources for maintenance, yet they can produce commercial broiler chicks, thereby reducing the overall cost of production.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Poultry birds require high tolerance to high temperature (summer adaptation capacity) to survive and maintain productivity in tropical climates. Low tolerance would lead to high mortality and stress.
- Statement 4 is Incorrect: Low maintenance requirements are desirable to minimize labor, housing, and nutritional costs. High maintenance requirements would make the poultry farming operation less economically viable.
Key Takeaway: Variety improvement in poultry focuses on reducing production costs (dwarf parents, low maintenance) while maximizing yield (quantity/quality of chicks) and environmental resilience (heat tolerance).