Upgrading of indigenous chicken with exotic breed is an important way to improve their productivity for the traits of economic interest. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the productivity, profitability and adaptability of two up-graded dwarf chicken populations under smallholder farmers’ condition. A total of 72 birds of third generation (F₃) of Dwarf-Fayoumi (IDC♂ × Fay♀) and Dwarf-Leghorn (IDC♂ × WLH♀) at 12 weeks of age were distributed to 12 farmers nearby three villages (Kewatkhali, Boyra, Sutiakhali) of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Birds were reared at farmers’ house for a period of 16 weeks with same feeding and management practices. Farmers were grouped into two (6 farmers in each group) for allocating IDC♂ × Fay♀ and IDC♂ × WLH♀ upgraded genotypes. Each farmer was given six birds of same genotype. The study revealed that IDC♂× Fay♀ pullets showed earlier sexual maturity (147.50±0.76 days) and lower feed intake (74.55±0.23 g/bird/day) and thus had a better FCR (2.98±0.02) during the experimental period. The corresponding values were found 169.83±1.35 days, 76.07±0.19 g/bird/day and 3.51±0.02, in IDC♂ × WLH♀ genotype. Moreover, among the production traits considered egg mass, hen day egg production, performance efficiency index and egg feed price ratio were found higher among the IDC♂× Fay♀ pullets as 25.07±0.20 g/bird/day, 37.48±0.43%, 21.22±0.95, and 1.175±0.015, respectively. The survivability of IDC♂ × Fay♀ and IDC♂ × WLH♀ upgraded genotypes were 94.4 and 77.7%, respectively during the experimental period. Therefore, it can be concluded that the IDC♂ × Fay♀ pullets were found more productive, profitable and had better adaptability than IDC♂ × WLH♀ pullets under smallholder farmers’ management. The resultant IDC♂ × Fay♀ upgraded chicken could be utilized as mini layer under rural settings of Bangladesh.

Salinity intrusion is one of the major climate-caused problems globally. The present work evaluated the impacts of salinity on the gonadal improvement in striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). The fingerlings of striped catfish (8.63 g) were cultured at three different salinity levels (0, 4, and 8 ppt) for two years. Gonadal development was assessed by gonadosomatic index (GSI) and histological analysis over six months at the end of two years of rearing from April to September. The gonad histological observations and the associated changes in GSI showed that the male and female striped catfish cultured in different salinity conditions could complete testicular and ovarian maturation at 4 and 8 ppt salinity by June and July, as they have grown at 0 ppt salinity. The current findings indicate that despite a slow rate of development, salinity up to 8 ppt showed a positive impact on the gonadal development of striped catfish.