Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) has developed a local variety of chicken "BLRI Layer Strain 1" ushering in a new hope in the country to reduce dependence on import of layer chicken to meet the demand of protein.

The BLRI through its efforts for the last 12 years has innovated the new species.

The new species can lay egg within 19 weeks and its annual laying capacity of eggs is around 280-295. The chicken has disease resistance power and also immunization capacity to survive in local environment BLRI officials told.