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20183
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Subject: Poultry Science × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    COMPARISON OF PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF KUTTANAD, WHITE PEKIN DUCKS AND THEIR CROSSES FOR MEAT PURPOSE
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR, 2018) ANCY.M; P. Anitha
    An experiment was carried out at Department of Poultry Science, Mannuthy to compare the production performance of Kuttanad, White Pekin ducks and their reciprocal crosses for meat purpose for a period of 12 weeks of age. Experimental ducks were produced using male and female parents of Kuttanad and White Pekin ducks maintained at University Poultry and Duck Farm, Mannuthy. The experiment was carried out with a total of 192, day-old ducklings of Kuttanad, White Pekin and their crosses which formed the treatment groups T1 (KxK), T2 (PxP), T3 (PxK) and T4 (KxP). Forty-eight, day-old ducklings from each treatment group were divided into four replicate of twelve birds each. All the ducklings were reared on slat system under uniform conditions of management. Birds were fed with ad libitum standard broiler starter ration as per BIS (2007). Data on mean body weight at fortnightly intervals, body weight gain, cumulative body weight gain, mean daily feed consumption, cumulative feed consumption, mean feed conversion ratio (FCR) at fortnightly intervals, cumulative FCR, processing yield and losses at eight, ten and twelve weeks of age, livability and economics of production were used to compare the production performance of treatment groups. The mean body weight of ducks was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Pekin (PxP), intermediate in crossbreds (PxK and KxP) and lower in Kuttanad (KxK) groups in all the fortnight periods. Mean daily feed consumption of ducks was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Pekin (PxP), intermediate in crossbreds (PxK and KxP) and lower in Kuttanad (KxK) groups in all the fortnight periods. Significantly (p<0.05) better FCR values were shown by White Pekin and the crossbred ducks than the Kuttanad ducks. The plumage pattern of the ducklings in Kuttanad group and crossbred groups were almost similar up to first week of age. From the second week onwards, a white colour patch on neck region was noticeable in some birds of crossbred groups which became more evident from fourth and sixth week onwards. Some crossbred ducks were having similar plumage pattern as that of Kuttanad ducks. Kuttanad ducks were having a brownish black plumage pattern. Two ducklings from each replicate were randomly selected and slaughtered humanely to study the carcass characteristics at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age. Pre-slaughter weight and dressed weight during eight, ten and twelve weeks of age were significantly (p<0.05) higher for White Pekin ducks than all other groups. On calculation of techno economics, net profit/kg body weight obtained was highest at eighth week of age. Based on the findings on growth performance in terms of feed conversion ratio of ducks, both crossbred groups were found to be equally good with their parent pure breeds. At the same time, these birds showed significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight than indigenous Kuttanad ducks, but almost similar body weight with that of meat type Pekin ducks. The net profit per bird and per kilogram body weight was highest in Pekin ducks, intermediate in crossbreds and lowest in Kuttanad ducks. Among the different age groups, net profit was found to be maximum at eight weeks in all treatment groups. There was no considerable increase in body weight gain of ducks in all four genetic groups after eight weeks of age which indicate that rearing ducks for meat purpose beyond eight weeks of age is not economical. Based on the overall performance of ducks belonging to different genetic groups evaluated in this study and consumer preference for duck meat in Kerala it could be concluded that the crossbreds between White Pekin and Kuttanad ducks are more suitable for meat purpose up to eight weeks of age.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    STANDARDISATION OF FINISHER RATION FOR GRAMASREE COCKERELS FOR MEAT PURPOSE
    (COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR, 2018) SHINDE VAIBHAV JYOTIRAM; P. Anitha
    An experiment was carried out to standardise the finisher ration for Gramasree cockerels for meat purpose. Three hundred and thirty-six, Gramasree male birds of six weeks age were procured from University Poultry and Duck Farm, Mannuthy and allotted to six dietary treatments having four replicates of 14 birds each and the experiment was conducted from seven to fourteen weeks of age. The six dietary treatment comprised of two levels of metabolizable energy and three levels of crude protein in a factorial design. The dietary treatment T1, T2 and T3 were 20:3000, 19:3000 and 18:3000, respectively and T4, T5 and T6 were 20:3200, 19:3200 and 18:3200, respectively. The growth parameters were studied from seven to fourteen weeks of age and slaughter studies were carried out at the end of 10th, 12th and 14th weeks of age using two birds from each replicate. The results revealed that the mean body weight at fortnightly intervals was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T1 and T2 group at 14 weeks of age. The difference in mean cumulative body weight gain was not significant at different periods among the treatments. The effect of energy on cumulative body weight gain was significant at seven to ten and seven to twelve weeks period but effect of protein and their interaction did not influence the cumulative body weight gain. The mean cumulative feed consumption of birds was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T3 group during seven to ten weeks period while it was significantly (p<0.05) higher in T1, T2 and T3 group during seven to twelve weeks period. The individual effect of energy showed significantly (p<0.05) higher feed consumption in birds fed with diet containing 3000 kcal/kg ME compared to 3200 kcal/kg ME at seven to twelve and seven to fourteen weeks period. The effect of protein on cumulative feed consumption showed that it was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 18 per cent CP group than 20 per cent CP group. The effect of energy and protein on mean cumulative FCR was significant (p<0.05), but not their interactions. The effect of energy, protein and their interaction on eviscerated yield and ready-tocook yields was significant at 10, 12 and 14 weeks of age. Effect of energy on abdominal fat per cent was significant at 12 and 14 weeks of age, but the effect of protein and interaction was not significant. The mean cumulative livability from seven to fourteen weeks ranged from 98.93 to 100 per cent among treatment groups. With respect to economics of cockerel rearing up to 10, 12 and 14 weeks period, the highest net profit per kilogram live weight was obtained with T1 (20% CP with 3000 kcal/kg ME) and T2 (19% CP with 3000 kcal/kg ME) groups compared to other treatments groups. Among the three periods cockerel rearing was found to be more profitable up to 10 weeks of age, thereafter profit was reduced due to the decline in body weight gain and poor FCR. Based on the overall performance of cockerels and the findings on the economical parameters assessed, it could be concluded that finisher diet with 19 per cent CP and 3000 kcal/kg ME is found to be optimum for Gramasree cockerel rearing for meat purpose. This study also reveals that the age of introduction of finisher ration may be fixed at eight weeks instead of six weeks for rearing Gramasree cockerels for meat purpose. If consumer preference is for birds with higher body weight at slaughter, then rearing of Gramasree cockerels can be extended further.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INFLUENCE OF SEQUENTIAL FEEDING ON EGG PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF ATHULYA LAYER CHICKEN
    (College of Veterinary and animal Science,Mannuthy, 2018) SREEVEEN E.N.; Binoj Chacko
    An experiment was conducted in AICRP on Poultry for Eggs, Mannuthy to evaluate the influence of sequential feeding on egg production performance of Athulya layer chicken. At the end of 16th week of age 75 birds were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with three treatments each having five replicates of five birds each. In the first treatment (T1 - control) birds were fed complete layer diet. In the second treatment (T2 - sequential feeding) birds were fed coarsely ground maize in the morning and balancer diet in the afternoon. In third treatment (T3 - loose mix) birds were given coarse maize combined with balancer diet. In all the treatments half of the diet was distributed in the morning at 6.00 a.m. and other half in the afternoon at 1.00 p.m. The overall feed consumption per bird per day was found to be significantly (p<0.05) lower in sequential feeding when compared with that was observed with loose mix and control. The overall hen day and hen housed egg per cent in sequential feeding was similar to that of control but significantly (p<0.05) lower to that of loose mix. The mean body weight of birds was lower in sequential feeding compared to loose mix and control during the entire experimental period. Overall body weight gain was significantly (p<0.01) lower in sequential feeding compared to loose mix and control. Feed efficiency, egg weight, livability per cent and egg quality parameters such as shape index, Haugh unit and albumen index were similar among treatment groups. The overall shell thickness of eggs was found to be significantly higher (p<0.01) in sequential feeding compared to loose mix and control. Per cent gizzard, liver and giblet weight were found to be significantly (p<0.01) higher in sequential feeding compared to other groups. Significantly (p<0.01) lower abdominal fat per cent was noticed in sequential feeding compared to other treatment groups. Feed cost per egg was highest in control group followed by sequential feeding and loose mix. In general in the present study, sequential feeding resulted in improvement in egg shell thickness of Athulya layer chicken. Egg weight, feed efficiency, livability, and egg quality parameters were not affected by sequential feeding. However, feed intake, egg production and body weight gain were negatively affected.