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Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

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Subject: Poultry Science × Author: ANCY.M × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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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.