COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON THE SKIN AND FEATHERS OF BROILER AND LAYER DUCKS
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Date
2018
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES-MANNUTHY,THRISSUR
Abstract
Comparative studies on the skin and feathers of broiler Vigova Super-M ducks of
six to eight weeks of age and spent Kuttanad ducks above 40 weeks of age were
conducted using 24 birds comprising of six males and females in each group.
Histomorphology of skin and morphological, physical, chemical, spectroscopic and
scanning electron microscopic peculiarities and radiolucency of feathers were compared.
Skin samples of all the four groups of birds were collected from eight representative
areas of the body viz., dorsal neck, alar, dorsal abdomen, ventral abdomen, pelvic, dorsal
wing, ventral wing and lateral thigh regions. Standard procedures were adopted for
histoarchitectural and histochemical studies. Total skin thickness was more in Kuttanad
ducks than broiler ducks. Skin was thicker on the ventral surface of the body and was
slightly thicker in male birds. Maximum thickness was recorded in ventral abdominal
region. Epidermis was very thin and formed of two layers, stratum germinativum and
stratum corneum. Dermis comprised three layers viz., stratum superficiale, stratum
profundum (containing stratum compactum and stratum laxum) and lamina elastica.
Stratum laxum was the thickest layer of skin in all groups and all regions under study.
Feathers were implanted in the skin in feather follicles and always lay in the
epidermis and dermis. Feather had an outer epidermis and inner dermis. The epidermis
of the feather was found adjacent to the epidermis of the follicle with an outer layer of
sheath cells called feather sheath. Several layers of intermediate cells and inner
cylindrical cell layer surrounded the dermal pulp. Attached to the feather follicle were the
smooth muscles known as arrectores plumorum muscles which ran in different
directions. Herbst corpuscles were exclusivelyfound adjacent to the feather follicles in
close association with these muscles. The subcutis was characterized by numerous blood
vessels andadipose tissue. The moisture content was found to be more in the skin of
broilers than layer group and fat percentage was more in layer skin than broiler skin.
Hydroxyproline and collagen contents were more in the skin of layer ducks than in
broiler ducks.
Wing feathers showed a shaft, which was divided into upper rachis and lower
calamus. To the rachis was attached the barbs, and the barbules were in turn attached to
the barbs. Average length of barbs in broiler and Kuttanad ducks in the right side of
right wing feather was 2.32±0.10 cm and 1.83±0.07 cm, respectively and duck feather
rachis and barbs are found to be suitable for spinning into thread, can be used for
weaving clothing, preparing slab or mat after mixing with other synthetic materials.The
average diameter of barbs was 0.06±0.004 mm which falls under spinnable diameter
range which is suitable for textile application. The diameter and spacing of barbs played
major role in the water repellence property of feathers. Aspect ratio of barbs of duck
feathers was in the desired range to be used in textile manufacturing. The percentage
contribution of total feathers to the body weight was maximum in female broiler duck
(5.47±0.26%). Rachis and barb fractions contributed equally to the weight of a single
feather. The fineness of barbs showed almost similar valuesamong the groups.The
relative density of whole feather fractions in ducks was 0.65±0.01g/cm3
. The moisture
regaining capacity of barb fraction of broiler and Kuttanad ducks was the highest
followed by whole feather fraction and was minimum for the rachis.
SEM studies showed hollow cells on cross section of barbs measuring maximum
diameter of 13.11µm in broiler ducks and 19.23µm in Kuttanad ducks and spacing
between two adjacent barbules was maximum in Kuttanad ducks. Proximate analysis of
feather of both groups showed similar composition. Elemental analysis showed equal
amount of sulphur in broiler and Kuttanad duck feather barbs. Amino acid analysis
revealed higher percentage of hydrophobic amino acids when compared to hydrophilic
amino acids and a high content of serine in both the groups. FTIR-ATR studies indicated
the presence of amide and carboxylic groups confirming the proteinaceous nature of
material. X-ray diffractogram showed semicrystalline nature of the feather. Wing
feathers of female birds showed more radio-opacity than males. Mechanical and thermal
tests revealed high tensile strength and high heat stability for duck barbs. All these results
implied the possibility of duck feather as a valuable raw material in the textile, nonwoven and composite manufacture.
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