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A Study on Production Performance of Local Ducks and Identifying the Constraints of Duck Rearing at Farmer’s Level

F. Kabir
Department of General Animal Science and Animal Nutrition, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Babugonj, Barisal-8210, Bangladesh.

A. Rahman
Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Babugonj, Barisal-8210, Bangladesh.

H. Biswas
Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Babugonj, Barisal-8210, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Poultry plays a significant role in the subsistence economy of Bangladesh. Ducks are one of the most important poultry species in Bangladesh. Duck rearing is most suitable, popular, and profitable in riverine countries like Bangladesh. The study was conducted at Babugonj Upazila of Barishal district, Bangladesh to evaluate the production performance and constraints of duck rearing under a semi- scavenging system at the farmer’s level. Farmers were selected randomly and were divided into control followed by the minimum (30%) and maximum (60%) levels of supplemental feeding regimes. It was observed that natural feeds were not available ad-libitum all year round as per the requirement for rearing ducks. It was revealed that the average duck mortality (%) was higher in the control group than that of the treatment groups. It was observed that the mortality rate of ducks was higher in a minimum supplemental group than that of a maximum supplemental group of the whole experimental period. It was also observed that supplemental feeding lowered the rate of duck mortality irrespective of age group. The study showed that the average live weight gain (g/d) was significantly higher in treatment groups as compared to the control group. The average live weight gain of ducks was higher in the maximum supplemental group (8.24±0.65) than that of the minimum supplemental group (7.86±0.74). It was observed that the average DM intake (g/d) was significantly higher in the maximum supplemental group (58.32±1.20) followed by the minimum supplemental (52.02±2.69) and control group (38.26±2.77). It was also observed that the average egg production (eggs/duck/year) was significantly higher in treatment groups than that of a control group of ducks. It was found that the average egg production was higher in the maximum supplemental group (181.80±4.55) than that of a minimum supplemental group (175.60±6.39). The average egg weight (g) was higher in a supplemented group as compared to the control group of ducks throughout the experimental period. The results revealed that natural feeding alone was unable to satisfy the nutritional requirement of ducks under a semi-scavenging system at the farmer’s level. It was concluded that supplemental feeding had a significant effect on the production performance of ducks under farmer’s conditions.

Keywords: Ducks; Production; Constraints; Farmer’s level

Location: Babugonj Upazila of Barishal district, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-07-2019

End Date: 00-06-2020

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Duck

Objectives:

The study also aims at optimizing the productivity of ducks in different areas of Bangladesh with proper supplemental feeding regimes and thus encourages the rural farmers to undertake duck production for income generation and poverty alleviation.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at Babugonj Upazila of Barishal district, Bangladesh during the period of July 2019 to June 2020. Fifteen small and marginal farmers engaged in duck rearing with a minimum of 5-10 ducks of ages from 0 to12 months reared under a semi- scavenging system were selected for the study on a random basis. Five farmers were selected as a control group of ducks and they were not given any supplemental feed and were reared under a semi-scavenging system with naturally available feed ingredients. Out of the remaining 10 farmers, five farmers each were selected as treatment groups. Supplemental feed was provided to them twice a day as wet mash before and after scavenging at two different levels of feeding viz., 30 percent of the daily requirement (minimum) to the first group and 60 percent of the daily requirement (maximum) to the second group. The supplemental feed was prepared using locally available feed ingredients and supplied to the ducks depending upon the scarcity of scavenging feed and the daily requirement of ducks. Ducks were vaccinated against duck plague and duck cholera. During the experimental period, naturally available feed resources were identified, physically evaluated. Regular weekly follow-up and monitoring of the duck groups were undertaken to identify the naturally available feed resources to the ducks scavenged on and any scarcity in these scavenging feed sources was also observed. Data was collected on the number of ducks alive, DM intake, the total number of eggs produced, and average egg weight on daily basis. Time of the first lay, mortality of the ducks under different age groups as well as their body weight gain was also recorded on weekly basis. The experimental data for different parameters were analyzed using Student’s t-test for interpretation of results.

Source of Information: Asian Journal of Research in Animal and Veterinary Sciences - 6(4): 6-11, 2020

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It was observed that the mortality rate was higher in the control group than that of a supplemented group of ducks. It was revealed that the supplemental feeding of ducks reduced the rate of mortality irrespective of age group. It was shown that the average live weight gain was significantly higher in treatment groups as compared to the control group. It was also observed that the average live weight gain of ducks was higher in the maximum supplemental group than that of the minimum supplemental group. It was also showed that the average DM intake was significantly higher in the maximum supplemental group followed by the minimum supplemental and control group. It was observed that the control group of ducks was spent more time (days) going under the first lay when the supplemental groups went to the first lay spending less time. On the other hand, the maximum supplemental group was spent less time going under the first lay as compared to the minimum supplemental group of ducks. It was revealed that the supplemental feeding of ducks significantly affected the time of the first lay. It was shown that the average egg production (eggs/duck/year) was significantly higher in treatment groups than that of a control group of ducks. It was also shown that the average egg production was higher in the maximum supplemental group than that of the minimum supplemental group. It was observed that the average egg weight (g) was higher in the supplemented group as compared to the control group of ducks throughout the experimental period. It was also observed that the average egg weight was higher in a maximum supplemental group than that of the minimum supplemental group. It was shown that the average duck mortality percent was higher in the control group (without supplementation) than that of the treatment (supplementation) groups. It was revealed that the lowest duck mortality was observed in a maximum supplemental group as compared to a minimum supplemental group. It was shown that supplemental feeding affects duck mortality. It is concluded that the supplemental feeding of ducks greatly affects production performance under farmer’s conditions. It was observed that the production performance of ducks was higher in supplemental groups as compared to the non-supplemental group (control group). It is revealed that supplemental feeding of ducks is one of the most important criteria for rearing ducks under a semi-scavenging system at the farmer’s level. It is revealed that supplemental feeding is essential for profitable ducks rearing under a semi-scavenging system at the farmer’s level.

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