The effect of strain, sex and diet on growth and carcase characteristics of meat-type ducks

Abstract

Studies of growth and body composition of two strains of ducklings reared to nine weeks of age on a high or a low plane of nutrition were made in a factorial experiment. The 168 ducklings, half male, half female comprised two strains, Commercial Pekin (K) and Pekin x White Orpington (S). Ducklings on the high plane of nutrition received diets (R) with 24.7 per cent protein and 12.14 MJ ME kg-1 from 0-3 weeks and 18.7 per cent protein and 12.43 MJ ME kg-1 during weeks 3 to 9. Ducklings on the low plane of nutrition received diets (C) with 20.6 per cent protein and 11.09 MJ ME kg-1 and 14.1 per cent protein and 10.72 MJ ME kg-1 between weeks 0 to 3 and 3 to 9 respectively. At three weeks of age Strain K ducklings and those fed diet R were heavier and converted feed more efficiently than either Strain S or those given diet C. At nine weeks of age, strain K ducklings were heavier than those of strain S when fed diet R but not when fed diet C. Dressing percentage of ducklings fed diet C was higher than that of those fed diet R largely because of their lower feather weight. The heavier weights of ducklings fed diet R resulted from higher intakes and better feed conversion efficiency than that obtained on diet C. Males had higher performances than females, but the treatment differences for strains and diets were not significant for weights at time of cooking, cooked carcase weight, total edible meat, breast meat, bone or fat drip.