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Fertility and Hatchability of Pekin and Muscovy Duck Eggs and Performance of Their Ducklings

M. A. Rashid
Manager
Northern Hatchery, Bagura, Bangladesh

M. H. Kawsar
Assistant Professor
Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, PSTU, Bangladesh

M. A. Rashid
Assistant Professor
Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, PSTU, Bangladesh

M. Y. Miah
Assistant Professor
Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, SAU, Bangladesh

M. A. R. Howlider
Department of Poultry Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Five hundred ten duck eggs of Pekin and each of Muscovy duck eggs were incubated to determine fertility and hatchability. The eggs were cleaned and stored at 18-21^oC for 6 days prior to setting in the incubator. The eggs were incubated in a forced-draft electric incubator and the hatching performances were recorded. Ninety Pekin and ninety Muscovy day-old ducklings were randomly selected from the hatched ducklings for a growth trial. Each breed was divided into three replications and each replication had 30 ducklings. They were reared up to 10 weeks of age. Fertility of Muscovy duck eggs tended to be higher (P>0.05) than that of Pekin duck eggs. Hatchability of Pekin egg on fertile egg was higher (P<0.05) than that of Muscovy eggs. But, dead in shell of Muscovy duckling was higher (P<0.05) than that of Pekin duckling. Feed consumption was higher (P<0.01) in Muscovy ducklings than that of Pekin ducklings. Feed conversion was slightly higher (P>0.05) in Muscovy ducklings than that of Pekin. At 10 weeks of age, Muscovy ducklings were slightly heavier (P>0.05) than that of Pekin. It was concluded that the fertility of Pekin and Muscovy ducks are more or less similar while hatchability is higher in Pekin ducks. Muscovy ducks are superior in respect of feed conversion and growth rate.

Keywords: Pekin, Muscovy, Duck, Fertility, Hatchability, Ducklings

Location: Department of Poultry Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Duck

Objectives:

To identify the best breed in terms of fertility and hatchability of eggs and their growth performance.

Methodology:

Experiment 1, reproductive parameters

A total 1020 hatching eggs; 510 of Pekin and 510 of Muscovy were properly cleaned in mild lukewarm diluted solution of anti-septic and stored at 18-21^o C for 6 days before setting in a forced-draft electric incubator. After setting eggs, the machine was thoroughly fumigated by potassium perman ganate and formaldehyde method as per recommendation of the incubator manufacturer. The candling of eggs was done at 10^th and 24^th days of incubation with the help of an electric candler to sort out the clean eggs and dead embryos. At 10^th day of incubation in each hatch, the clean eggs as examined by candling were recorded as infertile eggs. The eggs with developed germinal disc were considered as fertile. Fertility percent of eggs was calculated as total number of fertile eggs divided by total number of eggs set multiplied by 100. At the end of hatch, the hatched eggs showing stickiness and pips were counted separately as dead-in-shell. At 24^th day of incubation, the eggs were further candled by an electric candler. The embryo of hatching eggs showing the evidence of retarded development on candling were considered as dead embryos, which were subsequently confirmed by the broken out examination. The ducklings that showed defect in structure, size, shape, feathering and other abnormalities like lameness, blindness and open navels were recorded and considered as abnormal ducklings.

Experiment 2, growth trial with Pekin and Muscovy ducks: Ninety Pekin and ninety Muscovy day old as hatched ducklings were selected for this study. Each breed had three replications having 30 ducklings in each replication. The ducklings belonging to two genotypes were brooded for a period of 3 weeks on a wire net floor. The experiment was conducted during November to January and house temperature was maintained by increased and reduced intensity of electric bulb. After 3 weeks of brooding, the ducklings were transferred to growing house and reared separately in 6 pens. Fresh and well dried sand was used as a litter in each pen at a depth of 8cm and 0.23 m²/bird floor space was provided to each duckling during the growing period. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded three times in a day. Two experimental diets (starter and grower) were formulated with locally available feed ingredients. Feed and water were supplied ad-libitum through out the experiment. Feeder and water spaces were considered according to the number and age of the ducklings in each replication. A starter diet containing 2911.80 kcal/kg ME, 21.55% CP, 1.16% Ca, 0.46% Av. P, 1.25% lysine, 0.51% methionine and 0.29% tryptophan was fed up to 3 weeks of age. A grower diet was fed from 4 to 10 weeks of age which contained 2993.13 kcal/kg ME, 17.58% CP, 0.95% Ca, 0.39% Av. P, 1.03% lysine, 0.42% methionine and 0.25% tryptophan. All ducklings were vaccinated against Duck Plague disease as per recommendation of the vaccine manufacturer. Records of initial live weight, feed intake and dead birds were kept replication-wise. The feed conversion ratio (g feed/g weight gain) and mortality were calculated. The experimental data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique for Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and statistical significance were recorded.

Source of Information: Progress. Agric. 20(1 & 2) : 93 – 98, 2009, ISSN 1017-8139

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.banglajol.info/index.php/PA/article/view/16859/11835

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The fertility of Pekin and Muscovy ducks are more or less similar while hatchability is higher in Pekin ducks. Muscovy ducks are superior in respect of feed conversion and growth rate.

Knowledge Management: Journal