Growth Performance of White Pekin Duck in Farmers Field Condition

Abstract

Duck farming has great potential of income generation with minimum investment as it is an old traditional practice in hill district of Manipur. Scientific interventions directed towards improvement in duck rearing practices can play a pivotal role in making it a self-sustainable and lucrative venture. The present study was conducted under Front-Line Demonstration (FLD) programme of KVK Chandel to evaluate different economic parameters under backyard system of rearing of White Pekin ducks in the hill district of Manipur. The study was conducted for a period of two years starting from 2022-24 covering 3 villages viz Modi, Lambung and Kapam village from Chandel district. A total of 15 beneficiaries having 5 farmers per village who are having prior experience in duck farming were selected for the study. Each beneficiary (Farmer) was provided with 30 numbers of 2 weeks old White Pekin ducklings at the ratio of (1:1) male, female fifteen nos each per farmer. Subsequently, a total of 450nos of ducklings were reared under semi-intensive system with supplementation of locally available feedstuff. They were offered optimal amount of feed that included a mixture of grains, crushed maize, boiled and broken rice, kitchen waste and local grasses etc. The ducklings were provided with all necessary health care support besides vaccinating them against duck plague.Body weight was recorded at fornightly interval from second week onwards till 16th week of age for male and female both.  The results of the study revealed that the average body weight of ducks at  2nd , 4th , 6th ,8th 10th 12th ,14th and 16th week of age .Initial body weight was recorded as198.45 ± 2.69, 156.36 ± 2.03 grams respectively for male and female at 2nd week and final recorded body weight at 16th week were recorded as 3480.06 ± 4.09 and 2985.15 ± 5.06 . The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) could be estimated as 3.07 ± 0.35 at 16 week(4month). whereas the mortality rate was recorded to be 4.4±0.24. The dressing percentage recorded was 68.87±0. The estimated benefit cost ratio was 3.12±0.26. The findings of the study clearly indicate that backyard rearing of White Pekin duck is a promising venture for the resource-poor farmers.