Growth Performance, Body Measurements, Carcass and Some Internal Organs Characteristics of Pekin Ducks

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe protection and conservation of native poultry breeds, including ducks, is important for biological, cultural, emotional and scientific reasons. The objective of this study was to compare three lines of Pekin ducks for growth performance, body measurements, carcass and digestive system characteristics. The results showed significant differences between the tested lines of ducks in body weight and body measurements, as well as a small number of significant differences in carcass and digestive system characteristics. This may suggest that the tested lines of ducks are different and distinct, mainly in terms of growth and body measurements.AbstractNative breeds of ducks have been the subject of many studies in the past, yet the relevant knowledge is still incomplete and needs to be further expanded. The objective of this study was to provide information about differences in growth performance, dressing percentage, carcass composition and digestive morphometry among three lines of Pekin ducks from conservation flocks raised in Poland. The study used 180 sexed Pekin ducks—30 males and 30 females of line P33 (ducks of Polish origin), 30 males and 30 females of line P8 (ducks of Danish origin), and 30 males and 30 females of line P9 (ducks of French origin). Throughout the study (49 d), ducks were confined indoors in six pens. Birds were fed complete commercial diets ad libitum and had unrestricted access to water. The compared lines of ducks differed significantly in body weight from 1 to 49 d of age except of ducks of both sexes at 14 d. At 49 d of age, significant differences were observed between the tested ducks in all the body measurements. Duck genotype had a significant effect on preslaughter body weight, carcass weight and breast muscle, neck and remainders contents, caeca length, liver weight and gizzard percentage. The results show that the tested ducks were significantly different and unique, mainly in terms of the body biometric characteristics.

Morphology, Morphometry, Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pekin, Nageswari and Their F1 Crossbred Ducks under Intensive Management

“…In a crossbreeding study with Pekin, Deshi and Jinding ducks, the breast meat yield was found significantly higher (P<0.05) in (Pekin × Pekin) than that of (Pekin × Deshi) and (Pekin × Jinding) crossbreds (Ansary et al, 2008) and is consistent with the present study. Similar to the present findings, Kokoszyński et al (2019) found significant effects on preslaughter body weight, carcass weight, breast muscle yield, neck weight, liver weight and gizzard percentage among the three lines of Pekin ducks. Pekin derived crossbred ducks had better growth rate and meat yield characteristics like breast muscle yield, leg muscle yield and muscle yield in carcass at 8 weeks age (Padhi and Sahoo, 2012;Górska et al, 2014) and support the present results.…”

Cranium morphometry for distinguishing male and female Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) before sexual maturity

“…These results were in line with the study of Oguntunji and Ayorinde (2014) that the body sizes of the Muscovy duck of the male Muscovy duck are more prominent than that of the female. Previous studies reported that weight, body length, body height, body circumference, neck length, and wing length in male Pekin ducks were greater than in females (Kokoszyński et al, 2019). This was due to the influence of the male hormone testosterone.…”

Predictive Equations of Carcass Characteristics and Primal Cut Weights of Native Mexican Guajolotes Using Body Measurements

“…The strong relationship between bodyweight and the breast and thigh weights is due to the fact that in these parts of the carcass there is greater deposition of muscle tissue (Ogah, 2011). Other studies in chickens (Melo et al, 2003;Yang et al, 2006;Mendeş & Akkartal, 2009;Yakubu et al, 2009;Erensoy et al, 2020), ducks (Bochno et al, 2000;Kleczek et al, 2006;Kokoszyňski et al, 2019), and guinea fowl (Ogah, 2011) also reported high and significant correlations between bodyweight and body measurements with carcass characteristics and primal cut weights. This suggests that bodyweight and body measurements could be used as reliable predictors of carcass composition.…”