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

Abstract

Poultry play 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 country like Bangladesh. The study was conducted at Babugonj upazila of Barishal district, Bangladesh to evaluate the production performance and constraints of duck rearing under semi-scavenging system at farmer’s level. Farmers were selected randomly and were divided into control followed by minimum (30%) and maximum (60%) level of supplemental feeding regimes. It was observed that natural feeds were not available ad-libitum all the year round as per the requirement for rearing ducks. It was revealed that the average duck mortality (%) was higher in control group than that of treatment groups. It was observed that the mortality rate of ducks was higher in minimum supplemental group than that of maximum supplemental group of the whole experimental period. It was also observed that the supplemental feeding lowered the rate of duck mortality irrespective of age groups. The study showed that the average live weight gain (g/d) was significantly higher in treatment groups as compared to control group. The average live weight gain of ducks was higher in maximum supplemental group (8.24±0.65) than that of minimum supplemental group (7.86±0.74). It was observed that the average DM intake (g/d) was significantly higher in maximum supplemental group (58.32±1.20) followed by 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 control group of ducks. It was found that the average egg production was higher in maximum supplemental group (181.80±4.55) than that of minimum supplemental group (175.60±6.39). The average egg weight (g) was higher in supplemented groups as compared to 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 semi-scavenging system at farmer’s level. It was concluded that supplemental feeding had a significant effect on production performance of ducks under farmer’s condition.