Research Article

Comparison of growth rate and body weight of ducks of different origins

Kamil Stęczny, Joanna Kuźniacka, Marek Adamski

University of Technology and Life Science, Bydgoszcz, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 14(3), 2015, 97‒106

Abstract. The aim of the study was to compare growth rate and body weight of Pekin and Muscovy ducks and their hybrids (mulards). It was established that up to week 6 of living inclusive, Pekin ducks weighed more compared to Muscovy ducks and mulards, differences were confirmed statistically. From week 1 to 7 of living, mulards had significantly lowest body weight compared to ducks from other two groups. Pekin ducks showed significantly highest body weight gain between weeks 3 and 4 of living, and for Muscovy ducks of both sexes it was between weeks 4 and 5 of breeding. On the other hand, for mulards the highest gains of body weight was observed between weeks 5 and 6 of living. In all groups of ducks the highest growth rate was noted between weeks 1 and 2 (from 100 to 119%). After week 3 of living, intensity of Pekin ducks’ growth decreased from 38 to 9% between weeks 7 and 8, for Muscovy drakes from 43 to 2% between weeks 11 and 12, for Muscovy ducks from 46 to 3% between weeks 9 and 10 and for mulard ducks from 46 to 5% between weeks 9 and 10 of living.

Keywords: Pekin duck, Muscovy duck, mulards, body weight, growth rate