Age-related changes in the distribution of lean, fat with skin and bones in duck carcases

Abstract

The experimental birds were Pekin ducks (352 males and 352 females) reared to the age of 13 weeks. They were fed standard diets ad libitum. Starting from the second week, 21 males and 21 females were slaughtered every 7 d. Their carcases were divided into the following elements: neck, wings, legs, breast and back, which were then dissected into lean, skin with fat and bones. The body weights of one-day-old ducklings were similar (circa 62 g), but at 5 weeks of age the males were heavier than the females, and at 13 weeks of age their body weights were 3537 g and 2994 g, respectively. In 2-week-old ducks 55.77% of lean was located in the legs, 15.91% in the back part, 2.78% in the wings, 12.47% in the neck and only 13.12% in the breast. Considerable changes in the distribution of lean were noted in the ducks aged 7 weeks. Its percentage decreased in the legs (to 29.34%) and increased in the breast and wings (to 36.86% and 10.96%, respectively). Age-related changes in the distribution of skin with fat were smaller. Its percentage increased in the wings, legs and back, and decreased in the neck and breast. Until the age of 7 weeks the percentage of bones was decreasing quickly in the legs and increasing in the neck and breast, compared with their total weight in the carcase.

Pekin Ördeklerinde Farklı Genişlik ve Derinlikteki Askılı Sulukların ve Cinsiyetin Besi Performansı ve Karkas Özelliklerine Etkisi

“…Also male ducklings consumed totally more food than females (P<0.05). This result is consistent with previous reports for body weight of male and female ducks [10][11][12] . Feed conversion ratio was only statistically significant (P<0.05) in the three weeks of rearing.…”

“…Slaughter age may be important in these parts. Bochno et al [11] reported that the deposition of fat and skin increased significantly up to 10 weeks of age (from 98 g in 2-week-old birds to 843 g in 10-weeks-old ones). However types of bell drinkers only affected the percentages of breast, wings and skin with subcutaneous fat.…”

“…Leg muscles of hatching duckling are more developed than breast muscles. Leg muscles grow very quickly to the age of 2 weeks, and breast muscles to about 7 weeks [11,16,17] . A rapid growth rate of wing muscles in Pekin ducks to about 5 weeks is worth noting [11] .…”

Effects of housing system, slaughter age, and sex on slaughter and carcass traits of native Turkish ducks

“…There is not enough information about the effects of different housing systems, sex, and slaughter age on slaughter and carcass traits in native Turkish ducks. However, the best slaughter age for Pekin ducks has been accepted as 7 to 8 weeks (6). There is little research on the different housing systems for Pekin ducks in Turkey (7,8).…”

Effects of brooder machine rearing method in the first week on fattening performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and some blood parameters of Pekin ducks

“…In Pekin ducks after hatching, first growing part of the body is legs, which is followed by breast and wings. Leg muscles grow very quickly to the 2 wk of age and breast muscles to 7 wk of age (3,11). Maruyama et al (25) reported that breast muscle grows faster than whole body during the fattening period, so this study showed that development of breast in Pekin ducks was sensitive to rearing method.…”