Influence of housing system on the growth and histological structure of duck muscles

Abstract

This study was aimed at determining the effect of housing systems on the growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), meatiness and size of muscle fibres of Pekin (P44) and Muscovy (MR71) ducks. Each genetic group included 360 birds (180 males and 180 females). The ducks were divided into four experimental groups according to their sex and housing system: intensive system (IS) and outdoor system (OS). A significant effect of housing system on the final body weight and FCR value was noted only in P44 birds of both sexes, with OS birds having higher body weights than the IS birds. As a result, the OS MR71 drakes were characterized by a significantly higher slaughter yield, weight and content of breast muscles in the carcass. The OS MR71 ducks showed a lower slaughter yield and a higher content of leg muscles in the carcass compared to IS MR71 ducks. In contrast, the housing system had no significant effect on the meatiness of P44 ducks. A greater diameter of muscle fibres in both sexes of P44 ducks and in both sexes of MR71 ducks was observed in the OS compared to IS flocks. A greater cross section of muscle fibres was also noted in the ducks from the OS system, however with significant differences confirmed only in pectoralis superficialis and biceps femoris in MR71 drakes as well as in the biceps femoris of P44 drakes. These data show differences between duck genotypes and indicate the efficiency and potential of outdoor poultry systems. ______________________________________________________________________________________

The Influences of Various Housing Systems on Growth, Carcass Traits, Meat Quality, Immunity and Oxidative Stress of Meat-Type Ducks

“…However, authors reported slightly lower body weights compared to the present studies at six weeks of age. Meanwhile, Damaziak et al [36] reported different results. Results of the aforementioned authors are in agreement with the present study for the first six weeks, as the ducks reared in outdoor system showed higher weight gain and better FCR than the intensive rearing system in the closed house.…”

“…Similarly, Erisir et al [1] confirmed the desirable effect in improving carcass traits in the experimental groups using swimming pools. Furthermore, Damaziak et al [36] demonstrated that rearing birds in outdoor yards improved dressing percentage in duck males, but females showed no significant improvement. However, Kolluri et al [39] reported that rearing ducks in a free-range system slightly reduced the dressing percentage and some carcass traits.…”

Effects of different rearing systems on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and serum biochemical parameters of Chaohu ducks

“…Damaziak et al . () reported that the diameters of muscle fibers of male ducks (Pekin ducks and Muscovy ducks) were higher than those of female ducks. Increasing muscle fiber diameter is detrimental to meat tenderness and leads to increased shear force (Rehfeldt et al .…”

“…Previous studies in Pekin ducks (Damaziak et al . ), Cherry Valley ducks (Chen et al . ) and native Indian ducks (Kolluri et al .…”

Selected growth parameters of farm-raised mallard (Anas platyrhynchos L.) ducklings

“…Nutrient availability in early life stages and housing conditions, including access to outdoor runs, have been shown to affect the growth rate of ducklings and carcass tissue composition (Charuta and Cooper 2012;Damaziak et al 2014;Zeng et al 2015). Schinckel et al (2013) observed significant changes in the chemical and tissue composition of the carcass in White Pekin ducklings raised to 29 d of age.…”