Performance of Early Laying Period of Large-Type Korean Native Ducks

Abstract

This work was carried out to investigate the performance of early laying period of large-type Korean native ducks. One hundred sixty eight ducks were used in this work and divided into A and B strains (6 replications/strain, 14 birds/replication). The days at first egg of A and B strains were the age of 154.5 and 154.7 days, egg weights were 69.1 g and 65.5 g, and body weights were 3,187 g and 3,105 g at the period of laying the first egg, respectively. The days at sexual maturity of A and B strains were the age of 175.8 and 171.5 days, egg weights were 75.2 g and 74.9 g, and body weights were 3,245 g and 3,225 g at the period of laying the first egg, respectively. There were no significant differences on the day of first egg, the day of sexual maturity, egg weight and body weight at first egg and the sexual maturity, average body weight, and daily feed intake between A and B strains (P>0.05). The day of the sexual maturity of B strain was earlier than that of A strain (P<0.05). However, weekly body weight was the highest at the age of 28 weeks (P<0.05), and weekly feed intake increased after 26 weeks old (P<0.05). Egg production (%) of B strain was higher than that of A strain at the age of 22～24 weeks (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference on egg production (%) the other weeks. A number of egg laid of B strain was higher than A strain at 22～24 weeks old (P<0.05). Feed conversion ratio of A and B strains were 10.7 and 6.53 at 24～24 weeks old, respectively, so feed conversion ratio of A strain was higher than that of B strain (P<0.05). Weekly feed conversion ratio wes the highest at 20～22 weeks old, and significantly decreased until 24～24 weeks old, but were lowly maintained from the age of 24 weeks to the age of 30 weeks. These results provided the basic data on the record of early laying period of large-type Korean native ducks.(Key words : Korean native ducks, large-type, early laying period, body weight, feed consumption ratio, laying performance)a First two authors equally contributed to this work.