Duck Rearing : A Potential Source of Livelihood for Farmers

Abstract

Duck is a very good income generating occupation for those who are small and marginal farmers’. This can be even reared by landless classes and women. Duck rearing is profitable and simple in management because ducks are less hazardous bird, have disease resistance, have longer economic egg-production life, duck eggs are heavier and fetch a better price, meat is also a delicacy and is relished by the people, they do not need elaborate housing and duck kill snails, slugs and other crop pests.

Keywords: Duck Rearing, Farmers

Introduction

Duck Farming plays an important part in the agricultural economy in Asia continent which alone accounts for 86.2% of the total meat production of world (Bal Krishna Jha and Asit Chakrabarti 2017). Considering the greater scope for duck farming an effective tool for the socioeconomic development of rural masses, to provide leadership in research and training in respect of duck, a Central Duck Breeding Farm, Hessarghata under Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India was established in the year 1981 during the Fifth Five Year plan with technical collaboration of Government of United Kingdom in order to introduce high yielding variety of ducks for the benefit of farming community.

There are readily available exotic and local breeds of ducks for production. Khaki Campbell is one of the best egg and meat producing breed in ducks having fast growth rate and efficient feed converters (Adzitey and Adzitey, 2011).  Duck products such as eggs and meat have a great demand as they are good source of protein and iron (Tai and Tai, 2001). The current report on main duck meat production countries indicates that, eight countries from Asia are among the top fifteen countries worldwide (FAO, 2010). The duck farming also provide manure which can be used to improve soil fertility of agricultural lands.

Advantages of Duck Rearing

There are a number of advantages of duck rearing. They are the following.

• Ducks lay on an average 40-50 more eggs than the layers of chicken.
• Duck eggs are about 15 to 20 grams heavier than chicken eggs.
• Ducks do not require any elaborate housing and less attention than chicken as compared to poultry.
• Ducks are good exterminators of potato beetles, grass hoppers, snails and slugs.
• Duck rearing is economical as compared to chicken by virtue of their feeding habits of foraging.
• Ducks are quit hardy, more easily brooded and are resistant to many avian diseases.
• Ducks lay their eggs before 9.00 a.m. and hence egg collection is easier for the keeper.
• Ducks are good exterminators of potato beetles, grass hoppers, snails and slugs.
• Ducks are free from cannibalism and other objectionable tendencies.
• Ducklings are easily sexed compared to chicks.
• For duck farming marshy river side and wet land are excellent quarter where chicken or other types of livestock will not flourish.

Breeds of Duck

Breeds of the ducks can be classified into three main groups:

1. Egg types consisting of Khaki Campbell and Indian Runner
2. Meat types consisting of White Pekin, Muscovy and Aylesbury
3. Ornamental type consisting of Crested White

Duck Rearing Systems

Ducklings can be reared in 1) Intensive system 2) Semi-intensive 3) Range system

1. Intensive system

• • Ducks are reared on deep litter till they attain the age of 16 weeks.
  • A confined space of 0.279 square meter (3sq.ft.) per bird is allowed.

2. Semi-intensive

• • Under semi-intensive system, birds are grown on deep litter with floor space of 0.186 square meter in high shelter and 0.929 square meter as outside run till they attain an age of 16 weeks.
  • For feeding wet mash ‘V’ shaped feeders can be used.

3. Free range system

• • Ducklings are provided ample space for run and in night shelter.
  • Under this system a flock of 2000 ducks can be reared per acre (0.0456 hectare).

Duck Feeding

1. Feeding ducklings: Day-old ducklings should be given coarse milled cereals moistened with milk or water as a first feed and then a proprietary mash or one with composition approximately to following-

• • Milled cereal 35 parts
  • Fine cereal bran 30 parts
  • Fish or meat meal 20 parts
  • Extracted oil-cake meal 10 parts
  • Fine grit and minerals 05 parts

2. Feeding growers and layers: Broken rice, damaged wheat, soyabean meal etc. can be included in formulating the feed. Fish meal should be of fresh and good quality.

Common Duck Diseases’

Duck Plaque

Serious outbreak of duck plaque also known as duck virus enteritis and cause 80-90% mortality in flocks of all ages.

Symptoms

Birds become restless with drooping wings, ruffled feather. Their eyes become swollen and moist with sticky discharge. They stop feeding and drink water frequently and feel difficulty in breathing. Sometimes watery yellow diarrhea with blood is seen. Occasionally penis is swollen and protruding. In laying females, haemorrhages can be observed in the deformed and discoloured ovarian follicles.

Prevention and Control

The birds can be protected by duck plaque vaccine, available in the country, given at the age of 08 weeks.

Duck Cholera

Highly infectious disease caused by bacterial organism Pasteurella multocida in ducks over 04 weeks age.

Symptoms

Birds loose appetite and their body temperature becomes high. Initial diarrhea is followed by mucoid droppings.

Prevention and Control

Birds must be vaccinated first at the age of 04 weeks and again at 16 weeks age with duck cholera vaccine. Sulphonamides and antibiotics are effective in controlling the disease and reduce mortality. The dead birds should be burnt.

Aflatoxicosis

Ducks are very susceptible to aflatoxin content of the feed. The minimum toxic dose for ducks is 0.03 per kilo in feed. Aflatoxin is produced by the mould Aspergillus flavus in the feedstuffs such as groundnut, maize, rice polish, etc.

Symptoms

Birds first show poor feed intake, poor growth, falling of feathers, lethargy, unthriftiness, lameness.

Prevention and Control

Avoid feeding mouldy feeds. Feeds should be checked for aflatoxin particularly during and after rainy season.

Botulism

The disease occurs in young and adult stocks. It is caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum which grows in decaying plant and animal materials.

Symptoms

Birds lose control of their neck muscle and usually drown of swimming water is available. Birds show dullness, ruffled feathers, drooping wings, laboured breathing, coma and death.

Prevention and Control

The affected birds can be given C-type antitoxin. Maintenance of cleanliness including the removal of rotting vegetation and dead birds, will prevent the disease.

Internal Parasites

Ducks are resistant to internal parasites. These are more when ducks are kept on a range or when they have access to ponds. These include flukes, tape worms and round worms. Periodical examination of faecal material is very useful to identify and to treat ducks.

External Parasites

External parasites are comparatively less in ducks as compared to chicken. They produce annoyance to them leading to reduction in egg yields. Some of these do transmit a few disease producing organisms. It is for this reason they are to be free from these.

Vaccination Schedule

Vaccine Can Be Obtained From

1. Director, Institute of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ranipet, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu State (Duck Plague).
2. Director, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, No. 37, Balgachia Road, Kolkata– 700 037 (Duck Plague).
3. Director, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Hebbal, Bangalore – 560024 (Duck Plague).

Conclusions

Duck Farming significantly contribute to farmer livelihoods in terms of nutrition and income. The rapid growing demand for duck meat and eggs can be thrived by adoption of duck farming in rural areas. The farmer also must be given training on duck farming to equip them with relevant skills to merge scientific methods for improving their productivity.

References

1. Adzitey F, Adzitey SP (2011). Duck production: Has a potential to reduce poverty among rural households in Asian communities – A review World’s Poult. Res., 1(17-10).http.//jwpr.science-line.com/.
2. Bal Krishna Jha and Asit Chakrabarti (2017). Duck Farming. Journal of Animal Health and Production., 5(2): 39-43.
3. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2010). Asia dominates world waterfowl production. Downloaded from http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1633/Asia-dominates-world-waterfowl-production on 07/07/20.
4. Tai C and Tai JJL (2001). Future Prospects of Duck Production in J. Poult. Sci., 38: 99-112. https://doi.org/10.2141/jpsa.38.99.