Potentials of duck breeding

摘要

Commercial duck farming using some exotic breeds has been taken up in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orrisa, Assam, Tripura and Manipur where it is becoming popular in some areas. Duck farming is considered one of the emerging avocation and source of employment and can play imprtant role in improving the rural economy. Ducks are important source of eggs and meat for human consumption. Importance of ducks becomes evident from example of China where per capita duck meat consumptionis 1 kg and in some provinces it is reared as bio-control and bio-conversion agent for which young ducklings are herded through paddy fields which consume insects, molluscs and weeds and then allowed to grow further more meat and egg production. About 75percent of the domesticated ducks of the world are found in South and East Asia. Commercial duck farming using some exotic breeds has been taken up in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orrisa, Assam, Tripura and Manipur where it is becoming popular in some areas. Duck farming is considered as one of the emerging avocation and source of employment and can play imprtant role in improving the rural economy. However, possibility of commercial duck breeding in Punjab has not been explored sofar though Punjab has large number of tubewells (approx. 8,95,000) and extensive irrigatioon network, fish farms and village ponds and other water bodies where ducks can be raised profitably. The Punjab Agricultural University has initiated research work in order to determine the potential of duck breeding under Punjab conditions. The results of preliminary studies are encouraging and it appears that duck breeding can be Successfully undertaken to imrove income of farmers. This article based on the available information from various sources provides general information to farmers about the prospects and potential of duck breeding and its advantages.