LAYING PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICS OF RAISING PHILIPPINE MALLARD (Anas platyrynchos domesticus) AND A COMMERCIAL HYBRID DUCK FED WITH TWO BRANDS OF COMMERCIAL DUCK LAYER PELLETS

摘要

A study was conducted to evaluate the laying performance, egg quality fertility rate and profitability under intensive management system of Philippine mallard (PM) and hybrid ducks fed with 2 brands of commercial layer pellets. Data analysis was doneon a monthly basis using the analysis of variance for factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design. Cost and return analysis was used to measure profitability and cost of producing an egg. Results showed the kind of duck and brand of feed didnot have significant interaction effect on laying performance parameters, except on the overall average weight of eggs produced. On the average, hybrid ducks had significantly heavier body weight (1.97 kg) than PM ducks (1.39 kg). Feed intake of hybrid ducks was also significantly higher than PM ducks (133.95 and 127.06 g/day). Philippine mallard ducks had significantly better egg production and feed efficiency than the hybrid ducks. Irrespective of the kind of ducks, the Brand B feed showed significanteffect only on body weight and feed intake. The kind of duck significantly influenced the albumen height of eggs but not the yolk color and shell thickness, while the brand of feed offered had significant effect on egg yolk color and albumen height. PMmale and female ducks had significantly higher fertility of eggs than that of the hybrid ducks. Interaction effect was insignificant. The breed and brand of feed fed to the ducks affected the economic profitability of raising ducks. The PM fed with brandB gave the highest return on investment and lowest cost of producing an egg. Since there was no significant interaction between the breed and feed then either of the 2 brands of commercial pellets can be fed to the ducks under intensive management system.