Reproductive and meat characteristics of Polish ducks threatened with extinction
2002
Ksiazkiewicz, J. (National Research Inst. of Animal Production, Kornik (Poland). Dept. of Waterfowl Breeding)
Conservative flocks of Miniducks (K2) and Polish Pekin (P33), registered by FAO as domestic genetic resources (World Watch List, 2000), were kept in comparable environmental and feeding conditions without selection and their reproductive and meatiness traits were determined during 10 generations. The experimental flocks showed significant variations in the number and weight of eggs, body weight at 3 and 7 weeks of age, and the proportion of breast and leg muscles. K2 ducks were characterized by outstanding musculature of breast and P33 ducks by that of thigh and lower thigh, and both flocks were distinguished by low fatness. During the first year, the number and weight of eggs and the hatchability of ducklings were higher in both flocks than in the second year of breeding. During the 10 generations observed, the number of eggs showed an upward trend, egg weight was stable in K2 and showed a downward trend in P33, while egg fertilization showed a downward trend in K2 and an upward trend in P33. Both flocks were characterized by downward trends for body weight at 3 and 7 weeks of age and for percentage of breast muscles, and by upward time trends for leg muscles and skin with subcutaneous fat proportions in carcass.
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