ABSTRACT

 A study was conducted to examine the status of duck production in humid tropics and the problems associated with its production and consumption. Four more experiments were then conducted to examine three management systems: semi-intensive (SI), intensive with wallow (IW) and intensive without wallow (IO) with respect to growth, carcass composition, semen quality, and egg production of muscovy duck in a randomized complete block and completely randomized designs. In experiment 2, four-weeks old ducklings were fed starter mash for four more weeks; followed with finisher mash for 12 weeks. Experiment 3 involved determinations of carcass parameters of muscovy ducks and drakes at week twenty. Semen quality of muscovy drakes was studied in experiment four. Experiment five examines egg production and egg quality parameters of muscovy ducks. Most (98 %) fanners raised muscovy breed; 78 % of them practiced extensive management system and only 16.23 % used supplementary feeds. Greater proportion of consumers complained that ducks feed on Average daily gain of drakes under SI was 16.07 g, in IW (16.39 g) and in IO (15.87 g); that of females were 10.18 g, 11.03 g and 9.91 g respectively. Drakes grew to final body weight of 2507.07 g, 2466.67 g and 2464.83 g respectively; while ducks grew to attain 1733.83 g, 1641.17 g and 1657.67 g respectively. Dressing percentages, thigh muscle weights and breast fj'i muscle weights of ducks under IW and IO were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those under SI. Liver weight ranged between 63 g - 65.25 g (males) and 51 g -53 g (females), in the range of 74 g - 80.50 g (males), 56 g - 57.75 g (females); while heart weights ranged between 24 g - 27.50 g (males) and 17 g -19 g (females). Semen concentration varied similarly between management systems, while sperm motility and sperm counts in SI and IW xi gizzard weights were were higher than IO being 75.42, 76.67 versus 68.58 and 109.17.