ABSTRACT

A total of 75 ducklings obtained by reciprocal crossing of Muscovy drakes on Aylesbury ducks and Aylesbury drakes on Muscovy ducks were used to evaluate the growth performance and carcass characteristics of mule and hinny ducklings raised in a humid tropical environment. Data on feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio and linear body measurements such as body weight, body depth, body length, breast width, thigh circumference, wing length, shank length and web length as well as carcass parameters namely pre-slaughter weight, slaughter weight, dressed weight, eviscerated weight, gizzard weight, liver weight, small intestine weight, large intestine weight were used to assess performance of these hybrid ducks. The results showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in average daily feed intake (26.17 g vs 23.73 g), average daily weight gain (9.55 g vs 8.58 g) and feed conversion ratio (2.82 g vs 2.34 g) at 2 weeks and average daily feed intake (113.37 g vs 90.71 g), average daily weight gain (62.40 g vs 48.35 g) and feed conversion ratio (1.90 g vs 1.81 g) at 6 weeks with the mule ducklings having higher values. Body weights at day old were not significantly (P>0.05) different for males of mule and hinny ducklings (38.08±0.61 g vs 38.73±0.8 1 g), respectively, however these males weighed heavier than the vent- sexed females of mule (23.37±1.24 g) and hinny (24.02±1.64 g). Data on carcass characteristics at 12 weeks showed that the preslaughter weight of mule drakes weighed less (1487.50 g) than the hrnny drakes (2237.50 g) and the female hinnies weight also more (1483.33 g) than the female mules (1450.40 g). The results for the carcass characteristics above showed that the mules grew faster than the hinnies until 10 weeks and thereafter the hinny ducklings surpassed them attaining higher body weights at 12 weeks.