The aim of this study was to determine changes in selected growth parameters of farm-raised mallard ducklings from hatch to 42 d of age. The largest increases in body and carcass weights of ducklings and weights of the analyzed tissue components were noted during the first 28 d of the rearing period, except for breast and wing muscles. In comparison with other muscle groups, the growth rate of breast and wing muscles was lower from hatch to 14 d of age, greatest between 14 and 28 d, and remained high up to 42 d of age. The average body weight of mallard ducklings increased more than 16-fold (from 39.7 to 644.8 g, P ≤ 0.01), and the average carcass weight increased more than 26-fold (from 14.4 to 384.5 g, P ≤ 0.01). The growth rates of carcass and tissue components varied considerably. Wing weight increased 84.5-fold (from 0.80 to 67.6 g, P ≤ 0.01), followed by breast weight, which increased 48-fold (from 1.7 to 82.9 g, P ≤ 0.01). Slower growth rates were noted in the remaining carcass parts: back, 23-fold; neck, 19.2-fold; and legs, 17.1-fold (from 5.4 to 92.2 g, P ≤ 0.01).
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15 June 2016
Selected growth parameters of farm-raised mallard (Anas platyrhynchos L.) ducklings
Daria Murawska,
Vladimir Hanzal,
Pawel Janiszewski,
Barry D. Lambert,
Michal Gesek,
Magdalena Zawacka,
Danuta Michalik,
Rafal Borkowski
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carcass tissue composition
ducklings
mallards
meat distribution