Performance of Muscovy Ducks under Three Management Systems in South Eastern Nigeria

A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Nigerian native muscovy ducks in terms of growth and feed utilization in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) under semi intensive system (SI), Intensive system with wallow (IW), and intensive system without wallow (IO). Eighteen males and equal number of female ducklings were allotted to two replicates each of the three treatments and fed from week 5 to week 20 with diet containing 17% CP and 2848.9 kcal/kg energy. Weekly weights were measured and compared using two-way analysis of variance. Final body weights were SI (males: 2507.07g, females: 1733.83g), IW (males: 2466.67g, females: 1641.17g) and IO (males: 2464.84g, females: 1657.67g). Average daily gains of drakes were 16.07g (SI), 16.39g (IW) 15.87g (IO); while those of females were 10.18g, 11.03g and 9.91g respectively. Average daily gain of drakes was significantly higher (P< 0.05) than that of females (16.11g versus 10.17g). Average feed intake were 128.54g, 130.68g and 131.14g daily in the respective groups while feed conversion ratios were 11.56, 11.44, and 12.16 respectively too. Management systems adopted in this trial did not have significant effect (P>0.05) on performance of muscovy ducks in the region.