Carcass and Organ Characteristics of Muscovy Ducks Reared under Three Management Systems in South Eastern Nigeria

An experiment was conducted to evaluate carcass parameters of muscovy ducks reared under semi intensive system (SI), intensive system with wallow (IW) and intensive system without wallow (IO) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Thirty six ducks (18 males and 18 females) were slaughtered from the three treatments comprising 3 males and three females from each of two replicates of a treatment selected randomly at the age of 20 weeks. Carcass yield, thigh muscle weight and breast muscle weight of ducks under intensive systems were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than those of ducks in semi intensive management system. The dressing percentage of male (Drakes) were also numerically higher (72.01 - 74.90) than that of the females (Ducks; 69.09 - 70.98). Ducks and or Drakes raised under the intensive management system (IW, and IO) had a significantly superior dressing percentage (74.94- IW; 72.48- IO) compared with those reared under semi-intensive management system. Weights of thigh muscles and breast muscles of Ducks and or Drakes followed similar trend. Liver weight ranged between 63g- 65.25g (males) and 51g-53g (females), gizzard weights were in the range of 79g-80.50g (males) and 56g-57g (females), while heart weights ranged between 24g-27.50g (males) and 17g-19g (females). No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in these parameters that can be attributed to management systems. In conclusion, rearing Muscovy ducks under intensive system of management produced better carcass yield.