Exploratory studies on the crossbred duck farming from two upazillas under Noakhali district in Bangladesh

A total number of 50 crossbred duck (indigenous × exotic crossbred) farmers from 15 villages under Noakhali district in Bangladesh were selected from April to May 2017 to explore information about crossbred duck farming. Data were collected by door to door visit using a pre-structured questionnaire and collected data were analyzed using SAS software. Fifty percent of the respondents used commercial ready feed to supplement the feed and 90.00% farmers maintained own water reservoirs to swim and scavenge of their crossbred duck with prepared mixed feed. In 90.00 % farms, housewives took care of the crossbred duck and spent the money earned from farming. Most of the farmers vaccinated (90.00%) and de-wormed (94.00%) their crossbred ducks. Natural uncontrolled flock mating system was exercised (100.00%) during study period. About 62.00% farmers selected higher egg producer and 74.00% farmers used to hatch crossbred duck eggs to produce day old ducklings. Khaki color crossbred duck (166±1.54 pcs) laid the highest number of eggs and this was followed by mixed (156 ±0.88 pcs) and white plumage colored duck (151±1.39 pcs). But, Khaki color crossbred ducks (2.06 ±0.02 kg) were heavier than those of white (1.72 ±0.04 kg) and mixed plumage colored (1.68±0.05 kg) ones. It is suggested that crossbred Khaki color ducks were better performer in the village women driven duck farms but farmers were not aware of inbreeding problems. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.53(1), 47-52, 2018