Domestic Duck Production : Science and Practice

by P. Cherry; T. R. Morris

• ISBN13: 9780851990545
• ISBN10: 0851990541
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-03-05
• Publisher: Cab Intl

Summary

Ducks are kept for profit in a great diversity of circumstances in both temperate and tropical climates. Outlining the biology of the domestic duck, this book also combines the authors' considerable practical and scientific experience to provide quantitative descriptions of nutritional and environmental effects on growing and breeding ducks, as well as practical advice on husbandry, housing and management. It is an essential resource for duck industry practitioners, researchers, and students. Peter Cherry worked as Development Manager for a major duck producer before assuming a world-wide role as a consultant. Trevor Morris is a world-renowned poultry scientist who has also worked as a duck consultant. Their combined knowledge of the duck and the duck industry is thus unparalleled.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowlegements	p. xi
History and Biology of the Domestic Duck	p. 1
Domestication in China and the Far East	p. 3
Mallard: Progenitor to Domestic Duck	p. 3
The Natural History of Wild Mallard	p. 4
Genetic Inheritance from Mallard	p. 6
Geographic Distribution	p. 7
Duck Breeds	p. 7
Recent History and Performance	p. 9
References	p. 12
Systems of Production	p. 15
Commercial Duck Production	p. 15
Geography and Culture	p. 16
Use of Open Water	p. 16
Duck Ponds	p. 18
Rice Paddies	p. 18
Hygiene	p. 19
Bacteria	p. 20
Avian Influenza	p. 21
Housing and Environment	p. 22
History	p. 22
Eastern Europe and Russia	p. 23
European Community	p. 23
USA and Canada	p. 25
China	p. 26
The Far East	p. 28
Farm Size	p. 29
House Size	p. 29
Slatted Flooring	p. 30
Provision for Cleaning	p. 30
Other Considerations	p. 30
Temperature	p. 31
Ventilation	p. 34
Ventilation in Cold and Cool Temperate Climates	p. 36
Ventilation in Mediterranean and Hot Climates	p. 39
Ventilation in a Continental Climate	p. 41
Insulation in Cold and Cool Temperate Climates	p. 42
Insulation in Hot Climates	p. 45
The Brooding Environment	p. 43
Brooding	p. 44
Brooding in Hot Climates	p. 45
Ventilation in the Brooding Stage	p. 46
Lighting	p. 47
Post-brooding Environment	p. 48
Rearing in Hot Climates	p. 48
Design and Placement of Feeders and Drinkers	p. 49
Managing the Environment	p. 50
References	p. 52
Husbandry of Table Duckling	p. 53
Feathering	p. 53
Temperature, Feed Intake and Growth	p. 55
High Temperature and Performance	p. 59
Low Temperature and Performance	p. 64
Temperature and Behaviour	p. 68
Space and Performance	p. 69
Light and Performance	p. 74
Brooding Environment	p. 76
Rearing Environment	p. 79
Variability of Performance	p. 81
The History of Improving Quality	p. 83
Process Control	p. 86
Reducing Common Cause Variation and Improving Performance	p. 88
References	p. 89
Nutrition and Factors Affecting Body Composition	p. 91
Dietary Energy	p. 91
Controlled Energy Intake	p. 96
Factors Affecting Response to Dietary Energy	p. 97
Protein, Amino Acids and Performance	p. 101
Amino Acids	p. 103
Energy and Protein Interaction	p. 107
Optimum Nutrient Concentration	p. 108
Factors Affecting Response to Nutrient Concentration	p. 109
Free-choice Feeding	p. 111
Pellets, Mash and Grain Plus Concentrate	p. 113
Factors Affecting Body Composition	p. 116
Age, Sex, Maturity and Body Composition	p. 119
Market Requirements	p. 125
Nutrition and Body Composition	p. 125
Factors Affecting Response to Energy to Protein Ratio	p. 127
References	p. 132
Rearing of Parent Stock	p. 133
Controlled Feeding	p. 133
Controlled Growth and Physiological Development	p. 135
Effect of Controlled Nutrient Intake on Growth	p. 139
Effect of Age upon Potential for Growth	p. 142
Effect of Temperature on Growth to Sexual Maturity	p. 144
Effect of Restricted Growth on Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 146
Effect of Controlled Growth on Laying Performance	p. 147
Pattern of Growth and Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 150
The Importance of Early Feed Restriction	p. 153
Effects of Age and Live Weight upon Egg Weight	p. 155
Overview of Restricted Live Weight, Age at Sexual Maturity and Laying Performance	p. 158
Summary of Effects of Feed Restriction on Growth, Age at Sexual Maturity and Laying Performance	p. 159
Body Composition and Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 160
Summary of Effects of Body Composition on Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 166
Effect of Natural Daylight upon Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 166
Step-up Lighting Programmes	p. 170
Step-down, step-up Lighting	p. 171
Constant Lighting	p. 174
Effect of Alternative Lighting Programmes During Rearing on Male Fertility	p. 174
Rearing Light Programmes and Post-peak Laying Performance	p. 175
Summary of Effects of Daylength upon Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 177
Temperature, Controlled Growth and Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 178
Effect of Age and Weight at Sexual Maturity upon Egg Production	p. 180
Effect of Age at Sexual Maturity on Egg Weight	p. 182
The Effect of Egg Weight on Growth	p. 184
Factors Affecting Optimum Age at Sexual Maturity	p. 185
Sexual Maturity of Egg-laying Breeds	p. 186
Dietary Regime for Birds on Restricted Feed	p. 187
Husbandry During Controlled Rearing	p. 188
References	p. 190
Management of Breeding Ducks	p. 192
Environment	p. 192
Nutrition	p. 196
Controlling Egg Weight	p. 198
Housing	p. 202
Furniture and Equipment	p. 203
Preparing Accommodation for Parent Stock or Laying Ducks	p. 204
Transporting and Housing Parent Stock and Laying Ducks	p. 204
Routine Husbandry of Parent Stock and Laying Ducks	p. 205
Weekly Routines	p. 206
Second Lay	p. 206
Broodiness	p. 207
Breeding Performance	p. 207
References	p. 211
Fertility and Hatchability	p. 212
Effects of Selection	p. 212
Fertility	p. 213
Hatchability	p. 213
Shell Structure and Weight Loss	p. 213
Controlled Growth and Daylength	p. 217
Lighting for Males	p. 222
Season and Hatchability	p. 222
Egg Quality	p. 225
Husbandry	p. 225
Improving Hatchability	p. 226
References	p. 228
Genetic Improvement	p. 229
Objectives for Egg-producing Ducks	p. 229
Methods of Selection for Egg Production	p. 230
Objectives for Meat-producing Ducks	p. 230
Methods of Selection for Meat Production	p. 231
Selection of Sire Lines	p. 232
Selection of Dam Lines	p. 233
References	p. 234
Index	p. 235
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.