Effect of stocking density on behavior, performance and some blood parameters of Muscovy ducks

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of different stocking densities on behavior, performance, and some blood parameters of Muscovy ducks. One hundred thirty-five-1-day old male Muscovy ducklings were divided into 3 treatments with 5 replicates per treatment for a 60-day trial. Birds were housed at 6 birds per m2 (Control), 9 birds per m2 (Moderate stocking density) or 12 birds per m2 (High stocking density). The stocking density effects on duckling’s behavior, performance, and some blood parameters were investigated. Instantaneous scan sampling technique was used in measuring behavior. At the end of the experiment, production and blood parameters were examined. The results showed that, stocking density birds exhibited less feeding, crouching, standing, walking and feather ruffling but more drinking, huddling, sitting, preening, feather pecking and wall pecking behaviors compared to control ducklings (P 0.05). T3 and total albumin showed significant decrease only in high stocking density compared to control one (P < 0.05). These findings propose that rearing Muscovy ducks at 9 or 12 birds per m2 during fattening phase led to harmful influence on duck behaviors, performance, carcass characteristics and physiological parameters, with the potential to rear six birds on one square meter.

Keywords

• stocking density
• muscovy ducks
• behavior
• production
• blood parameters