EGG PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF TWO INDIGENOUS TYPES OF DUCKS OF KERALA

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the egg production performance of two distinct indigenous types of ducks namely Chara and Chemballi of Kerala. Five hundred sexed clay-old female ducklings from each type were reared under semi-intensive system adhering to scientific managemental practices. Egg production was recorded by providing individual laying nest. The average egg number per duck upto SO weeks of age was 116.09 in Chara and 124.95 in Chemballi. The corresponding ,mean per cent duck-day production in Chara and Chemballi was 44.49 and 48.68 respectively. The mean duckhoused egg production to SO weeks of age in Chara and Chemballi was 41.78 and 42.91 respectively. The mean weekly per cent egg production of both types of ducks upto S2 weeks of age widely fluctuated from week to week and during the production period there were two peaks in egg production. From the individual production records it was seen that there were no definite clutch size or pauses. Egg production upto SO weeks of age was significantly superior in Chemballi ducks in comparison to Chara ducks.