Attempts for optimisation of foie gras and meat production from mulard drakes

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in 2014/2015 under the production conditions at a working mulard duck fattening farm and comprised 77 578 birds. The slaughter analysis was performed in a certified slaughterhouse with 74 945 mulard drakes. The pre-force stage and fattening stage were shortened – 63 and 11 days, respectively. The overall death rate for the entire production period was 3.41% - 2.68±0.09% during the pre-force stage and 0.73±0.01% during the fattening stage. The mean live weight of birds at 63 days of age was 4.01±0.07 kg, and by the end of the 11-day fattening period: 6.58 kg on the average. The mean feed intake per bird was 11.94 kg during the pre-force period with FCR of 2.98. During the 11-day fattening period, mean corn intake was 9.180 kg/bird, and feed conversion ratio for the period was 3.56 kg. The mean grill weight was 3.27 kg, corresponding to 49.6% slaughter yield. Mean liver weight was 0.57±0.008 kg, e.g. 8.6% of live weight. The produced foie gras was of excellent quality, mainly class A. The average magret weight was 0.760±0,008 kg comprising 23.26% of grill weight.

Keywords

• foie gras
• mulard duck
• pre-force stage
• force-feeding
• gavage