The effect of sex and growing phases on growth performance and carcass characteristics of local Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata)

Abstract

The experiment was a 2x3 factorial design. The first factor was the duck’s growing periods with split phases (5-8 weeks old and 9-12 weeks old) and whole phase (5-12 weeks old). The second factor was the sex of birds, with three treatments, male birds, female birds and balanced for sex. The results showed that male local Muscovy ducks had the highest weight gain, body live weight and economic efficiency. Ducks with split phase (5-8 weeks old and 9-12 weeks old) gave a better result in weight gain, carcass traits and economic efficiency than the ducks raised in entire phase (5-12 weeks old).