Nine genotypes of ducklings viz pekin x pekin (P x P), pekin x Desi (P X D), Desi x Desi (D x D)) Pekin x Khaki Campbell (P x KC)) Khaki Campbeel X Khaki Campbell (KC x KC), Pekin x Indian Runner (P x IR), Indian Runner X Indian Runner (IR x IR), Pekin x Jinding (P x Jn) and Jinding x Jinding (Jn X Jn) were investigated for their growth performance. A total number of 144 healthy day-old duckling (16 ducklings from each genotype) were allocated into 2 replications having 8 birds in each replication reared under identical feeding and management upto 56th day of age. At 56th day of age live weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, production number and performance index were highest in PxP and lowest in DxD, whereas PxD was nearer to PxP genotypes. The differences among the treatment groups were statistically significant (P<0.01). Jn x Jn showed lowest feed intake capability among the treatment groups. Feed intake was highest in P x P then PxD. Ducklings of different treatment groups showed significantly different (P<0.01) feed intake. Survivability did not differ significantly among the genotypes (P>0.05) Considering the growth performance (growth rate, feed utilization, survivability, performance index and production number), the PxD crossbred had superiority to all other crosses and seemed worthy as meat purpose duck.
Ducklings, Genotypic effect
