Production performance of ducks under extensive system of management in tribal districts of Odisha

An experiment was conducted in five tribal villages of Odisha to find out the production performances of Khaki Campbell and native ducks under extensive system of management where perennial ponds are available. Brooding of ducklings for fifteen days with commercial feedwas managed after which they were exposed to free range management system. Leftover food material and kitchen wastes were provided and vaccination against duck plague was done in subsequent time. Growth and production performances, mortality and egg quality data were recorded. The study revealed that Khaki Campbell ducks gained significant body wt. during initial phase which reversed for native ducks after 16^th wk of age due to its better scavenging ability from environment. Attainment of sexual maturity with significantly more egg production up to 40^th wk was observed in Khaki Campbell where as egg wt and other egg traits were better in native ducks. Initial mortality in case of native ducks was little higher; however, by 6 months of age no such difference between the varieties was found. Economics of duck rearing w.r.t. both the varieties revealed a non-significant difference. It may be concluded that both Khaki Campbell and native ducks performed well under extensive system of management and cross breeding may be done to produce a better variety suitable for the farmers to rear in village ponds.