Performance of Pekin Ducks and Desi Ducks under Integrated Farming System at Kancheepuram District in Tamilnadu

Ducks play a very important position next to chicken for the small-scale farmers in India because they are a source of income and part time employment for the growers. Ducks easily adapt to various environments and are more resistant to poultry diseases (than chicken), many rural people in the country practice commercial duck farming. However, compared to broiler chickens, broiler duck industry is less popular and its development seems relatively slow because of the low consumption rate of duck meat by consumers and less efficient feed conversion. Keeping these points in mind, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kattupakkam conducted an on-farm testing on the performance of Pekin ducks in Integrated farming system (IFS) model. A total number of five farmers with fish farm pond were identified from five different villages. Each farmer was provided with 20 Pekin ducklings, 20 desi ducklings and 20 kg duck mash. It was found that on an average the pekin ducks attained the weight of around 1.780 kg as compared to the desi bird (1.250 kg) at 60d of age. The feed conversion ratio was found to be higher (3.75kg) in local ducks than the Pekin ducks (2.63kg). It was also found that the mortality rate of Pekin ducklings reduced after advising the farmers on scientific duck farming practices. The benefit cost ratio was found to be 1.71 which in turn reveals that duck farming is a profitable venture to the farmers. It was also noticed that the benefit cost ratio for the demo-Pekin ducks (1.71) was higher than the check-desi ducks (1.19).