Genetic Evaluation of Pekin, Nageswari and Pekin × Nageswari Crossbred Duck for Growth and Egg Production Traits Under Intensive Management Condition

Duck is an important genetic resource primarily used for egg and meat in Bangladesh. This study evaluated the growth performance and egg production potentials of Pekin (P) × Nageswari (N) crossbred ducks compared to its parental Pekin and Nageswari breeds. The growth performance data of ۴۴۰ P×N crossbreds were collected from three generations (F۱, F۲, and F۳), while the first two generations' data on productive and reproductive traits were considered. Besides, performances of parental Pekin and Nageswari ducks (۱۰۰ from each breed) were included in the evaluation process. The growth performance significantly differed among the Pekin, Nageswari and P×N crossbreds from day old to the ۱۲th week of age (P < ۰.۰۰۱). The average live weight of the Nageswari duck was ۱۳۶۷ ± ۱۷.۳۸ g at the ۱۲th week of age and was ۱۷۰۳.۰۲ ± ۱۹.۷۶, ۱۹۱۰.۴۶ ± ۱۸.۸۱ and ۱۸۲۶.۴۹ ± ۲۰.۶۳ g, respectively, in F۱, F۲ and F۳ crossbreds that close to the parental Pekin duck (۱۹۰۸.۲۶ ± ۳۴.۱۸ g). Growth performance was superior in all three crossbred generations up to the ۱۲th week of age except day old. The positive heterosis varied from ۳.۸۶ to ۱۵.۶۴% at marketing age (۱۲th week). The P×N crossbreds attained sexual maturity two weeks earlier than the Pekin duck. The hen day egg production (HDEP%) was significant (P < ۰.۰۱) among the genotypes up to the ۴۰th week of age except the ۲۸th week. The total number of eggs up to ۲۸۰ days in Pekin, Nageswari and two P×N crossbred F۱ and F۲ generations were ۹۰.۵۴, ۹۲.۳۲, ۸۶.۶۱ and ۹۴.۰۸, respectively. The egg weight of parental pure breeds and P×N crossbreds differed significantly (P < ۰.۰۵) during the investigated periods from the ۲۴th to the ۴۰th week of age. This result reflects the significance of non-additive genetic effects on growth traits. In conclusion, the genetic evaluation involving three generations of data essentially helps to establish the performances of the developed P×N crossbred duck.

Keywords:

Duck , production , Bangladesh , Hybrid vigor , Reproduction