Abstract
Although we have been farming ducks for at least 4,000 years, with some accounts suggesting domestication having begun more than 38,000 years ago, there are still many unknowns for optimizing domestic duck welfare in a commercial setting. Ducks being waterfowl, are semi-aquatic and have unique behavioral needs when compared to other commonly farmed poultry species. Providing ducks with open water which allows for full body immersion so that they may perform their full repertoire of water-related behaviors is important for their health and welfare. However, in a commercial setting this remains challenging due to biosecurity, contamination, health, and management concerns. An important question is therefore how best to provide ducks with a commercially feasible and safe water source in which they can derive maximum welfare and health benefits with no adverse consequences to health or global water resources. This review considers the amount of water provision necessary to satisfy duck's water-related needs to enhance yet not compromise their welfare in a commercial setting based on current knowledge, as well as identifies the outstanding questions for future research to address.
Highlights
In 2019, approximately 5.7 billion domestic farmed ducks were slaughtered globally (FAO, 2021)
This review focuses on the three most common species of domestic ducks used for commercial meat production which are Pekin, Muscovy, and Mulard ducks, which is a hybrid crossbred of the Pekin and Muscovy, called a Mule duck
This review aims to consider the amount of water provision necessary to satisfy ducks’ waterrelated needs to enhance while not compromising their welfare in a commercial setting based on current knowledge, as well as identify areas for future research
Summary
In 2019, approximately 5.7 billion domestic farmed ducks were slaughtered globally (FAO, 2021). Farghly et al (2017) in an experimental setting assessed the effect time of day (10:00–12:00, 12:00–14:00, and 14:00–16:00) and outdoor open water access for 2 h had on 180 Muscovy ducks (from 4 until 16 weeks of age) They found ducks with water access had lower body temperatures than control groups, when provided water access from 12:00 to 14:00. Whilst the behavioral and health impacts of similar systems, such as showers, have been explored in indoor-housed domestic ducks, the potential of misting systems as an alternative water source for both reducing heat stress and enabling wet preening require testing. Further research is required to confirm this as currently there is a lack of literature available
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
