Duck Egg Production Research Articles

The sequential tissue distribution of duck Tembusu virus in adult ducks.

In 2010, a novel Tembusu virus (TMUV) that caused a severe decrease in the egg production of ducks was isolated in southeast China. Given the novelty of this duck pathogen, little information is available regarding its pathogenesis. Here, we systematically investigated the replication kinetics of TMUV PTD2010 in adult male and female ducks. We found that PTD2010 was detectable in most of the parenchymatous organs as well as the oviduct and intestinal tract from days 1 to 7 after inoculation. Viral titers were maintained at high levels for at least 9 days in the spleen, kidney, bursa of Fabricius, brain, and ovary. No virus was detected in any of these organs or tissues at 18 days after inoculation. PTD2010, thus, causes systemic infections in male and female ducks; its replication kinetics show similar patterns in most organs, with the exception of the ovaries and testes.

English

The aims of this study were to determine the feeding effect of diets containing different ratio of ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids and organic Zn on egg production and quality of Magelang duck. A total of 90 ducks of 20 weeks old were randomly divided into 18 experimental units by assigning a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 3 replications. There were 6 dietary treatments, namely 1) ration without palm oil, fish oil and organic Zn with the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 was 1: 5 (R0), 2) ration with the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 was 1: 1.5 + 200 ppm organic Zn (R1), 3) ration with the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 was 1: 3 + 200 ppm organic Zn (R2), 4) ration with the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 was 1: 4.5 + 200 ppm organic Zn (R3), 5) ration with the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 was 1: 6 + 200 ppm organic Zn (R4), 6) ration with the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 was 1 : 7.5 + 200 ppm organic Zn (R5). Observation was carried out for 9 wk. The results showed that the ration containing the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 = 1 : 3 and organic Zn (R2) produced significantly (P<0.05) the highest egg production and the lowest egg production was resulted by the dietary treatment without oil and organic Zn. Ration containing the ratio of ω-3 : ω-6 = 1: 3 and organic Zn (R2) significantly (P<0.05) decreased feed conversion ratio to the lowest value and it was significantly different as compared to R0 and R5. It can be concluded that feeding diet containing ω-3 and ω-6 with the ratio of 1:3 + 200 ppm organic Zn improves egg production without decreasing egg quality.

Role of vitamin E and selenium in egg production, fertility and hatchability of native ducks

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of dietary vit E and Se on egg production, fertility and hatchability of native ducks in intensive system of management. Basal diet mixed with 0.5g vitamin E and 50 ppm selenium per 100 kg feed constitutes the feed of treatment group against only basal diet to control group that continued for 12 weeks of experiment period. Eggs produced were incubated for production of ducklings. Egg production, fertility and hatchability were recorded. Blood serum samples were estimated for total protein, total cholesterol and GOT at eighth week. The study revealed significant improvement of egg production, fertility and hatchability for the treatment group. Biochemical parameters of blood showed no significant difference between treatment and control. Thus it may be concluded that dietary supplementation of vitamin E and selenium to the laying native ducks is beneficial for egg production, fertility and hatchability.

Prokaryotic expression of the truncated duck enteritis virus UL27 gene and characteristics of UL27 gene and its truncated product

Duck enteritis virus (DEV) is an acute and contagious herpesvirus infection in waterfowls, which leads to heavy economic losses in the commercial duck industry due to its high mortality rate and decreasing duck egg production. In order to understand this virus better, truncated UL27 gene (tUL27) was used to construct pET-28a-tUL27 recombinant plasmid. The tUL27 gene product, truncated gB protein (tgB), was used to prepare rabbit anti-tgB protein polyclonal antibody. The polyclonal antibody was used for characteristics of DEV glycoprotein B (gB) intracellular localization. Protein gB was firstly detected in nuclear membrane of the infected DEF, and later during the infection it appeared as the punctiform fluorescence in cytoplasm. We also proved that DEV gB is a late protein. Localization of DEV gB in nuclear membrane, suggested a possible role in virus assembly, while appearance in cytoplasm suggests its role in viral egress. All these data provide a basal and useful knowledge about the functions of DEV UL27 gene and its product gB.

Effect of Dietary Daidzein on Egg Production, Shell Quality, and Gene Expression of ER-α, GH-R, and IGF-IR in Shell Glands of Laying Hens

Our previous studies demonstrated that dietary daidzein improves egg production in ducks during the late period of the laying cycle. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of daidzein in laying hens, with more focus on eggshell quality. The expression of ER-alpha, GH-R, and IGF-IR mRNA in shell glands was determined to identify the target genes of daidzein action and to reveal the relationship between shell quality and profiles of gene expression in shell glands of laying hens. 1000 ISA hens, at 445 days of age, were allotted at random to two groups and given the basal diet with or without 10 mg of daidzein per kg diet for 9 weeks. Daidzein supplement significantly increased the egg laying rate and the feed conversion ratio. The eggshell thickness increased, while the percentage of cracked eggs decreased in daidzein-treated hens. Serum E2 and phosphate concentrations were not altered, but the level of serum Ca2+ and the tibia bone mineral density were significantly increased in the daidzein-treated group compared with their control counterparts. In parallel with the significant increase of oviduct weight, significant down-regulation of GH-R and IGF-IR mRNA and a trend of decrease in ERalpha mRNA expression in shell glands were observed in daidzein-treated hens. The results indicate that dietary daidzein improves egg laying performance and eggshell quality during the late (postpeak) laying stage of hens, which is associated with modulations in gene expression in the shell gland.

Performan Ternak Entog Di Pedesaan Kecamatan Linggo Sari Baganti Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan Sumatera Barat

The field suwey was carried out to identify the most critical factors that influence the performances of muscovy duck raised extensively under village condition in sub district Linggo Sari Baganti, Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra. Thirty-three muscovy duck farmers, which were distributed in 4 villages in the sub district, were selected and intewiewed. Information collected included: flock size, egg production, egg hatchability, mortality, daily management practices, feed and feeding and health control. The average number of muscovy ducks raised was 11 ducks/farmer. The ducks laid egg 2-3 times per year with the average number of 12 eggs/duck/laying period. The hatchability of egg was about 84%, but the mortality of young duck during starter period was found very high, i.e. 42 %. Although about 67 % gave supplemented feed for their ducks, most of the feed consumed by the ducks were originated from scavenging. Most of farmers (70 %) did not take care young ducks. The ducklings were let to scavenge with their mother for about 12 weeks of old. Such feeding and management practices might be the major causing factors for the low egg production and high mortality of young duck.

Moulting patterns of Alabio and Mojosari ducks and their relation on blood lipids (tryglycerides), egg production and egg quality

Moulting is a biological condition that can happen in poultry. It is resulted from the complex interaction which involves the function of thyroxine hormone. Moulting can reduce or even stop the egg production. A study was conducted to observe the moulting patterns of local ducks (Alabio and Mojosari) and to determine the relation of moulting with blood lipids (triglycerides), egg production and quality. Each breed consisted of ten female dukcs were observed for moulting pattern, blood triglycerides, egg production and quality. Fourty ducks were used for simulation of egg production. Data from moulting patterns,egg production and quality were analyzed using t-based on Least Square means with Statistical Analysis System. The relation of breeds and moulting patterns with triglycerides were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement of 2x2. The main factor was kind of breeds, while the subfactor was the period of moulting, before and during moulting. There were not interaction in every variables between both factors. The average moulting periode of Alabio was significantly (P<0.05) shorter than that of Mojosari (69 vs 76 days). There were 40% of Alabio ducks moulting for 61-70 days, while 40% of Mojosari ducks moulting for 71-80 days. Egg production of Alabio ducks before and after moulting were higher than those Mojosari ducks. The triglycerides content of Alabio and Mojosari ducks was decreased during moulting, in Alabio ducks they were 32.02 and 27.64 μg/ml before and during moulting, while in Mojosari ducks they were 32.83 and 29.32 μg/ml respectively. Egg weight, albumin weight, yolk weight, and haugh unit of the two breeds increased after moulting, while yolk colour decreased. The average yolk colour of Alabio ducks before and after moulting were 6.90 and 5.11, while in Mojosari ducks they were 7.90 and 4.60 respectively. Key Words: Moulting, Tryglycerides, Egg Productivity, Egg Quality

Effect of restrticted feeding on productivity of Mojosari x Alabio cross-bred layer ducks (MA): 1. First phase of laying 20-43 weeks old

Feed cost is the major cost for duck-egg production which accounted to be more than 70% of total production cost. Feed efficiency of duck-egg production in Indonesia is low. The main reasons for the low feed efficiency (high feed conversion ratio, FCR) are (1) genetic trait (2) high feed wastage and (3) inadequate nutrient content of diet. An experiment was conducted to evaluate effect of restricted feeding of pelleted diet on Mojosari x Alabio (MA) cross-bred duck performances from 20-43 weeks old. The experiment was designed in a Completely Randomized Design. 156 MA cross-bred ducks were devided into three groups and fed three experimental diets: (1) 70%, 85% . and ad libitum. All experimental diets were fed to ducks for 24 weeks and feed intake, egg production, egg weight, FCR, molting and egg quality: egg yolk weight, albumen wight, egg shell weight and egg yolk colour score were measured as parameters. The results showed that the restricted feeding of 70% and 85% significantly (P<0.05) reduced egg production, egg weight and induced early molting but did not adversely affect duck livability and egg quality. MA croos-bred duck was more efficient by feeding ad libitum than the restricted feeding. FCR of duck fed 70% (6.38) was significantly (P<0.05) worst compared to FCR of duck fed 85% (3.68) and ad libitum (2.88). Key words: Restricted feeding, MA crossbred duck, productivity and egg quality

Future Prospects of Duck Production in Asia.

Asia accounted for 87% of the world's duck population in 1999. In last two decades, duck meat and duck egg production has increased more than 4 times in Asia. This increment came from the growing duck population of local breeds, as well as the expansion of imported breeds from foreign breeding companies. Future aspects of duck production in Asia will be discussed in this paper. These include the improvement of production efficiency, the influence from joint venture, the utilization of locally available feedstuffs, duck-cum-rice and duck-cum-fish integrated systems, genetic resource conservation, low-fat duck production, the development of value-added duck products, product biosecurity and disease control, and pollution control of duck-raising.

Intensification through diversified resource use: The human ecology of a successful agricultural industry in Indonesian Borneo

The success of an agricultural industry in commercial duck egg production in the swamplands of South Kalimantan (Borneo) is examined through the utilization of a human ecology framework. Seasonality of resource availability and human population growth are identified as two major constraints to production faced by farmers. Population increases in the urban sectors of southeastern Borneo also present economic opportunities for farmers because of the growing demand for poultry products. Farmers have responded by developing an intensification strategy in egg production based on the use of diversified resources for duck feed. The long-term consequences of these and other innovations in duck farming are discussed; and diversity-stability theory is examined for its applicability to this case of agricultural development and for rural development theory and practice.

Dropped egg production in ducks associated with adenovirus infection

Six thousand laying ducks were kept on a large-scale farm, half of which were home-reared ducks, and the other half were imported birds. At the beginning of the laying period 70% of the ducks reared on the farm possessed EDS antibodies in titres of 1:32 to 512, whereas only 20% of the imported ducks were found to possess haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies in titres of 1:16 to 1:32. When the ducks reached the peak of egg production, a severe diarrhoea was observed and egg production decreased by 50% and 10% in the imported ducks and the home-reared ducks, respectively. The decrease in egg production lasted only for 1 week, and production then returned to a normal level. Shell-less and soft-shelled eggs were not recorded, but sometimes misshapen eggs were found. From small intestinal contents of ducks with diarrhoea a haemagglutinating virus identical with McFerran's adenovirus 127 was isolated. HI antibodies appeared in 100% of the convalescent sera. Hatching losses exceeded those observed in previous year by 20%. It may be presumed that the drop in egg production of laying ducks was caused by EDS virus infection.

Duck egg production systems in West Java

A sample of sixty duck flocks was studied in West Java in an effort to define the range of existing egg producing systems. These flocks were classified according to the three criteria: • Occurrence of herding during year. • Occurrence of scavenging during year. • Duration of confinement in yard. Brief descriptions are given of a wide variety of management systems from fully mobile herding to enterprises in which ducks are yarded all year. Herding systems depend mainly upon rice harvesting activity although, at certain times of year in certain areas, some owners resort to temporary yard feeding or to scavenging systems. Numerous small flocks scavenge for the whole year and many different combinations of herding, scavenging and yarding exist. Fully yarded systems are rare but are being encouraged by national development policy. As the combination of types of duck management varies considerably with location, planning for research and development cannot be aimed at any one particular system. It should rather be directed towards defining and solving problems within major elements common to many duck producing areas. For West Java the common elements suggested are five feeding environments in which ducks may always be found: • Ducks herded on newly harvested rice. • Ducks herded on flooded fallow rice fields. • Ducks scavenging in dry fallow fields. • Ducks scavenging in ponds, canals, rivers. • Ducks fully yarded.