Abstract of research

INFLUENCE OF HOUSING SYSTEM (INDOOR VERSUS OUTDOOR) ON BEHAVIOR, PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND IMMUNE RESPONSE OF DUCKS

El-Kholya, S.Z. and El-Edel, M.A.

Abstract

300 ducklings one-old (100 Cherry valley ducks (CVD), 100 Moulard and 100 Pekin) were allotted into indoor group (until they were slaughtered) and outdoor group (from 3rd week of age). The obtained results showed the total confinement of ducks resulted in much feeding (2.16±0.38), drinking (5.79±0.67), standing (24.62±2.53), preening, wing stretching, wing and leg stretch, panting, total body care (25.59±1.78), floor exploration and total exploratory behavior (2.02±0.35) and aggressive behavior (0.34±0.12). Rearing ducks in closed housed resulted in significantly higher body weight and weight gain at 4th week of age than those under outdoor system (1275.88±11.95 and 870.97±8.72 g vs. 1223.98±11.67 and 803.72±8.44 g, respectively). On contrary rearing of ducks in outdoor system resulted in higher body weight and total weight gain at 6th and 8th weeks. Keeping ducks in closed system significantly increase phagocytic activity after 3rd day of vaccination (19.64±0.26 vs. 18.89±0.20) and 7th day for phagocytic index (1.62±0.03 vs. 1.48±0.02). It could be concluded that the suitable breed of ducks for broiler production under farmer’s condition was affected by management systems as CVD can perform well by the outdoor system. In contrast for Moulard ducks its performance was improved by indoor system, while Pekin duck performance was less affected by system of rearing. Higher cellular immune response was observed for confinement over outdoor system of rearing.