Characterisation of the local Muscovy duck in Nigeria and its potential for egg and meat production
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doi:10.1017/S0043933913000937 Characterisation of the local Muscovy duck in Nigeria and its potential for egg and meat production A. YAKUBU Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus, P.M.B. 135 Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria Corresponding author: abdul_mojeedy@yahoo.com Research results and facts about indigenous Muscovy duck production in Nigeria are reviewed with the aim of assessing its current status and delivering relevant information to stakeholders and other potential beneficiaries. There are large variations in phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of indigenous Muscovy ducks in the country, which could serve as a basis for genetic improvement. These ducks have the potential for a mean live weight of 2.73 and 1.52 kg and dressing percentage of 71.2% and 69.8% for drakes and ducks, respectively. Under scavenging, backyard farming conditions, the ducks can lay between 60 and 80 eggs each per year, and about 100 and 125 eggs per bird per year with an egg weight of about 72g under improved management conditions. The morphological, meat and egg attributes of local Muscovy ducks may be exploited in management decisions geared towards ensuring an increase in productivity, thereby making an important contribution to food security in a developing economy. Keywords: Muscovy ducks; characteristics; eggs; carcass; Nigeria Introduction Family poultry represent an appropriate system for supplying a fast growing human population with high quality protein and providing additional income to poorer, small farmers (Guèye, 2009; Akinola and Essien, 2011; Mengesha, 2012). Family poultry are as important to the rural areas as industrial poultry are to the urban regions (Moula et al., 2012). Under the present circumstances in Nigeria, any development that increases productivity of family poultry by 10% would contribute far more poultry products than a 10% increase in industrial poultry, which would require far more capital investment (Sonaiya, 2009). Animal genetic resources (AnGR) are crucial to all future developments and adaptations, and carry an international obligation to conserve certain characteristics for sustainable and future use. Therefore diversity is necessary to be able to adapt to future markets, production systems, available feed resources, environmental © World's Poultry Science Association 2013 World's Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 69, December 2013 Received for publication December 20, 2012 Accepted for publication February 26, 2013 931
Muscovy duck production Nigeria: A. Yakubu issues, laws and regulations, and disease pressure. Of the utmost consequence are food supply and security, although cultural and historical values also have importance (Tromso, 2010). Poultry genetic resources in general are considered to be the most endangered and under-conserved; and strategic approaches to conservation at the national level need to be developed and implemented (Hoffmann, 2009). Knowledge-based management of AnGR is critical to address current agricultural, socio-economic, and environmental challenges facing animal production. Consequently, characterisation of AnGR constitutes one of the priorities of the FAO global plan of action (Alders and Pym, 2009), in particular in developing countries, where there is a lack of information regarding what and how to conserve, develop, and select among local breeds. Waterfowl production has progressed rapidly in the past few decades and will, without doubt, continue to play an increasingly important role in the world with respect to food production and security (Huang et al., 2012). Duck meat production was increased from 1.3 million tons in 1991 to 3.6 million tons in 2007 (Pingel, 2009), with 65% of the world production coming from China. Duck production in 2010 was six-fold that of 1961 (FAOSTAT, 2012). In Nigeria, the duck population was ranked third (9,553,911) after chicken (101,676,710) and guinea fowl (16,976,907) respectively (NBS, 2012). Muscovy ducks make up about 74% of the ducks in Nigeria, and its meat is lower in fat and hence considered to be healthier (Adesope and Nodu, 2002). Ferdus (1999) reported that increased duck rearing would be a great addition to total poultry output since they do not interfere with chicken production due to different rearing and scavenging venues. Due to its good foraging and incubation behaviour, Muscovy ducks are especially suitable for scavenging systems and they have a better adaptability to hot climates than chickens (Raji et al., 2009). The Muscovy duck would be suitable for small- scale rural farmers in Africa and Latin America and could contribute to food security (Pingel, 2009). Due to the fact that duck raising is still not well developed in Nigeria, the Muscovy duck is most commonly kept on free-range and backyard premises. Even though ducks are hardier and more resistant to diseases and environmental hazards, they are fewer in number compared to chickens basically because of cultural beliefs, which tend to portray ducks as mystique birds. However, development in research and technology has increasingly eliminated these cultural barriers and enhanced the productivity of the birds (Ikani, 2003). The following paper reviews the phenotypic, biochemical and molecular genetic characteristics as well as the meat and egg attributes of local Muscovy ducks in Nigeria. Brief description of Nigerian Muscovy ducks The Muscovy duck is the most popular variety in Nigeria. Muscovy Ducks originated in Central and South America (Anonymous, 2012). Although they were domesticated hundreds of years ago, have they been getting increased attention from backyard homesteaders only recently. The plumage can be black, white, a combination of the two or multicoloured (Raji et al., 2009). Muscovy ducks are easily recognised by the fleshy outgrowths, red in colour, found round the eyes and beaks. They are found mostly along the coastal areas of southern Nigeria (Ugbomeh, 2002; Ikani, 2003). The Muscovy duck has few of the problems associated with the Pekin, and some added benefits and so has become a favourable alternative to the Pekin Duck. The main reason why people raise these ducks is for their ample and succulent breast meat., with many people likening it to filet mignon (Anonymous, 2012). 932 World's Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 69, December 2013
Muscovy duck production Nigeria: A. Yakubu Morpho-biometric characterisation Phenotypic characterisation of AnGR is the process of identifying distinct breed populations and describing their external and production characteristics in a given environment and under certain management, taking into account the social and economic factors that affect them. The information provided by characterisation studies is essential for planning the management of AnGR at local, national, regional and global levels (FAO, 2011). The Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources (FAO, 2007) states that ‘A good understanding of breed characteristics is necessary to guide decision-making in livestock development and breeding programmes’. Knowledge about body size and skeletal proportions of native stock is imperative because it can prove, to some extent, a reasonable representation of genetic differences among populations (Yakubu et al., 2009). In a phenotypic study on Nigerian Muscovy ducks, sex-associated differences were found in all the body traits and indices investigated. Males (drakes) had significantly (p
Muscovy duck production Nigeria: A. Yakubu
2011). Sexual dimorphism in Muscovy ducks has been studied by Huang et al. (2012). In
a related study, Yakubu et al. (2011) compared the morphometric traits of Muscovy
ducks from two agroecological zones of Nigeria: Common descriptive statistics showed
that ducks from the rainforest zone had significantly higher (P< 0.05) body weight (2.2 ±
0.05 kg versus 2.0kg ± 0.05 kg), foot size (5.5 ± 0.09 cm versus 4.3 ± 0.05 cm) and thigh
circumference (8.6 ± 0.18 cm versus 7.5 ± 0.15) , while their guinea savannah
counterparts were longer (P< 0.05) in the neck (16.0 ± 0.18 cm versus 14.1 ± 0.24 cm).
On the basis of categorical traits, Raji et al. (2009) reported four plumage colours in
Muscovy ducks in the northern part of Nigeria: multicoloured (36.9%), white (30.6%),
black (6.4%) and black and white (26.1%). The mean body weight for the four plumage
colours viz; multicolour, black, white, and black and white, were 2.64 kg, 2.05 kg, 2.12
kg and 1.92 kg, respectively (Table 2). The apparent wide variation in plumage colours is
an indication that the duck populations have not been ‘purified’ through selective
breeding, and so great opportunities exist for their improvement. One of the
possibilities as postulated by Dana et al. (2010), is to drive selection towards specific
coat colours putting into cognisance the relationship between polygenetic effects of coat
colour and other traits of interest (for example, physiology, morphology and behaviour )
(Toth et al., 2006).
Table 2 Means and standard errors of body weight (kg) and linear body measurements (cm) of mature
local Muscovy ducks in Nigeria as affected by plumage colour (Raji et al., 2009).
Variable Black Multicoloured White Black and White
Metatarsus Length 5.98 ± 0.06b 6.92 ± 0.09a 5.98 ± 0.06b 5.76 ± 0.06b
Metatarsus Circumference 5.37 ± 0.05b 6.12 ± 0.07a 5.31 ± 0.05bc 5.12 ± 0.06c
Femur Length 8.66 ± 0.02b 11.07 ± 0.99a 8.77 ± 0.13b 8.14 ± 0.13b
Femur Circumference 10.40 ± 0.10b 11.77 ± 0.19a 10.79 ± 0.11b 10.39 ± 0.13b
Chest Girth 35.01 ± 0.28b 40.20 ± 0.45a 36.06 ± 0.33b 35.24 ± 0.33b
Chest Width 13.96 ± 0.07bc 14.71 ± 0.11a 14.03 ± 0.08b 13.71 ± 0.08c
Body Length 52.78 ± 0.38b 59.74 ± 0.30a 51.87 ± 0.44bc 50.30 ± 0.46c
Beak length 5.47 ± 0.03b 5.96 ± 0.03a 5.46 ± 0.03b 5.34 ± 0.04b
Body weight 2.05 ± 0.04bc 2.64 ± 0.05a 2.12 ± 0.04b 1.92 ± 0.04c
Wing length 27.40 ± 0.20b 31.02 ± 0.27a 27.46 ± 0.24b 26.66 ± 0.26b
abc
Means within rows with different superscripts are significantly (P< 0.05) different from each other.
Biochemical characterisation
Information on blood parameters of Muscovy ducks can be used to serve as baseline data
to be used in clinical evaluation and improvement of local stock, as reported for
indigenous chickens by Ladokun et al. (2008). Nigerian Muscovy ducks have
erythrocyte counts that are lower than the average counts reported for temperate
breeds of ducks, but higher than those reported for Nigerian domestic chickens. No
significant difference in the average total leucocyte count between the male and
female Muscovy ducks was observed. The total leucocyte count in Muscovy ducks
was reported as higher than those for temperate breeds of ducks and the Nigerian
domestic chickens. Higher lymphocyte counts was recorded for male Muscovy ducks
(72.75%) than for females (61.37%) while lower basophil average counts were reported
for males (0.75%) compared to females (1.5%) (Sulaiman et al., 2010).
In a related study, Okeudo et al. (2003) reported that packed cell volume (PCV) was
46.00% ± 1.73 and 41.17% ± 3.13 and haemoglobin concentration (HBC) was 15.67% ±
934 World's Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 69, December 2013Muscovy duck production Nigeria: A. Yakubu
0.29, 14.17% ± 1.13 for drakes and ducks respectively, indicating significant differences
(P< 0.01) between males and females. Mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of the
drakes (1.63 ± 0.35 mm/hr.) was significantly different (P< 0.05) from the 1.95 ± 0.30
mm/hr observed in the females. Male and female blood coagulation time (BCT) were
1.55 ± 1.00 and 1.85 ±11.05 seconds and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration
(MCHC) values were 34.07% ± 1.01, 34.42% ± 2.13, respectively for males and females.
Leukocyte count indicated no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the males and
females. Again, heterophils and lymphocytes counts did not reveal significant differences
(P> 0.05) between the male and female birds. The serum protein value of the females
(12.07 ± 1.59/100 ml) was significantly higher (P< 0.01) than the 6.87 ± 0.42 g/100 ml
recorded in males. Serum calcium and phosphorous levels were significantly different
(P< 0.01) at 7.43 ± 0.75 mg/dl, 8.52 ± 0.58 mg/dl and 3.20 ± 1.51 mg/dl, 7.98 ± 1.39 mg/
dl in the males and females, respectively.
DNA molecular characterisation
Development of a global database containing detailed information on the genetic
diversity of farm animals may prove a useful tool in the conservation and restoration
of endangered species in the future (Semik and Krawczyk, 2011). With advances in
technology, a number of techniques for in-depth genome analysis and evaluation of
genetic variation in different breeds have been developed. The most important
techniques include analysis of microsatellite sequences, mitochondrial DNA, Y-
chromosomal markers and SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) markers (Petit et al.,
2002; Ajmone-Marsan et al., 2010; Groeneveld et al., 2010; FAO, 2011). However, there
is virtually no published work on the genetic diversity of Nigerian ducks using these
techniques, which would have served as a better complement to the phenotypic
characterisation to ascertain the breed status and facilitate structured breeding and
conservation of Muscovy ducks. Therefore, research efforts and funding should be
directed to the molecular characterisation of Nigerian Muscovy ducks.
Meat production attributes
In a study involving a comparison of the carcass and meat quality characteristics of two
exotic breeds of duck (Rouen and Pekin) and the local Muscovy duck, Omojola (2007)
reported higher dressing percentage in Nigerian Muscovy ducks (Table 3). Huang et al.
(2012) reported a range of 4.7-5.1kg body weight for male Muscovy ducks at slaughter.
The carcass yield was 70% ± 5 and 51% ± 8 in males and females, respectively. Meat
productivity was 26.7 and 11.5 kg/m2 per year in males and females, respectively
(Banga-Mboko et al., 2007). Etuk et al. (2006) reported that Muscovy ducks under
semi-intensive systems (SI) with either access to wallows (IW) or without (IO), did
not differ in their final body weights, average daily gains, average feed intake and
feed conversion ratios. From a survey, Oteku et al. (2006) reported that about 64.6%
agreed that duck meat is recommendable as one of the ways to address the problem of
animal protein shortage in Nigeria, if its acceptance could be improved through product
development.
World's Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 69, December 2013 935Muscovy duck production Nigeria: A. Yakubu
Table 3 Live, fasted, blood feather and the dressing percentage of duck as affected by sex and breeds
(Omojola, 2007).
Parameters Rouen Pekin Muscovy
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Live weight (g) 1466.70c 1516.70b 2000.00a 1466.70c 2000.00a 1583.30b
Fasted weight (g) 1366.70b 1283.30b 1750.00a 1366.70b 1966.70a 1333.30b
(%) 93.18a 84.61b 87.50b 93.18a 98.34a 84.21b
Bled weight (g) 1286.70bc 1191.70c 1583.30ab 1300.0bc 1816.70a 1250.0bc
(%) 94.15 92.86 90.47 95.17 92.27 93.75
Blood weight (g) 83.33 91.67 166.67 66.67 150.00 83.33
Blood (%) 6.10 7.12b 9.52a 4.88d 7.63b 6.25c
Feather weight (g) 150.00 159.00 183.33 165.33 183.33 163.33
(%) 10.98 12.39 10.48 12.10 9.32 12.25
Dressing (%) 68.90ab 65.28b 66.67b 68.78ab 71.18a 69.75a
abc
Means within the same row and breed column not sharing superscripts are significantly (P>0.05) different
Egg production characteristics
Ikani (2003) reported that, under the scavenging conditions, Muscovy ducks can lay
between 60 and 80 eggs per year and about 100 and 125 eggs per year in controlled
conditions. Muscovy ducks in intensive management systems come into lay significantly
earlier, (IO, 203 days and IW, 207 days) than ducks in semi-intensive system (248 days).
Eggs from ducks in IO and IW were significantly heavier (76.4 g and 76.3 g,
respectively) than eggs from those in SI. Clutch sizes were significantly larger IO and
IW (19.0 and 18.73 eggs, respectively) than SI (16.23 eggs). There was however, no
significant difference between ducks in IO and IW in all the parameters measured. Ducks
in intensive management systems (IO and IW) appear to exhibit better egg laying
potential than those in semi-intensive systems (Etuk et al., 2011). The average
number of eggs per duck per season was 80.8 ± 0.74 (Duru et al., 2006). Ogah and
Musa (2011) reported that Muscovy ducks in the guinea and rainforest agroecological
zones respectively, had body weight at first egg of (1497 g ± 16.8 versus 1579 g ± 17.6),
at an age of 314.7 days ± 3.33 versus 331.7 ± 3.49) with an average number of eggs laid
at point of lay being 6.30 ± 0.36 versus 5.60 ± 0.38 and a mean egg weight of 50.70 g ±
0.88 versus 52.99 g ± 0.92. However, in Congo-Brazzaville, Banga-Mboko et al. (2007)
reported that laying recorded per female and per clutch was 14.6 eggs ± 3.0, while
Nickolova (2004) reported greater egg weights (78.36g-85.32g) for Muscovy ducks in
Bulgaria. These differences may be due to varying environmental conditions. One feature
of Muscovy ducks in Nigeria is its readiness to hatch not only its own eggs, but any other
egg set under it (Ikani, 2003; Duru et al., 2006), which is a useful benefit for smaller
famers with diverse flocks of production birds.
Conclusions
The morphological, meat and egg attributes of the Muscovy duck readily make it the
waterfowl of choice for Nigerian poultry farmers. Nigeria needs to take advantage of the
economic and nutritional benefits from duck rearing to improve the shortage in the
animal protein supply in the family diet. Generally, rearing waterfowl is more
936 World's Poultry Science Journal, Vol. 69, December 2013Muscovy duck production Nigeria: A. Yakubu
convenient and successful than chickens for regions with hot and humid climates. In
countries with such climatic conditions more support should be given for waterfowl
production, especially the Muscovy duck, in small-scale family farms to ensure an
increase in productivity and an important contribution to food security.
Acknowledgements
Funding for this study was provided by the National Secretariat of the Academic Staff
Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan, Nigeria; and this is gratefully acknowledged.
Special thanks to Prof. U. Awuzie (immediate past ASUU Chairman) and Dr. Nasir
Fagge (current ASUU Chairman) for facilitating the research grant.
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