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Title: THE GROWTH PATTERN AND CARCASS DEVELOPMENT IN MALE DUCKS SELECTED FOR GROWTH RATE.

Author
item Maruyama, Kimiaki - Kim
item AKBAR, M - MAPLE LEAF FARMS
item TURK, C - MAPLE LEAF FARMS

Submitted to: British Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: It is a common practice for poultry breeders to select birds at a particular age for faster growth. However, it is not always the case that the faster growing birds selected as above attain heavier weight and a satisfactory breast-yield when the feeding period is shortened. Body-weight and carcass data were collected from 1305 growing male ducks from four lines which had been segregated by selecting for the growth rate. The patterns of body and carcass growth were determined using five nonlinear growth curves. The growth potential, ranging from 4437 g to 3008 g, and the age at which the growth rate reaches maximum, ranging from 22.5 days to 25.3 days, were predicted. Mathematical analysis of breast growth found two growth patterns; early maturity but low potential, and late maturity but high potential, among four lines. Results from this study suggested that a breeding program using growth curves would be more effective for selecting faster growing ducks than the selection based on the 7-week weight.

Technical Abstract: Growth patterns of the whole body, eviscerated carcasses, breast muscle, leg and thigh muscles, and abdominal fat pads were compared in four lines (Lines A, B, C, and D) of male ducks selected for market weight (N = 1305) using growth curve analysis, allometric growth analysis, and repeated measure analysis. At 49 days of age, Line A was heaviest, followed by Line B, by Line C, and then by Line D. The Weibull function was the choice for growth curve analysis. The asymptote and inflection point from the Weibull growth curves identified three lines (Lines B, C, and D) with discrete body and carcass growth. In four lines, the asymptote ranged from 4437 g to 3008 g for body weight and from 3334 g to 2098 g for carcass weight, and the inflection point ranged from 22.5 days to 25.3 days for body weight and from 29.6 days to 25.4 days for carcass weight. The allometric growth coefficient, relative to the whole-body growth, was higher than 1.00 for breast muscle and lower than 1.00 for leg and thigh muscles during the period of 4 days through 53 days of age. Breast-muscle growth was bi-phasic, having more intense growth after 39 days of age with an exception of Line D. The Line D accumulated more abdominal fat than other lines.