Breeding techniques of Egg Duck

With the consumer demand for egg duck, China's egg duck market has become larger and larger, more and more perfect, egg duck breeding has become the first choice for livestock farmers or laid-off workers.

Physiological characteristics of Egg Duck

1. There is no significant difference in reproductive physiology between ducks and other poultry, such as continuous ovulation, in vivo fertilization and embryo development in vitro. Because domestic ducks (except Muscovy ducks) are apathetic (nesting), they must be hatched artificially.

2. The ovaries and fallopian tubes of female ducks are mature only on the left side and degenerated on the right side. The function of the left ovary of the female duck is to ovulate and lay eggs, and there is a very underdeveloped male gonad on the right. If there is an appropriate amount of male ducks in the duck herd, the androgen secreted by male ducks will inhibit the development of male gonads on the right side of female ducks, thus inducing the ovaries of female ducks to ovulate and lay more eggs. When there is no or lack of males in the duck herd, there is not enough testosterone to inhibit the male gland development of female ducks. Under certain circumstances, the male gonads on the right side of individual strong ducks develop and produce large amounts of testosterone, which in turn inhibits the normal function of the left ovary. As a result, individual female ducks no longer lay eggs, showing a sexual reversal, and their feathers gradually become bright and beautiful, much like male ducks.

3. The sexual desire of female ducks is much higher than that of chickens, geese, quails, pigeons and other birds, which is more obvious in ducks with male ducks. When the female duck is nearing the beginning of laying and the peak period of laying eggs, she often follows the male duck in small groups or waits on the surface of the water for the male duck. Most eggs are laid at 4: 00 am to 9: 00 am.

4. The male ducks in the dominant position have stronger sexual activity and higher mating success rate, and their offspring have higher fecundity, 16.8% higher fertilization rate, 17. 5% higher egg production and 5. 9% higher hatching rate than those with lower status. The female ducks with lower status were more willing to accept the mating of male ducks than those with higher status, the fertilization rate of breeding eggs was 18.8% higher than those with higher status, and the hatching rate was 29. 5% higher. 2%, the egg laying rate of offspring is 31. 5% higher. 2%. It is necessary to make full use of dominant male ducks and female ducks with lower status to improve the fecundity of ducks. The mating behavior of both male and female ducks decreased with the increase of age. it was found that the mating times of male ducks decreased by 7. 5% for every 100 days. 6-8.2 times, female ducks reduced 1-1.4 times. Therefore, it is necessary to make full use of young male ducks, eliminate old ducks, constantly renew the flock of ducks, and maintain good reproductive ability and breeding value. During the day, mating behavior is more common in the evening, accounting for 15% in the morning, 85% in the afternoon, and the highest mating frequency is 2-3 hours before lights out. The bedding ground is a safe mating place, and 80% to 90% of the mating behavior takes place on the bedding grass floor. Flat or mixed breeding on the bedding ground is beneficial to improve the fertilization rate of breeding eggs.

5. both male and female ducks are mate-selective and like to mate with acquaintances. If a new male duck is put into the flock of ducks that have established a group order, the female duck will refuse to mate and affect the fertilization rate of breeding eggs. The competition between male ducks will lead to new fights, and the losers may cause casualties or lose their competitive ability due to physiological castration. The ducks should be observed frequently during the breeding season, and the male ducks without breeding ability should be replaced in time.

Factors affecting the laying of laying ducks

Variety factor

Variety is a prerequisite for high yield. the laying rate, the length of laying cycle, the persistence of egg production and the size of eggs are all closely related to the variety. If a good breed can be selected for breeding, the egg production can be increased by several percent, or even multiplied, and the economic benefit will also be improved. How to select high-yield varieties suitable for local breeding according to their own feeding conditions and management techniques is the key factor for the success or failure of culture.

Nutritional factors

After entering the laying period, the demand for nutrients in laying ducks is higher than at any previous stage, in addition to the nutrients necessary to maintain life activities, but also a large number of nutrients necessary for laying eggs. Nutrients such as energy, protein and calcium must be fully supplied. Otherwise, the laying rate will be affected.

In order to achieve the level of sustained high yield, in addition to the variety is a congenital factor, whether the nutrients in the diet are comprehensive and balanced, and whether the quantity can meet the needs is a necessary condition to maintain high and stable yield.

Environmental factors

The environmental factors are complex, and the factors that have the greatest influence on egg production are light and temperature.

Health factors

It is impossible to produce high yield without a healthy body. Therefore, in the stage of cultivating young ducks, it is necessary to do a good job in the prevention of major infectious diseases. After entering the laying period, we should do a good job in environmental hygiene and feeding management, increase disease resistance and minimize the occurrence of diseases in order to maintain high and stable yield.

Psychological characteristics of digestion in laying ducks

The egg duck has no teeth and broad corners of its mouth. it is suitable for eating granular and lumpy food, and its salivary glands are underdeveloped faster. It is easy to swallow when drinking water and moist food. When swallowed, ducks raise their heads and stretch their necks to swallow food and water with the help of gravity and negative pressure generated by the esophagus. Duck tongue is extremely sensitive to water temperature, does not like water higher than body temperature, and is not afraid of cold water.

The digestive function of the duck is poor, the digestive tract of the duck which is not tolerant to crude fiber feed is shorter, and the emptying time is 4 hours. Ducks have the habit of feeding at night.

Egg-laying ducks have a large appetite and have a good appetite, whether in captivity or grazing, egg-laying ducks (especially high-yield ducks) are the most diligent in foraging, wake up early in the morning, forage around after leaving their homes, look for food everywhere when grazing, respond first when feeding, and actively grab food when they are fed. In the afternoon, although they have had enough to eat, they still want to eat, always walking at the end and leaving the pastoral area reluctantly.

Laying ducks have a strong metabolism and high requirements for feed due to continuous egg laying, which consumes a lot of nutrients. for example, if an egg is laid every day and the egg weight is calculated as 65 grams, crude protein is required. 75 grams (calculated according to the crude protein content of the whole egg 13. 5%), crude fat 9. 43 grams (calculated according to the content of crude fat accounting for 14.5% of the whole egg). In addition, a lot of inorganic salts and various vitamins are needed. If the nutrients in the feed are not comprehensive, or lack of certain elements, the egg production decreases, such as the number of eggs is reduced, the laying time is delayed, and the eggshell is rough.

Feed formula for laying duck

The suitable nutritional concentration of formula feed should be determined according to the age and feed intake of laying ducks.

The reference formula is: egg duckling (1 ~ 8 weeks): corn 58.7%, soybean meal 26%, rapeseed meal or cottonseed meal 7%, stone powder 4% (bone powder or shell powder), special pre-6 premix 4%, salt 0.3%. In the first week, ducklings are recommended to be fed with full-price pellet feed.

Duck in eggs (8 weeks to start production): corn 64%, soybean meal 16%, rapeseed meal or cottonseed meal 6%, stone powder 9.7% (bone meal or shell powder), special pre-6 premix 4%, salt 0.3%, Kinsevir appropriate amount.

Laying duck: corn 51%, soybean meal 22%, rapeseed meal or cottonseed meal 3%, secondary powder 10%, stone powder 9.7% (both bone powder and shell powder), special pre-6 premix 4%, salt 0.3%.

It can be said that as long as farmers understand the physiological and reproductive characteristics of egg ducks, as well as the conditions under which they lay eggs, they will not worry about raising high-quality egg ducks, and then get high-quality eggs and make a certain profit in the market, not to say how much they can earn, at least they will not be able to make ends meet.