In addition, feeding system and availability of feed for rearing ducks, productive performances of scavenger ducks and profitability of rearing those ducks, socio-economic condition of the farmers were also evaluated. About 78% of the respondents fed their birds with a mixture of cooking rice and rice polish as it is available and cheap. Small-scale duck farming has potential contribution to uplifting socio-economic condition and improving the nutritional status of the rural people in Bangladesh.
The total duck population in the country is reported to be 57.75 million (DLS, 2019), of which 95 percent are of indigenous or non-descript type distributed throughout the country (Hoque and Sultana, 2003). In Bangladesh, most of the ducks are indigenous (Ahmed, 1986; Arboleda, 1990) but other major ducks available in the country are Khaki Campbell, Indian Runner, Jinding, Pekin and their crosses. In Companigonj Upazila, each household keeps only a few ducks in association with chickens in which most of the ducks are native non-descript, crosses and deshipati. Simple random sampling technique was followed for collecting necessary data to achieve the specific objectives of the study.
Most of the family raised ducks in the backyard, but some young people take the initiative to raise ducks on a small scale. The literature level of the studied duck breeding is categorized into four groups such as illiterate, primary, secondary and upper secondary. The annual income level of the studied farmed duck is categorized into three groups, such as
Landholding sizes of the households are classified into four groups, such as Landless farmers (0-0.49 hectares), Small and marginal farmers (0.50-1 hectares).
3. 2: Structure of family ducks and its production by season (percent)
Utilization pattern of ducks in different households
From table-7 it can be shown that the highest percentage of ducks is oviparous (38.7%) and the lowest percentage of ducks is drake (10.4%) in my study area.
Traditional management practices followed by the owners of ducks
15 of the farmers used single or combined materials (straw, ash, rice husk) as litter where the rest of the farmers kept ducks without using any litter.
- BREEDING AND HATCHING
- Vaccination and Medication
- Cost, Return and Profitability of Duck Rearing
- Family wise and per bird annual gross cost
- Family Wise and per bird Gross Return
- Marketing of eggs and ducks
It can be found that most of the home farmers use rice polish (34%) and a small number of farmers use wheat bran (1%) as duck feed. Table- 9: Different types of food ingredients and their percentage used by farmers. Most of the farmers said that the sexual maturity in ram breeds of ducks was between 5.5-6 months and the average annual egg production was 110 eggs/year.
Egg production has also been found to peak during the winter, especially after the harvest season. The mortality rate of duck is high in winter, and due to less vaccination, mortality varies from place to place. Table-10 Shows the average age of first laying, season of the year at peak production, egg production per year and mortality rate.
18 It was found that most of the householders use natural procedure of hatching by using hen and also by hatching hen themselves. Most of the households indicate that ducks are mostly affected in the winter season and they slaughter ducks when they are sick. Some part of the study area is lowland and most of the area is highland.
It is a densely populated area; about 50% of the secondary households have an annual income between Tk. Types of duck houses and day shelters with materials used in the present study area are similar to many other parts of the country. The average egg production of Deshi ducks and ducks under study is 110 per duck per year.
There is a high demand for duck meat in Noakhali and therefore most households sold and consumed 5-7 ducks per year.
Marketing channel of eggs
Loss of ducks due to infectious diseases can be controlled by intensive vaccination, immediate antibacterial treatment for bacterial diseases. Moreover, the cost for production and maintenance of ducks is very low due to feeding on natural resources. About 62% of household farmers sold eggs to the local market and 27% sold their duck eggs to the bepari.
CONCLUSION
PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PROBLEMS FACED BY THE FARMERS
Review of household poultry production as a tool in poverty reduction with focus on Bangladesh and India. Effect of incubation humidity and flock age on hatchability characteristics and post-hatching growth in Pekin ducks. Carcass and organ characteristics of Muscovy ducks reared under three management systems in Southeastern Nigeria.
Status of domestic ducks and its associated factors under the scavenger system in a southern area of Bangladesh. An overview of the current status and management of mangrove habitats in Bangladesh, with an emphasis on mangrove fisheries and aquaculture. To investigate the production system of existing ducks in Potuakhali district of Bangladesh and development of a subsistence model of duck breeding under semi-scavenger system on farmer's condition.
2006). Effect of traditional fried rice husk incubation techniques on the hatchability of duck eggs. Comparative performance and hematoma-biochemical profile of Jinding ducks in different production systems of Bangladesh. 1988), egg production, feed consumption, viability and egg characteristics of Campbell's khaki, Indian runner and native ducks under local conditions.
Variations in body weight, wing length and condition of Mallard Ana's platyrhynchos platyrhynchos and their relationship to environmental changes.
APPENDIX
K.M Saifuddin, Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, CVASU for his valuable cordial co-operation and suggestion during the study period
BIOGRAPHY
