Volume 5, Issue 10, October – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Characterization of Muscovy Ducks at PUNGUNRE

Poultry Farm in East New Britain Province
Limai Lan
Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment, Private Mail Bag Service,
Kokopo, East New Britain Province

Abstract:- This study was conducted at the PNGUNRE sexual dimorphism accounted for -.402**, -.238**, -.315**
poultry farm using 270 birds in 2018. Muscovy ducks are and -.172** at high significant (P<0.01) of BW, NL, BL
hardy waterfowls existing with variations in phenotypic and BH respectively. There’s high negative correlation of
characteristics. Five phenotypes ( n=25 lavender, n=20 sex on the traits measured. Plumage colour cannot be used
chocolate, n= 56 silver, n=59 black and n=110white) by to select BW, BL BH and NL for breeding purposes.
plumage colour where distinctively sampled and Dimorphism in ducks has a negative effect on the assed
characterized. Measurements on body weight, neck length parameters accept NL. Separate study on the effect of sex
and neck height were used as the parameters for on the measured parameters is required.
comparison on five phenotypes. Analysis was done using
SPSS version 16.0 involving Duncan’s multiple tests to Keywords:- Muscovy Duck, Body Weight, Body Length, Body
separate the means while Pearson’s correlation coefficient Height, Neck Length, Plumage Colour, Correlation,
was performed to find relationship between the Phenotype,
parameters. Negative correlation (-.137*) was observed
between plumage colour and BW,NL,NH and BL. The I. INTRODUCTION

Meat is contributing to PNG house hold consumption at The present study aims to investigate whether the
a predicted growth rate of 5% per year (Quartermain, 2000). plumage colour will have an effect on the phenotypic traits in
Poultry meat contributed a total of 40,760 tonnes in 1998. Muscovy ducks. This could aid their proper management,
Muscovy duck statistics was not recorded requiring more conservation and improvement in breeding program.
effort to investigate and document the production trends.
Quartermain may be right to state that production is low due to  Problem Definition
people participating for the wrong and not following up on Phenotypic variations in plumage colour indicates
projected farmers leading to unavailability of Muscovy duck variations in production, reproduction and economic traits of
records. This affects population size records of Muscovy duck Muscovy duck under certain ecosystems. Variations in the
like in the PNGUNRE farm. The current population size of traits remains uncertain to investigate the genetics of Muscovy
Muscovy duck at the farm is 270 as it was sampled into duck. Phenotypic expression of genes is a combined influence
clusters of five phenotypic plumage colours. According to of genetics and environment (P=G+E), but by how much
Macharia et al., (2017) phenotypic traits are sometimes linked remains uncertain. Thus, investigating the phenotypic plumage
to specific adaptations. cluster defines the phenotypic genetic distances that would
assist with appropriate breeding plans and selection to
Chineke et al,(2002)reported that the relationship that improve the desired traits of Muscovy duck breed. The study
exist among body measurement traits provides useful investigates to answer the two questions.
information on performance, productivity and carcass 1. Does plumage colour influence population size of
characteristics of Livestock Animals and that these Muscovy duck?
quantitative measures of size and shape may be used for 2. Does plumage colour have effect on other phenotypes?
estimating genetic parameters in Animal breeding plans.
 Plumage Colour
Muscovy duck distribution population is unknown in “Lavender” is autosomal recessive. Lavender is an
East New Britain. Phenotypic plumage distribution across independent mutation and not a combination of chocolate and
ecosystems needs attention to closely analyse the plumage blue like other domesticated ducks. It can be viewed as
cluster size. Small holder farmers keep ducks in small untypical colour too, as it suppresses both black and red
numbers as pets with less concentration on production. Ducks creating a pastel effect. They weigh up to 7 kg (15 lb).
(mainly Muscovy ducks), are found in various part of the Females are considerably smaller, and only grow to 3 kg (6.6
country in small numbers for local meat consumption and also lb), roughly half the males' size. Thin bodied boat- shaped
for ornamental purposes (Macharia et al. 2017). body. Extra-large egg size weighs in around2.3 ounces and
jumbos around 2.5 ounces. Both sexes have a nude black-and-

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Volume 5, Issue 10, October – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
red or all-red face; the drake also has pronounced caruncles at  Data Collection
the base of the bill and a low erectile crest of feathers, Data were obtained from 270 Muscovy ducks having
(Johnson, 2009). five (5) cluster of plumage colours (n= 25 lavender, n=20
chocolate,n=56 silver, n=59 black and n= 110 white).
Chocolate” (Ch) is the only colour that is sex–linked
recessive. Ch causes a brown plumage, because all black The parameters in this study include, plumage colour,
pigment is replace by a less light-absorbing version of it plumage pattern, feather distribution, eye colour, skin colour,
(brown). It does not affect red. In domestic drake (male), beak colour, beak shape, shank length, body height, body
length is about 86 cm and weight is 4.6 – 6.8kg, (Johnson, length, live weight, egg weight, egg colour feather
2009). morphology, body shape and head colour. Each bird was
measured and tagged with coloured wool to identify their sex.
“White” inherit autosomal incomplete dominant. This is Only mature ducks were measured, the young ducks were only
caused by the same gene “Pied” that is mention above. For a tallied and recorded.
complete white you need double factor or homozygous Pied:
PP White Muscovy ducks have long claws on their feet and Some parameters are visual observations while others
wide flat tail. The drake male is about 86cm in length and involve measurements. The following parameters below were
weighs 4.6-7kg while the female is smaller, at 64cm in length measured using a balance scale (5kg capacity) and sawing tape
and weighs2.6-4kg, (Johnson, 2009). measure on centimetre units.

Black is the usual wild type colouring without visible  Parameters measured.
mutations and therefore the base for all other patterns and
colours. It’s the most common colour, hence the name, though 1. Body weight.
it is often combined with some form of pied. The reason for Individual body weight for ducks is measured using a
this is because probably most colour mutations are recessive. Balance scale (5kg Capacity). The ducks were tied to the legs
The drake male is about 80 cm in length and weight about 7- and placed into the bucket. Bucket weight was tared and initial
10kg while female weighs about 5-6kg, (Philip, 2007). reading for the scales was taken and recorded.

Pure breed of blue Muscovy or homozygous results in 2. Body height

silver (splash in ducklings). Silver is also called pale grey. The body height was measured using a sawing tape
Silver Muscovy ducks weighs about 6-9 kg and have length of measure having the bird stand horizontal position from the feet
about 70cm, (Philip, 2007). stage. The measurement was taken from the tip of the duck’s
head to the feet to get the reading.
Objective
1. To evaluate the influenceof sex on the other parameters of 3. Neck length
Muscovy ducks measured. This was measured as the distance between the first and
2. To assess and make comparison on the effect of the the last cervical vertebra and the pygostyle.
phenotypic colour on other traits.
4. Other observations
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS The other parameters include, eye colour, skin colour,
shank colour beak colour, beak shape, feather morphology,
 Location of study and management of experimental body shape, head shape, feather distribution, plumage colour,
animals. plumage pattern are identified based on observations.
The study was conducted at the farm of University of
Natural Resources and Environment-Central Campus in East  Statistical Analysis
New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea. The farm is The data wasanalysed using the general linear model of
situated on the northwest direction of the campus. SPSS 16.0 with sex and plumage color as fixed factors.
Significant means were separated by the Duncan’s multiple
Muscovy ducks were generally managed under semi- range tests. Correlation between measurements was
intensive system with provision of watering point. They roam determined by the Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient at the
freely during the day and scavenge for feed in and around significant level of 0.05 and 0.01.
pasture. They were fed withbroiler finisher and supplemented
with copra meal. In the evening, the ducks were placed back in
the shelter provided for protection against predators and harsh
weather conditions and also for laying eggs.

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 Volume 5, Issue 10, October – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Results of the effects of five plumage colour and sex on the body weight (BW), body length (BL), body height (BH) and neck
length (NL) are explainedin Table 1.

Correlations

Neck Body Body

Plumage colour Body weight length length height Sex
Plumage colour Pearson Correlation 1 -.137* -.009 .086 -.107 -.001
Sig. (2-tailed) .024 .888 .159 .078 .983
N 270 270 270 270 270 270
Bodyweight (BW) Pearson Correlation -.137 *
1 .524 **
.616 **
.526 **
-.402**
Sig. (2-tailed) .024 .000 .000 .000 .000
N 270 270 270 270 270 270
Neck length (NL) Pearson Correlation -.009 .524** 1 .753** .573** -.238**
Sig. (2-tailed) .888 .000 .000 .000 .000
N 270 270 270 270 270 270
Body length (BL) Pearson Correlation .086 .616 **
.753 **
1 .572 **
-.315**
Sig. (2-tailed) .159 .000 .000 .000 .000
N 270 270 270 270 270 270
Body height (BH) Pearson Correlation -.107 .526 **
.573 **
.572 **
1 -.172**
Sig. (2-tailed) .078 .000 .000 .000 .005
N 270 270 270 270 270 270
Sex Pearson Correlation -.001 -.402** -.238** -.315** -.172** 1
Sig. (2-tailed) .983 .000 .000 .000 .005
N 270 270 270 270 270 270

Table 1: Effects of plumage colour and sex on body weight, neck length, body length and body height of Muscovy ducks.

*Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2- tailed) Correlation coefficients of plumage colour on
** Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2- tailed) measurable traits of Muscovy ducks are presented in Table-1.
There’s negative and highly significant (P<0.01) observed for
 Effects of plumage Colour the body weight(-.137*). Studies conducted by Górski and
The effect of plumage colour on body weight and other Witak (2003) show that development of body weight of
measurements of ducks are presented in Table-1. Five Muscovy ducks is to a greater extent related to feeding rather
plumage colours were recorded in the local Muscovy duck than to color type. According to Taguia et al (2007), high and
population during the period of the study. The mean for the positive correlations have been reported between zoometrical
traits as shown on Table-1 were; BW- 2094.63, NL-27.12, measurements and body weights in African Muscovy as the
BL-64.51, BH-37.61 respectively. The mean for the plumage effect of plumage colour. The result of the present study with
colour shown is 2.96. variations could be attributed to the sensitivity of these trait to

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Volume 5, Issue 10, October – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
environmental changes such as temperature, nutrition or other REFERENCES
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investigation is required to be carried out on effects of sex on
the parameters measured by categorizing the Muscovy ducks
into age groups to investigate males and females separately.

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