12th International Poultry Conference – 5 - 8 November 2024 Ain Sukhna-Red Sea- Egypt

This study was designed to investigate the effect of different raising systems of Pekin ducks on growth performance, carcass traits and histological for intestinal and pancreas. A total number 200 of Pekin ducks were used, divided into two groups, first, was rearing indoor and the second group was raising by the free range system (outdoor). Live body weight was recorded from 2 weeks to marketing age. Carcass traits were taken at the marketing age to calculate non-edible meat parts and edible meat parts (dressed carcass – gizzard-liver - heart). Sexual dimorphism was calculated for live body weight and carcass traits. Representative specimens were taken from ileum and pancreas to detect histological changes corresponding to raising systems, mortality and defect ratio were recorded. Our results indicated that there were no significant different for live body weight for all ages between the two raising system except at 4 weeks of age, which the duck raising in housing was significantly heaver body weight compared to duck raising by free range system. With respect to edible meat parts, there were no significantly differences found either between the raising system between the two sexs, however the relative heart was significantly higher for indoor duck than outdoor ducks, also the interaction between raising system and sex was significantly, however , there is no significant different between male and female. With respect to sexual dimorphism, the indoor ducks were significantly higher for live body weight and all carcass traits compared to outdoor ducks. It is concluded that the raising systems did not affect the edible meat parts or live body weight at marketing age, however, decreased the sexual dimorphism in the outdoor ducks.