Evaluation of Zootechnical Performance of Muscovy Ducks in South Benin

Studies on the zootechnical performance of Muscovy ducks are scarce in Benin. The current study aimed to evaluate the performance of these ducks in a controlled environment for a better valorization of potentialities. Data were collected from 193 ducks for growth performance, 30 ducks for egg-laying performance, and 71 eggs for egg characteristics of Muscovy ducks in South Benin. The ducks were raised in controlled conditions. At hatching, male and female ducks had similar weights and body measurements. From week 2 to week 68, males had significantly higher weight than females. Males had higher initial specific growth than females (0.52 vs 0.63 per week), while females were older than males regarding age inflection point (33.10 vs 25.98 weeks). In addition, males had longer bodies, wider thoraces, and longer tarsus than females. Regarding the wingspan, the difference between males and females was observed from week 8, with higher values in males. Individual feed intake and feed conversion ratio increased as the ducks grew older. In the first week, the individual feed intake was 20.08 g per day, and the feed conversion ratio was 1.51. After 20 weeks of age, Muscovy ducks consumed 136 g daily with a high feed conversion ratio of 26. The age of the first egg of Muscovy duck was 6.17 months, and the average number of eggs laid per brooding was 15.37 eggs. The brooding duration was 35.63 days, with a hatching rate of 73.06%. The duckling’s survival rate at hatching was 95.28%, of which 97.47% were weaned. The average weight of a duck egg was 63.56 g, and that of the shell was 8 g, while albumen and yolk amounted to 30.01 g and 23.86 g, respectively. Duck eggshell dominant color was white (60.5%), followed by dirty white (26.31%), and finally brown (13.64%). These results on the zootechnical performance of the Muscovy duck can be considered a reliable basis for this species’ potential improvement in South Benin.