Philippine E-Journals

Production Performance Of Ranged Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrynchos) Housed In Traditional And Floating Duck Sheds In Siniloan, Laguna

R. P. Escobin Jr. | Maria Theresa S. Medialdia | Mary Jean G. Bulatao | Charles Frank L. Caramihan

Discipline: Agriculture, Agribusiness, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

The rice-duck farming system established in Siniloan, Laguna by the Duck Ranger Program was evaluated in terms of productive performance of the ranged Mallard ducks housed in traditional and floating duck shed or “balsa”. The floating duck shed was a raft-like structure which held up the housing as the water level increased and at the same time enabled the farmers to move the housing together with the ducks to a place where snails and other feed materials were abundant. On the other hand, the traditional duck shed was a stationary housing placed adjacent to rice paddies which confined the ducks when environmental factors were unfavorable for ranging. Ducks housed in traditional duck shed were fed with more duck layer pellets (DLP) which in turn yielded more eggs with thicker egg shells as compared to the eggs of the ducks raised in a floating duck shed. However, eggs produced from the ducks housed in a floating duck shed turned out to be cheaper due to a lower feed cost with the provision of less expensive snails as a substitute to DLP. Farmers using floating duck sheds largely depended on the feed materials found in the lake and in the paddy range while those who used the traditional duck shed were more capable and willing to buy DLP.