Philippine E-Journals

QUALITY OF "BALUT" (FERTILIZED DUCK EGG) PRODUCED IN FOUR RICE-DUCK ZONES OF LAGUNA

Rectorino P. Escobin Jr. | Maria Theresa S. Medialdia | Charles Frank L. Caramihan

Discipline: Agribusiness

 

Abstract:

The study was conducted to establish quality standards in evaluating “balut” (fertilized duck egg) which will serve as a guide for duck raisers, “balut” producers and consumers in selecting quality eggs for “balut”- making, and in sorting out eggs as salted or table eggs. Using the standards, the quality of “balut” coming from four rice-duck zones (RDZ) of Laguna was evaluated, with pilot sites in Victoria, Sta Cruz, Siniloan and San Pablo City. Each of the pilot site had 25 farmer-cooperators according to the design of the Duck Ranger Project. The standards were formulated based on the results of Key Informant Panel survey, with “balut” producers in Victoria, Sta Cruz and Los Banos as respondents. The results of the survey were compared with available secondary data. A “balut” quality egg should be clean and not have been washed, have an egg fertility (embryo livability) of not less than 85% and shell thickness of at least 0.3 mm. An ovoid shape with an egg shape index close to 75% and a yolk visual score of at least 11 in the Roche color fan are preferred. In the evaluation that was made, values for a trait significantly (P<0.05) differed from one zone to another. Generally, the data gathered in all RDZ fall within normal limits of the standards; although some improvements can be made on egg size and shell thickness in Victoria, yolk color in Siniloan and San Pablo, and embryo livability in Siniloan.