Scientific Duck Farming

As an important part of the poultry farming industry, duck farming has a long history and broad market prospects in my country. With the continuous advancement of farming technology and the improvement of consumers' requirements for food safety, scientific and standardized duck farming has become an inevitable trend in the development of the industry. This article will focus on key links such as duck feeding management, environmental control, feed nutrition and drinking water system to provide professional guidance and suggestions for farming practitioners.

1. Duck breed selection and feeding management

1.1 Common duck breed characteristics

Duck breeds for different purposes have significant differences in growth rate, feed conversion rate, egg production performance, etc. Meat duck breeds such as Beijing ducks and Cherry Valley ducks grow rapidly, and their weight can reach more than 3kg at 42 days of age; egg duck breeds such as Shaoxing ducks and Jinding ducks can produce 280-300 eggs per year; and Muscovy ducks are meat-type special poultry with high lean meat rate and unique flavor.

1.2 Scientific grouping and density control

Reasonable grouping and feeding is the basis for improving breeding efficiency. Recommendations:

- Ducklings (0-3 weeks old): 15-20 per square meter

- Middle-aged ducks (4-6 weeks old): 7-10 per square meter

- Adult ducks (over 7 weeks old): 4-6 per square meter

At the same time, ducks should be grouped according to size and strength to avoid uneven growth due to competition.

1.3 Scientific light management

Light has an important impact on the growth and reproduction of ducks:

- Meat ducks: It is recommended to adopt a lighting system of 23 hours of light and 1 hour of darkness, with a light intensity of 10-15 lux

- Laying ducks: 8 hours of light during the rearing period, gradually increasing to 16 hours during the egg-laying period, with an intensity of 15-20 lux

2. Key technologies for breeding environment control

2.1 Temperature and humidity control

Different growth stages have different requirements for temperature and humidity:

| Growth stage | Suitable temperature (℃) | Relative humidity (%) |

|----------|-------------|-------------|

| 1-3 days old | 30-32 | 60-65 |

| 4-7 days old | 28-30 | 60-65 |

| 2 weeks old | 25-28 | 60-65 |

| 3 weeks old | 22-25 | 65-70 |

| After 4 weeks | 18-22 | 65-70 |

Pay special attention to heat preservation in winter and ventilation and cooling in summer.

2.2 Ventilation system design

Good ventilation is the key to ensure the air quality of the duck house:

- Longitudinal ventilation: suitable for hot areas, wind speed is controlled at 1.5-2.5m/s

- Horizontal ventilation: suitable for mild climate areas, to ensure uniform air distribution

- Minimum ventilation volume: 0.5-1.0m³/kg body weight·hour in winter, 5-6m³/kg body weight·hour in summer

2.3 Litter management

High-quality litter should have the characteristics of strong hygroscopicity, loose and soft, and low dust. Commonly used bedding materials include:

- Rice husk: water absorption rate 200%-250%, needs to be replenished weekly

- Sawdust: water absorption rate 300%-350, but easy to compact

- Straw: low cost, but needs to be crushed

It is recommended to keep the bedding thickness at 5-8cm, the moisture content is controlled at 25%-30%, and the pH value is 6.5-7.5.

3. Nutritional requirements and feed formulation of ducks

3.1 Nutritional requirements at different stages

Nutritional requirements of meat ducks:

- Duckling period (0-3 weeks): crude protein 20%-22%, metabolic energy 12.1-12.5MJ/kg

- Growth period (4-6 weeks): crude protein 18%-19%, metabolic energy 12.5-13.0MJ/kg

- Fattening period (7 weeks-marketing): crude protein 16%-17%, metabolic energy 13.0-13.5MJ/kg

Nutritional requirements of laying ducks:

- Growing period: crude protein 15%-16%, calcium 0.8%-1.0%

- Egg-laying period: crude protein 17%-18%, calcium 3.2%-3.5%

3.2 Selection of feed raw materials

Common energy feed:

- Corn: The dosage can reach 50%-60%, pay attention to the risk of mold

- Wheat: 15%-25% dosage, enzyme preparations need to be added

- Bran: 5%-8% dosage, providing dietary fiber

Protein feed:

- Soybean meal: 20%-25% dosage, high-quality plant protein source

- Fish meal: 3%-5% dosage, providing essential amino acids

- Rapeseed meal: 5%-8% dosage, glucosinolate content needs to be tested

3.3 Feed form and feeding

- Pellet feed: diameter 2.5-3.0mm, length 4-6mm, reduce waste

- Powder feed: need to ensure mixing uniformity, coefficient of variation <10%

- Feeding frequency: 4-5 times/day for ducklings, 2-3 times/day for adult ducks

- Feed trough space: 5-7cm per duck, to ensure simultaneous feeding

4. Drinking water system design and nipple drinker application

4.1 Characteristics of drinking water demand

The amount of water a duck drinks is affected by many factors:

- Feed intake: Water intake is usually 2-2.5 times the feed intake

- Ambient temperature: For every 1°C increase in temperature, water intake increases by 5%-7%

- Growth stage:

- Ducklings: 20-40ml/bird·day

- Middle-aged ducks: 150-200ml/bird·day

- Adult ducks: 250-400ml/bird·day

4.2 Advantages of nipple drinkers

Compared with traditional water troughs, nipple drinkers have the following advantages:

- Water saving: can reduce water consumption by 30%-50%

- Hygiene: reduce the risk of disease transmission

- Automation: reduce labor intensity

- Precision: ensure that each duck gets enough water

4.3 Key points for installing nipple drinkers

- Height adjustment:

- Ducklings: level with the eyes or slightly higher

- Adult ducks: 5-8cm higher than the back

- Quantity configuration:

- Meat ducks: 8-10/nipple

- Laying ducks: 6-8 per nipple

- Water pressure control:

- Ducklings: 0.5-1.0 bar

- Adult ducks: 1.5-2.0 bar

- Angle adjustment: 45°-60° tilt is recommended to facilitate drinking water for ducks

4.4 Daily maintenance

- Daily inspection: Ensure that each nipple is working properly

- Regular cleaning: Disinfect with 0.1% peracetic acid or sodium hypochlorite every week

- Water quality monitoring: Test E. coli, hardness and other indicators every month

- Filter maintenance: Clean or replace the filter element every month

5. Health management and biosafety

5.1 Common disease prevention and control

- Viral diseases: duck viral hepatitis (immunization at 1 day old), duck plague (immunization at 20 days old)

- Bacterial diseases: Escherichia coli disease (strengthen hygiene management), Riemerella anatidae (drug prevention)

- Parasitic diseases: regular deworming, especially coccidia and tapeworms

5.2 Disinfection procedures

- Empty house period: spray with 3% sodium hydroxide solution, rinse after 24 hours of sealing

- Daily disinfection: disinfect ducks 1-2 times a week, use iodine preparations or quaternary ammonium salts

- Foot basin: 2% sodium hydroxide or 5% Lysol solution, change daily

5.3 All-in and all-out system

The same duck house should be used to raise ducks of the same age, and thoroughly clean and disinfect them after they are released. The house should be empty for at least 2 weeks.

Scientific duck farming is a systematic project, which requires starting from multiple links such as variety selection, environmental control, nutrition supply, and drinking water management to establish a standardized production management system. With the promotion and application of automated and intelligent equipment, the duck farming industry is developing rapidly in the direction of high efficiency, environmental protection, and safety. Farming practitioners should continue to learn new technologies and new concepts, improve management levels, and achieve a win-win situation of economic and ecological benefits.

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