Animal Husbandry

Duck rearing is prevalent among weaker sections of rural population which provides them supplementary and steady income on daily basis besides providing them nutrition duck eggs for family consumption and engaging family labour in their leisure hours to look after Duck unit thus, generates rural employment.

·         Gujarat State has .. ha. of land under in land water ponds or water holes particularly in South Gujarat region and tribal communities keep duck for production of duck eggs and duck meal which are considered to be poorman’s poultry productions available at affordable prices.

·         Over 10 million duck population exists in the country and ranks 2nd in the world after Indonesia.  Around 600 million duck eggs valued at Rs. 180 crore are being produced and are being consumed in the rural area, Kerala, West-Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh are the Staes where duck are predominant.

·         Ducks suppliment their feed by foraging.  They eat fallen grains in harvested paddy fields, insects, shails, earth worms, small other fishes etc.

·         Duck rearing does not require elaborate housing like poultry.  Ducks are more hardy well suited for weaker section where level of management is moderately scientific.

·         Marshy, riverside, wet land and barren moors are excellent areas for duck farming.  Duck cum fish farming can be integrated.

·         Ducks lay 95% to 98% eggs in early morning before 9.00 am after which the flock can be taken for foraging to nearby ponds by the duck farmer or his family members.

·         Khaki Campbell is best egg producing breed in ducks.  Animal Husbandry Department of Govt of Gujarat from their Duck breeding farms at Mandvi in Surat district can supply 3 months old duck lings at Rs. 130 per duck ling. 

Performance parameters of Khaki Campbell ducks are given as under :

1)       Age at first egg                                                  120 days (4 months)

2)       Age at 50% production                                    146 days ( 5 months)

3)       Annual egg production                                    300 eggs

4)       Body weight at 40 weak                                   1.8 kg

5)       Daily feed consumption per                            120-130 gms

6)       Bird                                                 (which can be reduced to 50% under semi intensive forging conditions)

7)       Duck mortality

i)         0-8   weeks                                    2 to 3%

ii)       8-20 weeks                                    0.2 to 0.5%

iii)      Adult mortality                                5 to 7%

8)       Other Techno - economic assumptions.

i)         Sale price of egg                                 Rs. 2.00 per egg

ii)       Sale price of Duck meat                     @ Rs. 30/- per kg

iii)      Veterinary expenses                            @ Rs. 2/- per duck 1st year bird per year.                                                                             
                                                                            @ Rs. 4/- per year during 2nd year onwards.

iv)      Feed price                                               @ Rs. 7/- per kg

v)        Feed for 1st 6 months                                9 kg per bird

vi)      6 months to 12 months                         12 kg per bird

vii)     2nd year                                        24 kg per bird

viii)   3rd year onwards                                25 kg per bird

9)       Sale price of duck manure and                                 @ Rs. 10/- per bird

Unit cost, Bank loan estimate for a Duck rearing unit of 100 Ducks + 15 Drakes

maintained under semi-intensive conditions

(in Rupees)

Say, total cost                                              34,000

Margin money @ 5% of total cost             2,000

Bank loan                                                     32,000

Rate of interest                                          @ 12% per annum

Flock chart   

Economics / Cash flow statement of 100 + 15 Duck unit

Economics / Cash flow statement of 100 + 15 Duck unit