Abstract
This study investigated the behavior and meat productivity of Satsuma Black Aigamo ducks (SBA ducks) raised through free ranging in a paddy field. The control (free-ranging SBA ducks in a 0.2 a fallow field) and experimental groups (free-ranging SBA ducks in a 4 a paddy field) comprised 10 (♂5: ♀5) and 8 (♂4: ♀4) birds, respectively, and were fed a commercial diet (crude protein 15%, metabolizable energy 2,800kcal/kg) ad libitum from 1 to 9 weeks of age. After free ranging, both groups were fattened from 9 to 15 weeks of age in a duck shed through ad libitum feeding of the commercial diet, following which all birds were slaughtered. The eating and moving behaviors of the ducks in the experimental group were more intense than those in the control group at 2 and 4 weeks of age (P<0.05). As a result, the free-ranging ducks in the paddy field were more effective in pest and weed control than those in the fallow field. A significant difference was found in the body weight at 9 weeks of age between the treatments (2,513g for control group and 2,855g for experimental group; P<0.05). The feed conversion ratios for the control and experimental groups during the experimental period were 6.8 and 7.2, respectively. The fat color b* score of breast meat was significantly lower in the experimental group (P<0.05). However, the body weight and carcass characteristics at 15 weeks of age were not different between the groups. These findings indicated that SBA ducks had high weed control, pest control, and meat production potential in integrated rice and duck farming.
