1MVSc Scholar, Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, Khnapara-781022 (Assam)
2Associate Professor, Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, Khnapara-781022 (Assam)
3Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, Khnapara-781022 (Assam)
4Professor and Head, Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati, Khnapara-781022 (Assam)
†Corresponding author; E-mail: parsha.j.nath@aau.ac.in
The study was carried out to explore the suitable caponisation age and its effect on growth performance and carcass quality of Pati ducks. A total of 24 male Pati ducks were used in four equal groups. The birds of group B, C and D were caponised at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age, respectively, while group A was kept as intact. Ducks of all groups were raised until 24 weeks of age. The caponisation times (minute) recorded were 31.50±0.96, 35.00±0.77 and 34.83±1.44, respectively, in groups B, C, and D. There was no mortality observed in any group during the entire period of study. The physiological and biochemical parameters following caponisation revealed non-significant and significant variation within physiological limit, respectively. Carcass characteristics of the capon bird attribute was better compared to intact bird. It was revealed that the most suitable age for caponisation of Pati ducks was 12 weeks with better carcass qualities. The surgical caponisation was found to have little or no effect on the physiological parameters at different time intervals in all groups.
Caponisation, Carcass characteristics, Pati duck, Physiological and biochemical parameters
