Effect of velogenic Newcastle disease virus on production performance of different breeds of ducks

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the production performance of Arani, Kuttanadu, Khaki Campbell and White Pekin ducks infected with velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus upto six weeks of age. The final body weight of Arani, Kuttanadu, Khaki Campbell and White Pekin were 822.18, 880.91, 832.09 and 1207.73g, respectively. The total feed consumption of four breeds of ducks up to 6 weeks from brooding were 2995, 2995, 2935 and 4560 g, and the respective mean feed conversion ratio were 3.67, 3.41, 3.63 and 3.82 respectively. The livability of respective breeds of ducks was 100, 96, 88 and 96 percent. Highly significant difference noticed in body weight, feed conversion ratio and livability between four different breeds of ducks. From the study, it is concluded that the virus does not affect the production performance of all ducks to the extent, as ducks were resistant to NDV.