The Potentials of Raising Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) in Bangladesh- A Review

Bangladesh is a developing country where duck production could play an important role for the rural economy, nutrition and health of the coastal people. Crop production in coastal areas is challenging and crops being deficient in many micronutrients, plant-based complementary foods are insufficient to meet the deficient micronutrients. Further, Bangladesh being a riverine country of the south Asia, many rivers, haors, coastal areas, marshy lands, ponds, lakes, water reservoirs, wetlands, canals and creeks are available, where muscovy ducks can be reared easily, but chicken production is not sensible or feasible at all. Climate of Bangladesh is especially suitable for rearing them. Many people of Bangladesh like duck meat more than the chicken meat. Meat and eggs are the most important sources of dietary protein for the people of Bangladesh. Ducks could play an important role in providing animal protein (meat and egg) and income sources for the rural people. In this connection, the Muscovy duck could be a special one in contributing greater amount of meat, as it is comparatively bigger in size than the indigenous ducks (4.6-6.8 kg for male). Moreover, the duck is well- fleshed, light dark carcass, good flavored meat with less fat than the other common ducks. Their egg size is bigger and egg production is 100-125 per year under good management condition. An adult muscovy provides more meat than the similar aged chicken. They can survive better in hot, humid weather than the other common ducks. The per unit price of muscovy duck meat is more than the other duck meats. Therefore, raising muscovy duck either in small or large scale production might be a promising enterprise in Bangladesh.