Vol. 8, Issue 5, Part G (2023)

As part of phenotypic characterisation of Chara and Chemballi varieties of Kuttanad ducks and to assess the carcass traits of spent ducks, twelve birds each from both variety were randomly selected, slaughtered humanely and the carcass characteristics were evaluated and compared. The mean dressing per cent with giblets in Chara and Chemballi males was 72.27 and 72.60, respectively and in females the values were 67.34 and 64.11, respectively. The mean per cent yield for neck, wing, breast, back and leg was 12.52, 13.81, 29.98, 22.12 and 19.31 in Chara males whereas the corresponding values were 13.40, 14.30, 28.47, 21.54 and 20.49, respectively in Chemballi males. In case of females the per cent yield of neck, wing, breast, back and leg was 12.75, 13.98, 28.74, 22.38 and 20.45 in Chara females whereas the corresponding values were13.67, 13,87, 29.89, 21.49 and 19.32, respectively in Chemballi females. The mean values between the two varieties did not differ significantly for any of the traits measured.