Feeding of Ducks with Freshwater Shellfish

• Location: Laguna, Philippines

Technical Description

There are two kinds of shells that are commonly collected from lakes, especially Laguna de Bay, one of the biggest freshwater lakes in the Philippines. These are the univalves (suso) and bivalves (tulya and paros). The bivalves are similar to the clams commonly found in brackish waters and mangrove areas.

The shells are collected using specialized nets pulled by motorboats. The nets scour the lake floor to gather the shells. Small shrimps and juvenile fishes are usually mixed in with these small shells, which serve as a supplement to the duck ration. Large bivalve shells are crushed with mortars before they are fed to ducks.

Uses and Merits

Ducks, particularly the native strain, are very sensitive to the quality of feed given to them. High-quality feed enables them to produce a high quantity and quality of eggs. Duck raisers in coastal areas experience a seasonal supply of high-quality shellfish. During lean months, when the supply of shellfish is low, egg production is also affected adversely. Usually raisers resort to giving commercial duck pellets.

The shellfish are given to the laying ducks as a dual supplement for mineral and protein. The eggs produced are thicker and therefore shell breakage is minimal. The fertile eggs produced are very desirable for incubation. Taken all together, the products from the lake (the shellfish, the shrimp and small fishes mixed with the basal concentrates) provide a high-quality feed for the birds (Fig. 16). The ration also gives a distinct fishy taste to the duck eggs, which consumers prefer.

Reservations on Its Use

The supply of shellfish coming from the lake is seasonal. The manner of gathering the shellfish from the lake may have a negative effect on the lake floor ecosystem.

Expert’s Comments

The inclusion of fresh shellfish, complete with shell, mixed with small fish and shrimps, improves the eggshell quality, the egg production efficiency, and fertility of the birds. Likewise, the “balut” (17-18 day embryonated egg) from ducks fed on fresh shellfish develops a distinct taste desired by consumers With their thick shellfish, eggs being incubated in the traditional manner have less breakage.

https://www.pinoybisnes.com/livestock-business/low-cost-feeds-and-feeding-methods-for-livestock/