Studies on body weight and shank length of Nageswari duck of Assam

Growth trait was studied in 1280 day old female and 320 male ducklings of Nageswari duck of Assam at farmers level under free range system of rearing. Ducklings were wing banded and were individually weighed at 0 day, 4, 8, 12 16, 20, 30, 40, and 52 weeks of age. The average body weights of male ducks were significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 8, 40 and 52 weeks of age. The rate of increase in growth up to 12 weeks of age was in the ascending order in both male and female ducks with maximum weight gain between 8 and 12 weeks of age. Thereafter, the rate of gain in body weight in the two sexes was almost in the descending order till 52 weeks of age. The male and female attained maximum body weight at 52 and 30 weeks of age respectively. Moderately high and positive correlation between shank length and body weight at 20 weeks of age was obtained in both the sexes of duck.