The Future of Duck Breeding
Evolution of Duck Breeding Practices
Mr. Engler begins by highlighting the importance of distinguishing between duck and geese markets. "The geese market is really small for both meat and liver production", he explains. "The volume is so small that selection has little return on investment."
For ducks, however, the story is different. "The duck markets are growing slowly but steadily," Mr. Engler notes. "This allows better return on investment for genetic work."
Mr. Engler identifies two major areas of evolution in duck breeding:
Productivity Improvement: For grandparent stock (GPS) and parent stock (PS), the focus has been on increasing productivity. This involves optimizing zootechnical aspects like lighting, building comfort, and feed recipes to enhance performance during rearing and laying periods.
Genetic Selection Advancements: In pure line selection, there have been significant developments. "The informatics tools and software used for selection have greatly improved over the last 20-30 years," Mr. Engler explains. "This has made the process more efficient and precise."
One of the most significant advancements has been in selecting for Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR). "In 2005, we started selecting for FCR in groups instead of individual cages, which immediately increased the heritability of this parameter," Mr. Engler reveals. "Over nearly 20 years, we've saved more than 10% on FCR, which translates to significant cost savings and improved sustainability for the whole duck chain."
Key Factors for Genetic Improvement
According to Mr. Engler, there are four key factors for success in genetic improvement:
Quality of Starting Lines: "You need to have good lines, good genetic material to start with," Mr. Engler emphasizes.
Effective Crossings: The right crossings are crucial for achieving good reproduction performances and final product quality.
Advanced Selection Tools: The methods and technologies used for selection play a vital role. For instance, measuring FCR in groups rather than individual cages has led to more efficient and accurate results.
Strategic Decision-Making: "It's about having the right strategy in selection that aligns with what customers expect at a given time," Mr. Engler explains. "The right product at the right time is crucial, and this can change over the years."
Future Challenges and Trends
Looking ahead, Mr. Engler identifies several challenges and trends that will shape the future of duck breeding:
Changing Consumer Preferences: "We're likely moving towards a world where people will eat less meat and have less money to spend on it," Mr. Engler predicts. This will necessitate a focus on cost reduction in duck production.
Balancing Welfare and Costs: Improving animal welfare often means increasing costs. The challenge lies in finding ways to enhance welfare without making the product too expensive for consumers.
Adapting to New Market Demands: There's a growing trend for quick and easy-to-prepare products. The duck chain needs to adapt its breeding goals to meet these changing demands.
Feed Efficiency and Alternative Diets: With potential changes in feed ingredients, possibly moving away from soy-based diets, breeding programs may need to be adjusted.
Resistance to diseases : "Resistance to deseases is becoming increasingly important as we face challenges like avian flu." "Genetic selection may help. " Mr. Engler stresses.
Molecular Genetics: The use of molecular genetics in breeding has started on several species, and is expected to increase. "This will allow for more precise selection leading to faster genetic progress," Mr. Engler explains.
Environmental Considerations: Factors like lighting conditions may play a bigger role in breeding programs as the duck chain considers their impact on various traits, including semen quality.
The Role of Semen Quality Assessment
On the topic of semen quality assessment, Mr. Engler notes its varying importance across different contexts. "In pure line selection, it's crucial," he says. "We need to be able to reproduce the lines and improve their fertility."
However, he also points out that in his experience, fertility problems are much more related to females rather than males. "The female's ability to store semen and maintain a healthy reproductive tract is crucial," he explains.
Mr. Engler acknowledges that historically, the adoption of routine semen quality assessment in production settings has been limited. "Earlier systems required significant expertise and time to assess semen quality routinely, which prevented widespread adoption," he notes. This has been a particular challenge in an poultry chain globaly already facing workforce scarcity.
However, Mr. Engler sees potential in new technologies that could change this landscape. "If we can develop systems that allow for quick semen analysis without adding burden to the workforce, it could become a valuable tool," he suggests. Such systems could provide objective data about semen quality, potentially improving production efficiency.
Moreover, Mr. Engler highlights a possible benefit of such systems when manpower payment is related to fertility: "They could help in regulating relationships between semen collectors and inseminators by providing objective data about semen quality." This could lead to better communication and more efficient practices in breeding operations.
Despite these potential benefits, Mr. Engler emphasizes the need for a balanced approach. "While semen quality is important, we must remember that fertility is a complex trait influenced by many factors, including female reproductive health, farms environnement conditions, egg storage conditions, incubation conditions" he concludes.
Conclusion
"The future of duck breeding will involve a delicate balance," Mr. Engler summarizes. "We need to leverage new technologies and breeding strategies while remaining responsive to market demands and conscious of our environmental impact. It's a challenging but exciting time for our duck production chain."