Effects of integrated rice-duck farming system on duck carcass traits, meat quality, amino acid, and fatty acid composition

ABSTRACT Integrated rice-duck farming (RD) system, which aims to improve the welfare of ducks, has gained popularity in Asian countries. However, the effects of RD system on the carcass and quality traits of duck meat have not been evaluated. Here, a paddy field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of RD system on the carcass and quality traits of duck meat. A total of 180 Jinding ducklings (7 days old) were randomly divided into two rearing systems of floor pen rearing (FPR) system and RD system. After 11 weeks, 12 ducks from each rearing system (6 males and females each) were used for carcass traits, meat quality, amino acid, and fatty acid analyses. The results showed that ducks reared in the RD system had higher carcass yield and intramuscular fat content (P