COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF MODERN METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF YOUNG DUCKS SEX

Experimental researches were carried out during the years 2012–2017 at the farm "Povit-Agro", Bila Tserkva region, Kyiv Oblast, as well as at other farms. 1390 Ukrainian mulards were bred during these 2 years. Throughout our researches the French mulard was presented with 2425 1-day-old hybrid ducklings. In addition, during the studies, the 1-day-old ducklings of different breeds were assessed, namely ducklings of a domestic duck – 7579 heads, ducklings of a musk duck – 1685 heads. A comparative analysis of the effeciency of modern methods for determining the sex of young ducks of two species and of interspecies hybrid is conducted. It has been found that the highest accuracy of duckling sex determination (100%) of all genotypes is provided by the universal Japanese method (ventsexing), and a specific method - colorsexing (based on genetic markers of down coloring). Sidorov's method (probing of resonator of males) allows to determine the sex of domestic (but not musk) and mullard ducklings with an accuracy of 94–98% at a sorting rate of 300 g/h. The anatomical method is absolutely accurate, but it is associated with young ducks slaughtering. Morphosexing is effective for ducklings of all studied genotypes starting from the 2-month age . Morphosexing is effective for ducklings starting from the 2-month old of all studied genotypes. Beginning from 60 days old, the sex of ducklings of a musk duck, as well as mulards, can be determined due to the color and size of skin folds around the upper part of the beak with an accuracy of 97–99%. For the 2-month old ducklings of a domestic duck, sexual dimorphism is clearly expressed according to the other two features. Males at this age already have two twisted feathers in their tails, and females, unlike males, can quack loudly.