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While there are studies that describe the biometric traits and phenotypic variations in Muscovy ducks in Nigeria, there are limited studies that employ a multivariate approach to depict the phenotypic variability of Muscovy ducks in Nigeria. Therefore, this study aimed to explicate genetic variabilities within C. moschata using qualitative and biometric traits. This study used a multivariate statistical method to phenotypically characterise locally adapted Muscovy duck populations from seven ecogeographical locations in Ibadan, Nigeria. Four qualitative traits (eye colour, bill colour, bean colour and shank colour) and eleven biometric traits (head length, neck length, body length, wings length, shank length, toe length, thigh length, bill length, breast length, breast width and bodyweight) were evaluated in 201 ducks (109 males and 92 females). To study the possible effects of geographical locations on selected phenotypes, frequency distribution, univariate analysis, stepwise and canonical discriminant analyses and cluster analysis were performed. The association between body weight (BWT) and other biometric traits was assessed using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Male ducks (drakes) were generally more abundant than female ducks (hens). The most prevalent colour traits of locally adapted Muscovy ducks were brown eye colour (70.65 %), black bean colour (62.69 %), pinkish white bill colour (45.27 %) and grey shank colour (56.22 %). Overall, ecogeographical location did not significantly affect (p < 0.05) the measured biometric traits. However, across all locations, the sexual dimorphism was favourable in male ducks, with respect to biometric traits. Stepwise-canonical discriminant analysis revealed a substantial intermixing of biometric traits, especially in Molete, Oje, Adogba and Ajibode ducks. Similarly, the cluster analysis, although it separated the birds into different clusters, showed some level of admixture. The small Mahalanobis distance (0.61 − 3.88) suggested that, with respect to location, there was more morphological similarity than dissimilarity between ducks. The correlation analysis revealed that the body weight of ducks can be fairly estimated from other biometric traits due to their positive, statistically significant correlation. In general, the ducks from all seven ecogeographical locations were rather homogeneous than heterogeneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Libido can affect the semen quality of male, and the sperm motility in semen quality parameters is a reliable index to evaluate the fertility of male. In drakes, the sperm motility is gradually acquired in testis, epididymis, and spermaduct. However, the relationship between libido and sperm motility in drakes has not been reported and the mechanisms of testis, epididymis, and spermaduct regulating the sperm motility of drakes are unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compare the semen quality of drakes with libido level 4 (LL4) and libido level 5 (LL5), and tried to identify the mechanisms regulating the sperm motility in drakes by performing RNA-seq in testis, epididymis, and spermaduct. Phenotypically, the sperm motility of drakes (P < 0.01), weight of testis (P < 0.05), and organ index of epididymis (P < 0.05) in the LL5 group were significantly better than those in LL4 group. Moreover, compared with the LL4 group, the ductal square of seminiferous tubule (ST) in testis was significantly bigger in the LL5 group (P < 0.05), and the seminiferous epithelial thickness (P < 0.01) of ST in testis and lumenal diameter (P < 0.05) of ductuli conjugentes/dutus epididymidis in epididymis were significantly longer in the LL5 group. In transcriptional regulation, in addition to KEGG pathways related to metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation, lots of KEGG pathways associated with immunity, proliferation, and signaling were also significantly enriched in testis, epididymis, and spermaduct, respectively. Furthermore, through the integrated analysis of coexpression network and protein–protein interaction network, 3 genes (including COL11A1, COL14A1, and C3AR1) involved in protein digestion and absorption pathway and Staphylococcus aureus infection pathway were identified in testis, 2 genes (including BUB1B and ESPL1) involved in cell cycle pathway were identified in epididymis, and 13 genes (including DNAH1, DNAH3, DNAH7, DNAH10, DNAH12, DNAI1, DNAI2, DNALI1, NTF3, ITGA1, TLR2, RELN, and PAK1) involved in Huntington disease pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway were identified in spermaduct. These genes could play crucial roles in the sperm motility of drakes with different libido, and all data the present study obtained will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating sperm motility of drakes.

Semen quality is the most important indicator in evaluating drake fecundity. At present, the low semen quality has become a major factor restricting the development of artificial insemination (AI) technology in ducks. Numerous studies have indicated that seminal plasma proteins play a crucial role in semen quality, but the mechanism of seminal plasma proteins regulating semen quality of drakes remains unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify seminal plasma proteins associated with semen quality by comparing the seminal plasma proteomic profile of drakes with high-quality semen (HQS) and low-quality semen (LQS). Using a label-free MS-based method, a total of 745 seminal plasma proteins were identified. Of these, 55 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified (40 up-regulated and 15 down-regulated). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that the DEPs were mainly enriched in transmembrane transport, extracellular matrix structural constituent, transferase activity, transferring acyl groups other than amino-acyl groups, transmembrane transporter activity, and integral component of membrane (P < 0.05). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis indicated that the DEPs were significantly enriched in apoptosis, tyrosine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and sulfur metabolism pathways (P < 0.05). Moreover, through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, eight potential candidate proteins were identified, including P19140 (Alpha-enolase), R0KUV7 (Calreticulin), R0K3X3 (Solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter member 5), R0L6V0 (Proteasome subunit beta), R0JKW0 (Cytochrome c), R0JMC5 (Tubulin alpha chain), R0LCK1 (Cathepsin C), and R0JUP6 (Cathepsin D), which could play crucial roles in semen quality. Notably, further analysis demonstrated that key protein P19140 (Alpha-enolase) might can control the semen quality of drakes by regulating the expression of proteins related to apoptosis pathway. This study is the first systematically comparing the seminal plasma proteome of drakes exhibiting high and low semen quality. These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms regulating semen quality of drakes.

ABSTRACT: Low fertilization rate is the main reason to limit the development of artificial insemination (AI) technology in ducks. However, the libido of male livestock has been confirmed to be related to semen quality and fertilization rate, and we found that the libido of drakes was different. Thus, the research on the libido of drakes may be the key to further develop and apply AI technology. In this research, we established the first scoring standard for libido evaluation in drakes based on the performance of drakes during training period. Phenotypically, the body weight of high libido group was lighter than that of the other groups, while the weight of testis and epididymis in the high libido group was higher than that in the low libido group. Furthermore, we constructed the first expression profile of hypothalamus, pituitary, testis, and epididymis of drakes with high or low libido. There were 2, 1822, 214, and 892 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in hypothalamus, pituitary, testis, and epididymis. The expression and sequence of Translocation Associated Membrane Protein 2 (TRAM2) were different in high and low libido drakes, indicating that it may be a candidate gene related to drake's libido. The estrogen, prolactin, and oxytocin signaling pathways were all activated in the pituitary of the low libido group. Meanwhile, the metabolic and oxidative phosphorylation pathways were enriched by DEGs in pituitary, testis and epididymis. Our research reveals that the difference in metabolic may cause changes in body weight of drakes, resulting in altered hormone levels and oxidative phosphorylation of gonad, which negatively affects libido and spermatogenesis in drakes. These results provide novel insights into the avian libido and will help better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The Research was carried out at businesses slaughter drakes zone in Subang district, West Java, Indonesia, where all of the animal product marketing were sent to Jakarta city mostly. The aim of this study is to know the channel patterns and margin marketing analysis, and which one is the efficient of farmer share value. Census method was used to the slaughter drakes agents, and the data were obtained through interview techniques, and analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the channel patterns consists of several types: a) firstly from farmer to collector traders, the retailers and end to customers, b) secondly, from farmer to wholesalers, then retailers, and end to consumers, and c) The thirdly, from farmers straight to wholesalers then agency as retailers and end to consumers. The result of margin total come from the firstly marketing channel type (a) Rp 9,916.67per tail, the seccondly (b) 9,666.67 per tail and the thirdly (c) Rp 12,166.67 per tail slaughterdrakes. The most efficient marketing come from the secondly channel (b), with the highest farmer share value is 75.63 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on an experiment conducted in drakes of Kuttanad, White Pekin and Muscovy breeds to study the macroscopic and microscopic parameters of semen quality. An overview of the breeding system is provided with emphasis on the growing importance of semen collection and artificial insemination in ducks. Methods used are described including manual massage method, measurement of semen volume, and analysis as per Snedecor and Cochran. Findings are reported on quality characteristics.

Abstract: The androgen receptor (AR) mediates the physiological actions of androgens, which play a crucial role in the maintenance of male reproductive function and fertility. Although the AR distribution pattern is well established in mammalian reproductive organs, information about the AR expression in the testes and epididymal region of birds is still scarce. To better clarify the pattern of AR expression in the avian male tract, we investigated the expression and precise cellular distribution of AR in the testis and epididymal region of roosters and drakes. AR expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In the testis, AR was found restricted to the nuclei of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and some myoid cells in both species. Within the epididymal region, AR was widely expressed in the epithelia of all segments, although with segment specific differences in intensity and cellular distribution. Stronger positivity for AR was found in the principal cells of the epididymal duct, followed by the rete testis epithelium and non-ciliated cells of the distal efferent ductules. Non-ciliated cells of the proximal efferent ductules epithelium showed the lowest immunostaining. Ciliated cells of both segments of the efferent ductules were negative for AR. The connective tissue of roosters presented fewer AR-positive cells when compared with drakes; despite the similar total number of cells in both species. In conclusion, cellular and segment specific differences in AR expression suggest difference in sensitivity to androgens among the ducts composing the epididymal region of roosters and drakes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]