| The present study was conducted at the duck farm-Animal Resources Department-College of Agriculture-University of Basra, during the period 20-2-2011/20-5-2011 .A total of 60 local duck birds (30 from each gender) was used in this study. Nutrition was add Birds were weighted and slaughtered at the ages of 14,28,42,56,70 and 84 days of age .body, carcass and carcass cut ,muscle ,bone and fat and skin weights were recorded. Gompertz model was used to describe growth curve and to estimate growth rate, absolute-and relative growth rate .the result revealed a significant increase in males live body ,carcass, breast cut ,muscles ,bone and fat and skin weights. However ,females showed a significant increase in neck and wings weight with proceeding age .Body weight at inflection point for both sexes was 1457.430 gm at the age of nine weeks ,that of carcass weight was 1008.289 gm at the age of 11 weeks. Gompertz model fitted precisely to describe growth curve of local duck with determinate coefficient not less than 96%. |