DOST Ambassador Marvin Agustin Educates Us About... Duck Sex

Duck farming can be a profitable business, if done right. It all starts with this little thing called "vent sexing." And who better to tell us more about this than restaurateur, actor, and Department of Science and Technology Ambassador Marvin Agustin?

Earlier this week, Agustin posted a video on Instagram that should help encourage us to look into the duck farming business. Also featured in the short clip is D.O.S.T.-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (P.C.A.A.R.R.D.) livestock research director Dr. Synan Baguio.

“Alam n’yo ba na may proseso para malaman ang sex ng itik? Ito ‘yung tinatawag na 'vent sexing' kung saan mano-manong tinitingnan ang puwetan nito para malaman kung babae o lalaki,” he explained.

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>pThe D.O.S.T.-P.C.A.A.R.R.D. director did, however, point out that this can take a lot of time. The good news is that ItikPINAS, a group of advocates that breed Philippine Mallard duck, has found a solution.>p“Ang 'vent sexing' ay hindi na po natin kailangan lalo na sa ItikPINAS or I.P. Kayumanggi dahil ang mga ducks na ito ay mayroong characteristic na tinatawag natin na sexual dimorphism in color," Dr. Baguio shared. “Ibig sabihin, pagkapisa at day old, magkakaiba po ‘yung kulay ng lalaki at saka babae. Ninety nine percent noong mga sisiw na kulay brown ay babae. ‘Yun namang itim, 99 percent ay lalaki.">pHow Much Can Duck Farmers Earn?>h3In an article published on The Poultry Site, the duck-farming industry has, unfortunately, been affected by climate change, like many other industries and facets of daily life. Ducks are laying less eggs and a lot of them succumb to various illnesses. Some farmers have also claimed that productivity has declined since 2010. It has dropped from an 85-percent productivity level to 60 percent. In worse cases, that rate goes down to 50 percent.>pWhile the industry is facing challenges, it is held together by duck farmers who are committed to keeping the trade alive. People can still, of course, earn an honest living from it. According to The Poultry Site's Gregg Yan, Filipinos can earn P1,000 a day from 1000 ducks.>p