PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS TRAITS OF MEAT TYPE DUCKS FED ON VARYING DIETARY LEVELS OF METABOLISABLE ENERGY AND METHIONINE
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Date
2022-01-31
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES POOKODE
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to investigate the effect of varying dietary levels of
metabolisable energy and methionine on growth performance, carcass traits, ileal
digestibility and techno - economics of meat type ducks. A feeding trail of eight weeks
(56 days) duration was conducted in 120, day-old meat type ducks (Vigova super M),
with eight treatments (G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7 and G8) each treatment having
three replicates, with five ducklings in each replicate. The basal diet (R1) was prepared
with BIS (IS:1374., 2017) specified methionine and energy levels and fed to G1 birds.
Experimental rations R2 and R3 were prepared with 10 and 20 per cent more than
basal diet (R1) methionine content by supplemented with synthetic DLM and fed to
G2 and G3, respectively. Experimental ration R4 was prepared with 10 percent less
than BIS specified level of DLM. The experimental ration R5 to R8 were prepared
with 10 per cent less ME than basal diet (R1) level. Experimental ration R5 was
prepared with BIS specified level of DLM. R6 and R7 were prepared with 10 and 20
per cent more than basal diet (R1) DLM. Experimental ration R8 was prepared with
10 per cent less DLM than BIS recommendation.
The growth performance results recorded in this study revealed
supplementation of 10 per cent more DLM at basal diet level energy in the G2 (5790.28
g) group has shown significantly (P<0.01) lower feed intake and improved feed
conversion efficiency. However, cumulative body weight gain between the groups was
similar except G8 group which was fed a diet with 10 per cent less energy and
methionine at eight weeks of age.
The carcass quality studies revealed that Group G3 showed significantly
(P<0.05) higher slaughter weight and carcass weight as compared to other groups at
eight weeks of age. In this study, no significant effect was observed in breast yield, but
leg yield was significantly higher in G6 (26.74 g) compared to the control group.
Abdominal fat yield significantly reduced in the G7 (1.42 per cent) group related to
the G1 (1.82) group however, no significant difference in giblet yield.
The ileal nutrient digestibility studies indicated that the birds which received
10 per cent more methionine at basal level energy had significantly higher dry matter
digestibility (74.96) and crude protein digestibility (80.00) as compared to control. In
this study ducks received 20 per cent more methionine at both energy levels, G3
(915.51 μm) and G7 (928.88 μm) groups showed higher ileal villi height and mucosal
thickness as compared to all other groups. The net profit per kg live weight was more
in the G2 group. From this study, it may be concluded that additional supplementation
of methionine at a 10 per cent level could achieve better feed efficiency, carcass yield
with more net profit in meat-type ducks.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science in Animal Nutrition