Ameliorating deleterious effects of heat stress on growing Muscovy ducklings using feed withdrawal and cold water

Abstract

We studied the effect of feed withdrawal and cold water on the growth performance and health status of 180 Muscovy ducklings (28 days old) during the summer season. The experiment used a 3 × 2 factorial design consisting of 3 and 2 feeding and water systems, respectively. The birds were divided into 6 experimental groups of 30 birds each (10/replicate). The 3 feeding systems were ad libitum, full-feeding (AD); afternoon, feed withdrawn from 8 am to 2 pm daily (AF); and diurnal, feed withdrawn from 2 pm to 8 am daily (DI). The 2 water systems were tap water (TW) or cold water (CW). The results indicated that the different feeding systems with cold water positively affected the growth performance, dressed carcass, liver, gizzard, meat tenderness, juiciness, susceptibility, body temperature, tonic immobility, and blood biochemistry (glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde) of Muscovy ducklings. However, no differences in percentages of plumage, leg problems, breast blister scores, and most blood parameters were found among all groups. In conclusion, AF feeding of ducklings in combination with CW during hot conditions was more suitable than other feeding methods.