Effect of Width and Depth of Bell Drinker and Sex on Fattening Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Pekin Ducks

Abstract

Summary The aim of this study was to determine the effects of width and depth of bell drinker and sex on fattening performance and carcass characteristics of Pekin ducks. A total of sixty male and sixty female ducklings (Star 53 H.Y., Grimaud Freres) were used. Each sex group was randomly allocated into two bell drinker groups (narrow bell drinker with 47 mm water depth and 48 mm water width and wide bell drinker with 78 mm water depth and 90 mm water width) each of 30 ducklings. Groups were located in floor pens of 170 x 94 cm width x length, each of 6 chicks, in a naturally ventilated house. Sex affected the hatching weight (P<0.01), total body weight gain (P<0.001), feed intake (d 22 to 42 and d 1 to 42, P<0.05), feed conversion ratio (d 1 to 21, P<0.05), slaughter weight (P<0.001) and percentages of hot carcass (P<0.05). Wide bell drinker increased the body weight gain (d 22 to 42 and d 1 to 42, P<0.001), feed efficiency (d 22 to 42 and d 1 to 42, P<0.01), slaughter weight (P<0.001) and percentages of breast and wings (P<0.01), however decreased the percentages of skin subcutaneous fat (P<0.01). More width and depth bell drinker was positively contributed to the fattening performance in rearing of Pekin ducks.