Abstract
From a total of 80 fertile eggs incubated naturally by female ducks, healthy sexed ducklings (n = 64, 32 males and 32 females ducklings) were randomly selected and allotted to four dietary treatments with four replicates, in a completely randomized design in order to evaluate the effect of varying levels of palm kernel meal (PKM) on performance of ducklings. The dietary treatments comprised R0-control ration, R50-50% PKM replacement, R75-75% PKM re-placement and R100-100% PKM replacement of soyabean meal. The main results revealed that the apparent digestive coefficients of dry matter (81.12%), organic matter (83.98%) and NDF (81.10%) were higher with the ration in which 50% (R50-50% PKM replacement of soyabean meal) of soybean was replaced by palm kernel meal. The highest feed intake in male was recorded with the ration containing 75% (R75-75% PKM replacement of soyabean meal) of palm kernel. This same ration (R75-75% PKM replacement of soyabean meal) equally induced the highest live weight and weight gain in females. The experimental design and arrangement is a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement with two sexes and four levels of PKM. In males, the control ration without palm kernel meal induced the highest live weight and highest cumulative weight gain. The lowest feed conversion ratio (p 0.05) affected by the incorporation of palm kernel meal into the diet. Urea serum content tends to decrease with the increasing level of palm kernel meal in feed. In conclusion, soybean meal can advantageously be replaced by palm kernel meal at the level of 75% (R75-75% PKM replacement of soyabean meal) in Muscovy duck feed.
Highlights
The ban of animal meal in monogastric feed in the tropics resulted in the rush for leguminous grains which have amino acids profils close to that of animal meal
From a total of 80 fertile eggs incubated naturally by female ducks, healthy sexed ducklings (n = 64, 32 males and 32 females ducklings) were randomly selected and allotted to four dietary treatments with four replicates, in a completely randomized design in order to evaluate the effect of varying levels of palm kernel meal (PKM) on performance of ducklings
The main results revealed that the apparent digestive coefficients of dry matter (81.12%), organic matter (83.98%) and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) (81.10%) were higher with the ration in which 50% (R50-50% PKM replacement of soyabean meal) of soybean was replaced by palm kernel meal
Summary
The ban of animal meal in monogastric feed in the tropics resulted in the rush for leguminous grains which have amino acids profils close to that of animal meal. The need to look for non-conventional sources of protein for livestock nutrition among local resources with less competition with humans becomes essential Among these resources is palm kernel meal which is a by-product derived from the extraction of oil from palm kernel almonds. In addition to the oil, there is a large amount of palm kernel meal derived from the extraction of oil from palm kernel almonds This palm kernel is very widely available and relatively less expensive (90 to 100 Fcfa/kg) compared to others, for example peanut meal (250 300 Fcfa/kg) which is abundantly produced in Cameroon. 42; 47 and 63% digestibility respectively for crude energy, organic matter and crude proteins of palm kernel meal were reported in growing pigs and 50; 54 and 77% in sow [5]. [6] reported that palm kernel meal can substitute soybean meal up to 40% in broiler diet with no negative effect on growth performances when supplement of lysine and methionine is made available
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