Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the effects of early post-hatch feeding on the growth and development of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of mule ducks reared in the humid tropics to five days of age. A total of 120 newly hatched mule ducklings were selected and randomly assigned to four treatment groups. Each with 30 birds, (T1, T2, T3, and T4) is based on four feeding regimes (feed accessed at 3, 24, 36, and 48 hours post-hatch) for five days. The ducklings were euthanized each day and the parameters: small intestinal samples were processed for histological analysis and histometrical parameters including villi length and width, crypt width and depth, and the number of goblet cells per villus was measured, statistically analyzed using ANOVA and tabulated. The results of this study indicated that the earliest post-hatch feeding (at 3 hours post-hatch) showed the highest body weight (99.65 g), heavier (GIT) organ (p 0.05) continuously regardless of the post-hatch feeding times. Based on the results, it was concluded that feeding at 3 hours post-hatch promoted the growth and development of the GIT faster than 24, 36, and 38 hours post hatch feeding.
Highlights
Duck farming has shown a marked increase due to economic reasons (King et al 2000)
A further delay in feed access is brought on by the delivery of ducklings to grow-out farms. This negatively impacts the overall development of the gastrointestinal tract and growth performance; producing a lower final body weight for mule ducklings (Dibner, 1998)
The results obtained from this current study showed that the villi height and width, crypt height and depth but not goblet cells on Day one of the duodenum were affected by post-hatch feeding times (p
Summary
Duck farming has shown a marked increase due to economic reasons (King et al 2000). Under normal hatchery and farm conditions feed is typically not offered to mule ducklings until approximately 32-48 hours post-hatch. This delay can result in decreased body weight and malnutrition of the yolk has insufficient nutrient content (Noy & Sklan, 1999). A further delay in feed access is brought on by the delivery of ducklings to grow-out farms This negatively impacts the overall development of the gastrointestinal tract and growth performance; producing a lower final body weight for mule ducklings (Dibner, 1998)
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