TRAILS TO IMPROVE GROWTH AND CARCASS QUALITY IN DUCK

Abstract

Reducing fat in duck lean is consider the first step towards improvingcarcass quality. A total of 144 male and female, one day old whitePeking ducks were divided into 6 equal groups, each group subdividedinto 2 subgroup. One of them contain 12 males while the other contain12 females.Six dietary treatments were applied for both males and females havethe same group number. Basal diet supplemented with salbutamole 2mgfor 56 days (whole experiment period)(Treatment 1), or from 29-56days of age)(Treatment 2), basal diet supplemented with ChromiumPiclonate 2mg)(Treatment 3), modified calorie protein ratio diet byincreasing protein concentration 0.5 % (0-2 weeks) and 2 % (3-8 weeks)(Treatment 4), basal diet but after reduce the recommended level to 95%of control diet for starter period and to 90% of control diet for growerand finisher periods)(Treatment 5), while basal diet without supplementation,modification, or restriction was as control (Treatment 6). The results concerning growth performance demonstrated that salbutamolor chromium supplementation and decreased calorie protein ratioimproved all parameters of growth performance. While restricted dietreduced final body weight and final body weight gain but feed conversionratio was improved.Carcass traits showed that dressing percentage and breast muscle wasincreased. Skin and sub-cuteness Fat percentage was decreased. Meanwhile,abdominal fat was reduced significantly with all dietary treatmentsas compared with control. Also, chemical analysis of meat demonstratedthat muscular fat was decreased significantly in all treatmentscompared with control, however, moisture content was increased.Serum analysis showed that total cholesterol was decreased with alldietary treatments while serum protein increased insignificantly in allfemale groups but was significantly increased in all male groups ascompared with control.It could be concluded that salbutamole and chromium supplementationor decreased calori protein ratio improved all growth performance,but restricted diet reduced final body weight while feed conversionratio improved. Dressing percentage and carcass characteristics wereimproved with all dietary treatments. And cholesterol and cholesterolL.D.L. reduced with all experimental treatments in both sexes comparedwith control.