Effect of feeding level on intake, digestibility and growth performance of muscovy and pekin ducks.
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Date
2007
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The experiment was conducted with 66 Pekin and Muscovy ducklings aged 0-2 weeks at Llbcna ranch poultry unit to evaluate the effect of feeding level on intake, growth performance, feed conversion efficiency and cost of production with the objective of improving the current level of performance of the breeding stock at the Ubena prison farm. The test feed compounded to provide 18% CP, however only 16% was available and the control diet had 10.6% CP, These diets were fed to ducklings at 07:00 h in the morning and 18:00 h in the evening for 56 days. Feed offered was adjusted weekly and water was provided ad libitum. Ducklings were randomly allotted in four groups of 18 ducklings each for the groups, while one group (control) had 12 ducklings. These groups are treatment 1,11,111 and the fourth group was farm diet( control)The test feed was offered at a rate of 2.5, 3.5, and 5% of body weight font treatment 1,11 and III respectively, while the control group was given ad libitum the control diet (Maize bran). The proximate analysis was done at Sokoine University of Agriculture, DASP, Nutrition Laboratory analysis showed that the fishmeal had a CP content of DM far below normal values. The Digestibility study was conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture, poultry Unit. The experiment had acclimatization and data collection period, which lasted for 5 days each, Eight Pekin and 10 Muscovy aged 10-12 weeks old were used in the experiment, and were placed in individual cages and excreta collected daily in the morning before feed was offered. At day 56, the cumulative weight gained for Pekin in treatment 1,11,111 and Farm diet were 760g, 950g, 2140g, and 834g respectively,
and 228.7g respectively and 42.2g, 42.2g, 121.1g, and 164g respectively for Muscovy (P< 0.05) For Pekin, respective feed efficiency was 3.3, 3.8, 4.4, and 18.5 and for Muscovy 3.3, 3.8, 4.0, and 22.4. Muscovy had higher cost of production (2.2 Tsh/g against 1.9 Tsh g of Pekin) A 16% CP Content diet offered at 5% was economically and biologically efficient in raising duckling of both breeds. It was shown that the Pekin had higher weight gain as compared to the Muscovy ducks, and higher gross margin, despite the high cost of production. It was further noted that to increase the production cheap locally available protein sources could be used to increase growth rate.It was observed Pekin to be more susceptible to feed stress thus concluded to establish a Pekin far for broiler meat production one should make sure there is good supply of feed while Muscovy can be kept even when feed supply is unreliable as they can sustain feed stress
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Dissertation
Keywords
Feeding Level, Intake, Digestibility, Growth Performance, Muscovy, Pekin Ducks