Economizing Duck Feed using Broken Rice for Meat Production in White Pekin Ducks

Résumé fourni par la source

Background: Popularity of duck farming and duck meat has hiked in last few decades. Balanced nutrition at an economic price can enhance profitability from this sector. Therefore, the present study analysed the effect of economizing duck feed by replacing wheat with graded doses of broken rice (a cheaper alternative to wheat) on growth, nutrient metabolisability and carcass characteristics in White Pekin ducks during starter phase. Methods: White Pekin ducklings (240-day-old) were allotted into 3 experimental groups, each having 4 replicates, with 20 ducklings in each. Three types of experimental feeds were prepared, no broken rice (control: BR-0) and treatment 1- broken rice substituting 25 per cent (BR-25) and treatment 2 substituting 50 per cent wheat (BR-50) by broken rice. The experimental feeds were fed to the ducks for eight weeks. Result: Substitution of wheat with graded doses of broken rice exhibited non-significant impact on daily feed intake, nutrient metabolisability and carcass characteristics of the Pekin ducks under study. The 8th week body weight ranged from 2195.53±36.78 g (BR-50) to 2248.04±18.26 (BR-25) and was consistent among the groups. The cumulative feed intake was significantly lower in the BR-50 group during the early (1st and 2nd week) and late phase (5th- 8th week). The cumulative feed intake at 8th week ranged from 5901.58±54.44 in BR-50 to 6334.09±18.00 in BR-0. The cumulative FCR at the early phase (1st, 2nd week) and late phase (7th and 8th week) was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in the BR-50 group compared to the BR-0 group. The duck feed cost (cost/kg) reduced by 0.56 and by 1.43 Indian rupees by replacing 25% (BR-25) and 50% of the wheat with broken rice (BR-50), respectively. Cost of production per kg live weight of the ducks was significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced by 10.56 Indian rupees by substituting 50% of wheat with broken rice. Our findings concluded that replacing wheat with broken rice up to a 50% level in feed can potentially economize meat production costs in white pekin ducks without negatively impacting the nutrient digestibility, growth and carcass characteristics.