Abstract: The study was undertaken to assess dietary CP and ME concentrations for optimum growth performance and carcass characteristics of Gaoyou ducklings. In a 3x3 factorial arrangement, three hundred and sixty zero-day-old Gaoyou ducklings were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 11.70, 11.90 and 12.12 MJ of ME kg-1 of diet; each contained 18.0, 19.0 and 20.0% CP, respectively, from 0-28 days of age. Each dietary treatment had 4 replicates. Body weight and feed consumptions were measured at every weekend, from 0-28 days of age and carcass characteristics were evaluated at 28 days of age. The result showed that ducklings on a diet with 11.70 and 11.90 MJ of ME kg-1 at 0-28 days of age exhibited greater BW gain than this diet with 12.12 MJ of ME kg-1 (p<0.01), though BW gain was not different among 11.70 and 11.90 MJ of ME kg-1 of diet. Mean BW gain of birds fed 18.0, 19.0 and 20.0% CP diets was significantly different (p<0.001). Feed intake was influenced by dietary ME levels (p<0.000) also. Feed intake of birds fed 18.0% CP diets was higher than those of birds on 19.0 and 20.0% CP diets (p<0.01). Feed conversion ratios of birds fed on 11.70 and 11.90 MJ of ME kg-1 of diet were better than those fed on 12.12 MJ of ME kg-1 (p<0.001). Feed conversion ratios of birds fed on 18.0% CP diets were better than those fed on 19.0 and 20.0% CP diets. In the study, there were significant interactions between dietary CP and ME on growth performance. There was a direct relationship between dietary ME levels and eviscerated carcass percentage (p<0.014), abdominal fat percentage (p<0.000) and breast weight (p<0.037). But the half-eviscerated carcass percentage, eviscerated carcass percentage, breast and leg meat percentage were not influenced by dietary CP concentration. Thus, diets with 11.70 MJ of ME kg-1 and 18.0% CP were used more efficiently from 0-28 days of age by Gaoyou ducklings.
Q. Wang, H.F. Li, Y.L. Dai, K.W. Chen, B.L. Li, Z.Y. Wang and J. Zhang, 2010. Effect of Dietary Crude Protein and Energy on Gaoyou Ducklings Growth Performance and Carcass Trait. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 826-830.