Influence of water deprivation on water consumption, growth, and carcass characteristics of ducks.
Two-week-old White Pekin ducks were granted access to water either 4, 6, 8, 16, or 24 hr per day for a period of 4 weeks. The effects of water deprivation on water consumption, growth parameters, and carcass traits were determined. Compared to all other treatments, ducks allowed access to water for 4 hr per day had significantly lower (P less than .05) water intake, body weight, and feed consumption. Increasing water access time to either 6, 8, or 16 hr per day significantly increased (P less than .05) water consumption. Further significant increases in water consumption were not found when ducks were granted access to water for 24 hr per day. Prediction equations are presented for estimating daily intake of water for each treatment. There were no significant differences in final body weight or total feed consumption among ducks on the 6, 8, and 16 hr treatments. Overall feed conversion did not differ significantly among the treatments. No distinct relationship between length of water deprivation and yield of breast meat were observed. The advantages and disadvantages of limiting commercial ducks access to water for 8 hr per day in order to reduce water consumption are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D004326:Drinking; D004372:Ducks / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D014868:Water Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*