title: The influence of choice feeding and cereal type (corn or triticale) during the finishing period on performance of mule ducks.
abstract: The aim of this trial was to study the influence of choice feeding and cereal type (corn or triticale) during the finishing period on performance of ducks. In total, 624 one-day-old male mule ducks (Cairina moschata × Anas platyrhynchos) were divided into 3 groups differing in the diet they received between 56 and 84 d of age: a commercial complete pelleted diet (control group; AMEn 12.1 MJ/kg, CP 15%), or corn whole seeds (AMEn 14.4 MJ/kg, CP 7.3%) and protein-rich pellets (AMEn 9.9 MJ/kg, CP 22.7%) in 2 separated feeders [choice feeding with corn (CFC) group]; or triticale whole seeds (AMEn 13.0 MJ/kg, CP 10.5%) and protein-rich pellets (AMEn 11.2 MJ/kg, CP 19.5%) in 2 separated feeders [choice feeding with triticale (CFT) group]. From 85 to 96 d, 96 birds/group were overfed with corn. Feed intake (complete pellets or cereal and protein-rich pellets) per pen was measured at 60, 62, 65, 69, 78, and 84 d of age. Body weight and body traits were measured at 56 to 84 d of age. Over the entire period, from 56 to 84 d, the feed intake of the CFC group was 7% lower than the control group, and 5% lower than that in the CFT group (P = 0.002). Whatever the diet tested, at 56 and 84 d of age, the BW (4,099 and 4,779 g, P = 0.42 and P = 0.35, respectively) and the carcass traits (P > 0.05) of ducks were similar in the 3 groups. During and after overfeeding, the performances of the ducks were also similar (P > 0.05). The present results suggest that CFC during the finishing period is a solution to reduce the cost of diet destined to ducks. Indeed, using locally grown grains could reduce the economic and environmental impacts of duck feeding, reducing the transportation and crushing processes.
authors.affiliation: ASSELDOR, Station d'expérimentation appliquée et de démonstration sur l'oie et le canard, La Tour de Glane, 24420 Coulaures, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1289 Tissus Animaux Nutrition Digestion Ecosystème et Métabolisme, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France Université de Toulouse, INPT ENSAT, UMR 1289 Tissus Animaux, Nutrition, Digestion, Ecosystème et Métabolisme, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France Université de Toulouse, INPT ENVT, UMR 1289 Tissus Animaux, Nutrition, Digestion, Ecosystème et Métabolisme, 31076 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fortun-Lamothe
authors.affiliation: ASSELDOR, Station d'expérimentation appliquée et de démonstration sur l'oie et le canard, La Tour de Glane, 24420 Coulaures, France.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: ASSELDOR, Station d'expérimentation appliquée et de démonstration sur l'oie et le canard, La Tour de Glane, 24420 Coulaures, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lavigne
authors.affiliation: ASSELDOR, Station d'expérimentation appliquée et de démonstration sur l'oie et le canard, La Tour de Glane, 24420 Coulaures, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bijja
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR1289 Tissus Animaux Nutrition Digestion Ecosystème et Métabolisme, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France Université de Toulouse, INPT ENSAT, UMR 1289 Tissus Animaux, Nutrition, Digestion, Ecosystème et Métabolisme, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex, France Université de Toulouse, INPT ENVT, UMR 1289 Tissus Animaux, Nutrition, Digestion, Ecosystème et Métabolisme, 31076 Toulouse, France molette@ensat.fr.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Molette
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004372:Ducks / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: choice feeding; corn; mule duck; overfeeding; triticale