Live Maggot for Pekin Ducks During Growing Period

This study was conducted to determine the growth performance of Pekin ducks offered live maggots at different levels. Female Pekin ducklings (n=90) were reared in separate cages with three treatments and three replications. Treatment M-0, a group of ducks without maggots, M-10 was fed 10% maggots, and M-20 was fed 20% maggots. During the starter period (0-3 weeks), ducks were assigned a commercial feed, and those aged over 3 weeks were offered feed made from local ingredients, namely expired bread, green algae, coarse rice bran, ground fresh local fish, and fresh or live maggots. The study ended at 7 weeks. The variables observed were feed consumption, body weight, weight gain, feed conversion (FCR), and production costs. The study showed that feeding with 20% maggot provided the best growth performance and feed conversion (P>0.05) during the 7-week study. Maggots can be used as a substitute for some protein sources from local fish or commercial feed at low cost.