Research Note: Impact of different carrot forms on production results and physiochemical features of carcass elements in broiler ducks

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of different carrot forms on production results, carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid (FA) composition, vitamin content, and feed costs in Cherry Valley broiler ducks. A total of 240 one-day-old males (initial body weight of 55.2 g) were allocated to 4 treatments (n = 60; 6 replicates of 10 birds): control (CD; 100 % commercial diet), CFL (CD + 2 % carrot flakes), RAWC (80 % CD + 20 % raw carrot), and CPOW (CD + 2 % carrot powder). Ducks were reared for 49 d under identical housing and management conditions. Final body weight did not differ among groups (P > 0.05). RAWC increased feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared with CPOW (P < 0.05). Feed costs were lowest in CD and RAWC, and highest in CFL and CPOW (P < 0.001). Ducks fed CPOW showed higher relative leg muscle yield, whereas CD and CFL had greater fat deposition (P < 0.05). Breast muscle crude protein was higher in RAWC and CPOW, while intramuscular fat was highest in CD (P < 0.001). CFL increased skin yellowness (P = 0.046), potentially indicating carotenoid deposition. Carrot form significantly affected muscle FA composition. RAWC increased total PUFA (n-3 and n-6), whereas CPOW improved UFA/SFA ratio and lipid health indices; CFL showed the least favorable lipid profile (P < 0.05). Retinol concentrations in breast and leg muscles were highest in CPOW (P < 0.05), confirming efficient bioconversion of β-carotene. α- and γ-tocopherol contents varied, with higher values in CD for breast and in CPOW for leg muscles. In conclusion, dietary carrot form influenced both production efficiency and product quality in broiler ducks. Raw carrot increased FI and reduced FCR efficiency, carrot flakes primarily affected carcass pigmentation, and carrot powder improved FCR, lean tissue accretion, lipid health indices, and vitamin A deposition in muscle. However, the practical application of carrot powder is constrained by elevated feed costs.