EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY, SOME BLOOD PARAMETERS, DIGESTIVE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INDICES OF MUSCOVY DUCKS

A study was carried out to assess how feed restriction affected the growth performance, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters, digestive and physiological status of Muscovy ducks. A total of one-month old 120 Muscovy ducks were randomly appropriated into 5 groups of 3 replicates with 8 ducks each for a period of 16 weeks of age, both groups were maintained sanitary conditions and similar management practices for the ducks. Birds in the first group were fed ad- libitum (control, C), while those in the second (T1), third (T2), fourth (T3) and fifth (T4) groups were fed for 20 h/day, 16 h/day, 12 h/day and 8 h/day, respectively. The obtained results exhibited that, the different periods of feed restriction affected growth performance, dressed carcass, abdominal fat, RBC's, glucose, cholesterol, corticosterone, immunoglobulin A (IgA) and H / L ratio of Muscovy ducks. Feed restriction improved growth performance of feed restricted ducks for 12 or 16 h/d. There was a significant effect(P<0.05) of feeding restriction on blood biochemical and hematological measurements. Feed restriction reduced significantly (P< 0.05) abdominal fat, cholesterol, corticosterone and H / L Ratio in the high feed restriction period. Dressed carcass was higher in T2 and T3. However, no significant differences in percentages of digestive organs, thymus or bursa and health status. From the results, it could be concluded that, intermediate feed restriction at the periods of 12 or 16 h/d had a beneficial result on growth performance and carcass fat without any negative effects on physiological or health status in Muscovy ducks.