Synergistic effects of Seaweed supplementation with Moringa on production, reproduction, and blood parameters of Nageswari duck

Nageswari ducks, native to Bangladesh, provide a low-cost, sustainable option for small-scale farmers. However, traditional scavenging systems often fail to meet nutritional needs, requiring supplementation with nutrient-laden local feeds. The present study was designed to evaluate the synergistic effect of moringa leaf powder (MLP) and seaweed powder (SWP) on production, reproduction, hematology and serum biochemical parameters. For this, a total of 360 ducks were divided evenly into four groups, with three replications; each replication consisted of 25 ducks and 5 drakes. Four treatment (T) groups were utilized: control group (T1: 0% MLP and 0% SWP), and treatment groups T2 (2% MLP and 4% SWP), T3 (3% MLP and 3% SWP), and T4 (4% MLP and 2% SWP) served as the experimental groups. Various production parameters, including growth, feed conversion ratio, mature body weight, and carcass quality, were evaluated. Additionally, reproductive performance, including age at sexual maturity, egg production, fertility, and hatchability in ducks, and semen and sperm quality in males, was investigated. Meanwhile, hematology and serum biochemical parameters were assessed. The results indicated significant improvement of the growth, carcass yield and quality, hematological parameters and serum biochemical attributes along with reproductive performance of both duck and drake was achieved by different levels of MLP-SWP treatments. Notably, T3 demonstrated superior performance across all metrics. Therefore, it is recommended that a diet containing 3% MLP and 3% SWP can be incorporated into duck feed to enhance both productive and reproductive performance, while maintaining normal physiology. These findings can be applied to strengthen nutritional management practices in small-scale and commercial Nageswari duck farming in Bangladesh, enhancing productivity and reproductive outcomes while supporting sustainable livelihoods.