Growth Performance of Muscovy Ducks fed Duckweed, Taro Silage, and Water Hyacinth

Abstract

Seeking for alternative feed resource is a major critical concern for animal production in Laos. Duckweed, taro and water hyacinth are well known as nutritive plants for animals. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of duckweed, taro silage and water hyacinth on the growth performance of Muscovy ducks. The study was carried out with 72 ducklings (526.39±34.39 g/bird) from week 5 to week 11 of age (7 weeks of the trial period) in a 2*3 factorial arrangement (2 feeding models and 3 ingredients). The birds were randomly allotted to three replicates each of the six treatments: 1) Mixed (ratio 1:1) duckweed with rice bran (MDR), 2) Mixed (ratio 1:1) taro silage with rice bran (MTR), 3) Mixed (ratio 1:1) water hyacinth with rice bran (MWR), 4) Separated duckweed and rice bran (SDR), 5) Separated taro silage and rice bran (STR), and 6) Separated water hyacinth and rice bran (SWR). Weekly body weights were measured and used to determine average daily body weight gain. MDR, MWR and SDR were significantly higher (p<0.05) body weight than that of MTR, STR and SWR. Highest value (p<0.05) of average daily gain was observed in a group of ducks fed MDR at week 8 of age. Results from this study showed that duckweed is comparative utilizable and valuable ingredient for Muscovy duck in terms of feed/gain, feed intake and final body weight (p<0.05). Further study is recommended to formulate diet with varied feed ingredients to provide sufficient nutrition for Muscovy duck.