• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.26 no.10
• /
• pp.1181-1184
• /
• 2017

This study examined the effects of chemical blends (a combination of alum and aluminum chloride) on pH, N, and pathogens in duck litter during a six-week experiment. In total, 240 Pekin ducks (160 males and 80 females) were individually distributed into 16 pens, in a randomized experimental design consisting of four treatments and four replicate pens per treatment. Our treatments included a control, T1 (75 g alum + 75 g aluminum chloride/kg duck litter), T2 (100 g alum + 100 g aluminum chloride/kg duck litter), and T3 (150 g alum + 150 g aluminum chloride/kg duck litter). There was no difference among treatments in pH and Total N (TN) at weeks 2, 4, and 6 and weeks 1, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. However, there were significant differences in both pH and TN among treatments at weeks 1, 3, and 5 and weeks 2 and 3, respectively. Regarding pathogens, we found small differences in all treatments in Escherichia coli populations from weeks 1 to 5 and in Salmonella enterica populations from weeks 1 to 3. In conclusion, the addition of chemical blends to duck litter increased TN, which resulted in a lower litter pH, but did not significantly affect pathogen populations.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.28 no.8
• /
• pp.713-717
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary Hermetia illucens powder on duck litter quality. One hundred twenty Pekin ducks (0 day old) were assigned to 2 groups (0% and 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder) with 3 replicates (20 ducks per replicate) for 42 days. Duck litter quality included moisture, pH, VBN, total nitrogen, ammonia, and temperature. Litter pH and VBN values were significantly affected by Hermetia illucens powder (p<0.05). However, moisture and total nitrogen values were not greatly influenced by the addition of 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder (p>0.05). At 21, 28 and 35 days, both 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder and controls had a great effect (p<0.05) on ammonia contents, except at 7, 14 and 42 days. In comparison to control, ammonia contents in groups with 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder were reduced from 16.9 to 41.8% as the days increased. Duck litter showed lower temperature by 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder compare to control. In terms of environmental managements, these results suggest that using 0.5% Hermetia illucens powder as feed additives improved litter quality and decreased ammonia contents.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.291-294
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of hydrogen water on duck production in a field study. A total of 600 one-day-old ducks (Pekin) were randomly allotted to two treatment groups with three replicates each having 100 birds per pen in a completely randomized design. The duck production parameters measured included weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency. For duck drinking water, general water supplied from the farm was used as the control, and hydrogen water was supplied by installing a device that generates hydrogen (T1 groups). There was no statistical significance in duck weight gain between the two treatment groups (p>0.05). In addition, no significant difference in feed intake was found in both the control and T1 groups (p>0.05), and the range of values was similar. Feed efficiency was not significant different between the treatment groups (p>0.05), and there was no remarkable difference in the range of vaules. These results indicate that hydrogen water did not influence duck production.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.931-940
• /
• 2021

Objective: Light is a significant component of housing environment in commercial poultry industry. This study was conducted to investigate whether Pekin ducks perform better under monochromatic lights than under white light with respect to their growth performance, carcass quality, eyeball development, oxidation resistance, and cecal bacterial communities. Methods: A total of 320 one-day-old male Pekin ducklings were randomly distributed into five rooms with different light treatments, white, red, yellow, green, and blue light. Each room consisted of 4 replicated pens with 16 ducklings per pen. Results: Blue light significantly decreased fat deposition by decreasing abdominal fat. Long wavelength light, such as red, green, and yellow light, considerably increased the back-to-front eyeball diameter and the red light potentially enlarged the side-to-side eyeball diameter. Besides, the blue light had adverse effects on the oxidation resistance status in terms of increasing the product malonaldehyde of lipid oxidation and decreasing the plasma concentration of total superoxide dismutase. The phyla of Firmicutes had the greatest abundance in the green and blue treatments, while Bacteroidetes in blue treatment was the least. The genus of Faecalibacterium was significantly lower under the red light. Conclusion: The high risk of cecal health status and decreased anti-oxidation activity were observed under blue light. Red, yellow, and green light might increase the risk of oversized eyeball and cecal illness. Therefore, monochromatic lights compared to white light did not show advantages on the performance of housing ducks, it turns out that the white light is the best light condition for grow-out ducks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2021

This study investigated the morphological features, growth, and meat yield performance of Pekin (P), Nageswari (N), and their reciprocal F₁ crossbreds (P♂×N♀ and N♂×P♀). A total of 301-day-old ducklings were reared in four different pens up to 20 weeks of age under intensive management conditions. Feeding and management practices were similar for all individuals throughout the experimental period. The morphology and plumage pattern of F₁ crossbreds were similar to those of indigenous Nageswari ducks because of the dominant inheritance of the extended Black allele (E locus). Genotype had significant differences (P<0.05) among the four genotypes in morphometric measurements, except wing and shank length. Growth performance was highly significant among the four genotypes (P<0.001) from one-day to 12 weeks of age. The average live weights of P, N, P♂×N♀ and N♂×P♀ crossbred genotypes at 12 weeks of age were 2038.35±29.74, 1542.44±33.61, 1851.85±28.59 and 1691.08±27.80 g, respectively. Meat yield parameters varied significantly (P<0.05) among the different genotypes for all studied traits, except for liver and gizzard weight. Moreover, no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed between P and P♂×N♀ crossbred for important meat yield traits such as hot carcass weight, dressing%, back half weight, drumstick with thigh weight and breast meat weight. Remarkably, the P♂×N♀ crossbreed possesses 50% native inheritance, which contributes to better adaptation in a hot-humid environment. Our results revealed that the P♂×N♀ genotype could be suitable for higher meat production with better adaptability in the agro-climatic conditions of Bangladesh.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.605-611
• /
• 2015

A synthetic strain of ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) was developed by introducing genes for long duration of fertility to be used as mother of mule ducklings and a seven-generation selection experiment was conducted to increase the number of fertile eggs after a single artificial insemination (AI) with pooled Muscovy semen. Reciprocal crossbreeding between Brown Tsaiya LRI-2 (with long duration of fertility) and Pekin L-201 (with white plumage mule ducklings) ducks produced the G0. Then G1 were intercrossed to produce G2 and so on for the following generations. Each female duck was inseminated 3 times, at 26, 29, and 32 weeks of age. The eggs were collected for 14 days from day 2 after AI. Individual data regarding the number of incubated eggs (Ie), the number of fertile eggs at candling at day 7 of incubation (F), the total number of dead embryos (M), the maximum duration of fertility (Dm) and the number of hatched mule ducklings (H) with plumage colour were recorded. The selection criterion was the breeding values of the best linear unbiased prediction animal model for F. The results show high percentage of exhibited heterosis in G2 for traits to improve (19.1% for F and 12.9% for H); F with a value of 5.92 (vs 3.74 in the Pekin L-201) was improved in the G2. Heritabilities were found to be low for Ie ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.03$) and M ($h^2=0.07{\pm}0.01$), moderately low for Dm ($h^2=0.13{\pm}0.02$), of medium values for H ($h^2=0.20{\pm}0.03$) and F ($h^2=0.23{\pm}0.03$). High and favourable genetic correlations existed between F and Dm ($r_g=0.93$), between F and H ($r_g=0.97$) and between Dm and H ($r_g=0.90$). The selection experiment showed a positive trend for phenotypic values of F (6.38 fertile eggs in G10 of synthetic strain vs 5.59 eggs in G4, and 3.74 eggs in Pekin L-201), with correlated response for increasing H (5.73 ducklings in G10 vs 4.86 in G4, and 3.09 ducklings in Pekin L-201) and maximum duration of the fertile period without increasing the embryo mortality rate. The average predicted genetic response for F was 40% of genetic standard deviation per generation of selection. The mule ducklings' feather colour also was improved. It was concluded that this study provided results for a better understanding of the genetics of the duration of fertility traits in the common female duck bred for mule and that the selection of a synthetic strain was effective method of improvement.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.425-428
• /
• 2021

The present study evaluated the blood profile and meat color of ducks with Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) pellets in their diets. In total, 120 pekin ducks (1-d-old) were used in a 42 d growth trial. Ducks were randomly allocated to six pens and exposed to three replicates of two treatments: (1) controls as basal diet and (2) basal diet + 2% H. cordata pellets (T1). Total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride contents or L^* and b^* vaules revealed significant difference (p>0.05) in compared with those in the controls; however, dietary supplementation of H. cordata pellets did not affect (p>0.05) LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and a^* values. In conclusion, the inclusion of 2% H. cordata pellets improved HDL-cholesterol and meat color in duck breast and thigh meats, which further reduced other cholesterol values.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.27 no.12
• /
• pp.1744-1748
• /
• 2014

A dose-response experiment with seven supplemental pyridoxine levels (0, 0.66, 1.32, 1.98, 2.64, 3.30, and 3.96 mg/kg) was conducted to investigate the effects of pyridoxine on growth performance and plasma aminotransferases and homocysteine of White Pekin ducks and to estimate pyridoxine requirement for these birds. A total of 336 one-day-old male White Pekin ducks were divided to 7 experimental treatments and each treatment contained 8 replicate pens with 6 birds per pen. Ducks were reared in raised wire-floor pens from hatch to 28 d of age. At 28 d of age, the weight gain, feed intake, feed/gain, and the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and homocysteine in plasma of ducks from each pen were all measured. In our study, the pyridoxine deficiency of ducks was characterized by growth depression, decreasing plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity and increasing plasma homocysteine. The ducks fed vitamin $B_6$-deficient basal diets had the worst weight gain and feed/gain among all birds and this growth depression was alleviated (p<0.05) when pyridoxine was supplemented to basal diets. On the other hand, plasma aspartate aminotransferase and homocysteine may be the sensitive indicators for vitamin $B_6$ status of ducks. The ducks fed basal diets had much lower aspartate aminotransferase activity and higher homocysteine level in plasma compared with other birds fed pyridoxine-supplemented diets (p<0.05). According to quadratic regression, the supplemental pyridoxine requirements of Pekin ducks from hatch to 28 days of age was 2.44 mg/kg for feed/gain and 2.08 mg/kg for plasma aspartate aminotransferase and the corresponding total requirements of this vitamin for these two criteria were 4.37 and 4.01 mg/kg when the pyridoxine concentration of basal diets was included, respectively. All data suggested that pyridoxine deficiency could cause growth retardation in ducks and the deficiency of this vitamin could be indicated by decreasing plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity and increasing plasma homocysteine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.7
• /
• pp.1052-1061
• /
• 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to identify duck liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP-2) and demonstrate its antimicrobial activity against various pathogens. Methods: Tissue samples were collected from 6 to 8-week-old Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), total RNA was extracted, and cDNA was synthesized. To confirm the duck LEAP-2 transcript expression levels, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was conducted. Two kinds of peptides (a linear peptide and a disulfide-type peptide) were synthesized to compare the antimicrobial activity. Then, antimicrobial activity assay and fluorescence microscopic analysis were conducted to demonstrate duck LEAP-2 bactericidal activity. Results: The duck LEAP-2 peptide sequence showed high identity with those of other avian species (>85%), as well as more than 55% of identity with mammalian sequences. LEAP-2 mRNA was highly expressed in the liver with duodenum next, and then followed by lung, spleen, bursa and jejunum and was the lowest in the muscle. Both of LEAP-2 peptides efficiently killed bacteria, although the disulfide-type LEAP-2 showed more powerful bactericidal activity. Also, gram-positive bacteria was more susceptible to duck LEAP-2 than gram-negative bacteria. Using microscopy, we confirmed that LEAP-2 peptides could kill bacteria by disrupting the bacterial cell envelope. Conclusion: Duck LEAP-2 showed its antimicrobial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Disulfide bonds were important for the powerful killing effect by disrupting the bacterial cell envelope. Therefore, duck LEAP-2 can be used for effective antibiotics alternatives.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.428-433
• /
• 2012

The objective of this study was to identify appropriate aging conditions, changes in nucleotide-related compounds, chemical changes, and a sensory evaluation of duck meat during aging at $0^{\circ}C$ for 7 d. Twenty one 45-day-old Pekin white ducks samples were separated into breast and leg meat. ATP was not detected for almost the entire aging period because ATP was depleted immediately after slaughter. Inosine monophosphate (IMP) was highest on day 1 ($26.69{\mu}mol/g$), and then it rapidly decreased to $7.11{\mu}mol/g$ on day 7. However, this level was not different between breast and leg meat. Hypoxanthine (Hx) content of breast meat was $14.88{\mu}mol/g$, whereas that of leg meat was $16.41{\mu}mol/g$. Inosine content of breast meat was double than that of leg meat. The pH values of breast and leg meat were 5.90-6.05 and 6.23-6.73, respectively, during the aging period. Volatile basic nitrogen content of breast and leg meat increased during aging. Breast meat had good sensory evaluation scores for flavor (7.4), juiciness (6.8), tenderness (7.2), and overall acceptance (7.4) on day 3. Similar to breast meat, leg meat also had good sensory evaluation scores. Therefore, it is concluded that the appropriate aging period is 3 d for duck breast meat and 1 day for leg meat at $0^{\circ}C$.