USING DATE STONE MEAL WITH OR WITHOUT ENZYMES AS AN ALTERNATIVE FEEDSTUFF IN DUCKS DIETS

Abstract

: A total number of 350 unsexed 7d old ducks were randomly divided among 7 dietary treatments to investigate using date stone meal (DSM) with or without enzymes (EZ) as an alternative feedstuff in duck’s diet. Dietary treatments were: the 1 st group was used as control and fed control diet contained 0% date stone. Ducks in the 2 nd and 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th and the 6 th and 7 th groups were fed diets contained 10, 15 and 20% DSM either without or with EZ addition, respectively. Results showed that ducks fed basal diet contained DSM at levels of 10%, 15% and 20% and supplemented with EZ had superior (P ≤ 0.05) live body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, economical efficiency, production index and better feed conversion ratio. As well as, increased serum total protein, albumen, dressing % and total edible parts% compared to those fed diets with DSM without EZ. Ducks fed basal diet contained DSM at level 10% and 15% with EZ supplementation recorded higher significantly (P ≤ 0.05) crude protein digestibility and serum HDL. While, there were no significantly differences between groups for digestibility of ether extract and apparent ash retention, serum content of globulin, glucose, T3, T4, total lipids, cholesterol, blood hematological indices and immune organs. In conclusion, DSM could be used in ducks diets up to 20% with enzyme supplementation without adverse effect on growth performance, however, DSM at 10 and 15 % with adding enzyme achieve optimum growth performance and economic efficiency during growing period.