Effect of Supplementation of Different Levels of Trace Mineral Mixture on the Performance of White Pekin Ducks for Meat Production Purpose

Duck meat consumption has been popularized and augmented during the past few decades owing to the high nutritional value packed with essential amino acids, fatty acids composed more of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a balanced proportion of omega-6 and omega-3 (Pingel and Germany, 2011; Naik et al., 2022a; 2022b). The continuous selection pressure on the birds for better growth has further necessitated more mineral requirements for bone health (Swain et al., 2023). recorded. In ducks, rapid bone growth and mineralization due to intensive selection for growth rate in ducks. Minerals have a significant role in bone mineralization and the growth of meat ducks (Zhang et al., 2019). Minerals are essential to support several enzymatic systems enhancing antioxidant ability and immunity (Wang et al., 2020). Micro minerals like manganese, copper, zinc, selenium and iron play significant roles in growth, reproduction, egg production and egg quality in ducks. Till dates, research have mostly concentrated on macro-nutrients (amino acids, crude protein, metabolizable energy). Therefore, the literature on duck mineral nutrition is comparatively scarce quite limited. Furthermore, among the minerals, macro-minerals have dragged most attention of the researchers, with scarce scanty literature on the micro-minerals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Se). To add on, most mineral nutrition studies have focused on requirements in chicken. Chicken and ducks differ in terms of digestion physiology (Jamroz et al., 2002), digestibility of minerals (Adeola, 2006) and mineral deposition (Rodehutscord and Dieckmann, 2005). Compared to chickens, ducks possess a spindle-shaped widening at esophagus and proventriculus is fusi form. Ducks exhibit a faster transit rate of chime, consequentially a lesser mineral availability (Fan, 2003). Copper being a cofactor for many enzymes like pyruvate hydrolase,cytochrome oxidase, phydroxyphenyl, lysyl oxidase, tyrosinase etc. is highly essential micro-mineral in poultry nutrition (Leeson, 2009). However, copper requirement in meat duck is not given recommended by NRC (1994). Zinc is an essential mineral for structural and regulatory and catalytic functions. Growing ducks fed Zn-deficient diet exhibited stunted growth and lesions in pedal epidermis (Wight and Dewar, 1976). Severe Zn deficiency resulted in lower hatchability, anomalous embryonic development (Kienholz et al., 1961).  Manganese serves as a vital element of pyruvate carboxylase, arginase and superoxide dismutase. Iron is a component of protein heme in the red blood cell and myoglobin protein in muscle cells (Theil, 2004). Selenium is crucial element of selenoproteins needed for regulation of different physiological processes. Se deficiency injured fibroblast membranes and declined collagen synthesis in ducks (Brown et al., 1982). Looking into the availability and role of minerals on duck nutrition, the present study was conducted to find out the effect of supple-mentation of different levels of trace mineral mixture on the performance of White Pekin ducks for meat purpose production.
 

The study has been carried out in ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research Regional Station, Bhubaneswar during 2022 - 2023. 180 day-old White Pekin ducklings (180; day old) were divided into three groups; with each group consists of four replicates; and each replicate had 15 ducklings. A basal starter feed diet was prepared by mixing wheat (60 kg), soybean meal (25 kg), fishmeal (5 kg), deoiled rice bran (8 kg), oyster shell (1 kg), dicalcium phosphate (1 kg) and feed supplements (DL-methionine-50 g; lysine-50 g; vit. AD3B2K-20 g; vit E  and Se -20 g; vit B Complex-20 g; toxin binder-100 g; choline chloride -100g; Salt-100g). Three experimental diets feeds were prepared by supplementing the above basal starter feed with TMM containing (Mn 11 g; Zn 10 g; Cu 2 g; Fe 11 g; Se 0.15 g; I 0.25 g; Co 0.125 g; Cr 40 mg per 100 kg feed) @ of 100 g (TMM-100), 200g (TMM-200) and 300 g (TMM-300) per 100 kg diet. The three experimental feeds  diets were offered randomly to all the above three experimental groups for up to eight 8 weeks of age as per the suggested practical inclusion levels of nutrient requirements for White Pekin ducks 8 weeks (Singh and Panda, 1996). During the experiment, the ducks were reared on deep litter system and the respective diets were fed ad libitumlib. following standard management practices. During the feeding trial, a metabolic trial of 4-d collection period was conducted on six birds from each group (two birds from each replicate) in individual cages. The samples of feeds, residues and faeces were analyzed for proximate principles following standard procedures (AOAC, 1997). The metaboliszability of the nutrients was calculated as the difference between nutrient intake and nutrient voided. The data on feed intake was recorded daily, while the live weights were recorded weekly. At the end of eight weeks of age, four male ducks from each group i.e. one duck from each replicate was sacrificed following standard procedure for the study of the carcass characteristics. The statistical analysis of the data for any significant differences was conducted as per Snedecor and Cochran (1994).
 

The chemical compositions (on % DM basis) of the experimental feeds are presented in (Table 1). The CP content and energy content ranged from 22.31-22.70 % is maintained in the diets. The day-old body weights of the ducklings (51.67-52.027) were similar among all the treatment groups (Table 2). The mean body weigh at 6th week in TMM-100 group (1821.02 g) was similar to TMM-200 (1833.27 g) and TMM-300 groups (1719.92). Sahoo et al., (2014) has reported similar findings at 6^th week of age body weight in White Pekin ducklings, while higher body weight was recorded by Farhat and Chavez (2000) and lower body weight than the present study was reported by Bhuyian et al., (2005). However, the mean body weight at 8th week (2155.02-2176.17, g) was similar among the experimental groups. The body weight gain during 4-6 weeks (673.60-736.44, g) was higher than 6-8 weeks (335.16-435.10, g). Many of the researchers have recorded a higher 8^th week body weight at 8th week  of age in Pekin ducks compared to our present study (Solomon et al., 2006; Solomon et al., 2007; Kuzniacka and Adamski, 2019) while a lower body weight was observed by many researchers (Ghosh et al., 202;  Rabbani et al., 2019). In contrary to our present study, Yin et al., (2022) observed more body weight gain with greater supplementation of trace minerals. Baltic et al., (2016) recommended that trace mineral selenium supplementation @ 4 mg/kg feed imparted better growth rate in ducklings.




       
The daily feed intake at 6th week of age (158.44-162.59, g) was similar among the treatment groups (Table 3). However, the daily feed intake at 8th week of age in TMM-100 group (156.62 g) was similar to both TMM-200 group (154.77 g) and TMM-300 group (160.31 g). The cumulative feed intake up to 6 weeks and 8 weeks in TMM-100 group (4.55 and 6.83, kg) was similar to TMM-200 group (4.61 and 6.83) and both were higher than the TMM-300 group (4.33 and 6.60) (Table 4). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) up to 6 weeks (2.58-2.60) and 8 weeks (3.14-3.25) were similar among the experimental groups (Fig 1). The present our findings have been supported by Yin et al., (2022) who reported non-significant influence of dietary mineral supplementation on average daily feed intake and FCR. The data on metabolisability of various nutrients and nitrogen balances is presented in (Table 5). The metabolisability (%) of dry matter (72.03-75.86), organic matter (73.24-76.86), crude protein (76.82-79.87), ether extract (83.74-85.16) and crude fibre (60.22-63.93) were similar among the treatment groups. Attia et al., (2013) recommended that supplementation of trace mineral zinc in Pekin duck diet can prevent clinical deficiencies and help the ducks to achieve their full genetic growth potential. Inorganic Zn supplemented @ 30 ppm exhibited positive impact on growth rate and Zn excretion in male White Pekin ducklings.








       
The slaughter body weight (2165.75 - 2234.00 g) and various body parts expressed as percentage of body weight viz. blood (4.80-5.63), feather (11.65-13.30), head (5.23-5.85), shank (2.85-2.98), heart (0.56-0.64), liver (1.69-1.74), gizzard (2.84-3.20), intestine (3.51-3.60) and eviscerated weight (68.98-70.27) was similar among the experimental groups (Table 6). There were no significant differences in various body parts as percentage of eviscerated weight i.e. legs (19.89-20.51), breast (27.99-29.11) and wings (15.57-17.08) among the treatment groups. However, the back as percentage of eviscerated weight in TMM-100 group (23.11) was similar to TMM-200 group (24.23), but lower than TMM-300 group (24.69). Our findings The observations of the present study  being supported by findings of Attia et al., (2013) who observed supplementation of trace mineral copper at different concentrations exhibited non-significant influence on dressing percentage of the carcass and the feather, giblets or intestine. The researchers advocated the dose as 8 mg/kg feed of inorganic Cu for male White Pekin ducklings (0-8 weeks) for optimal growth. However, Cu @ 150 mg/ kg feed significantly enhanced meat quality (more meat protein, lesser meat lipids and cholesterol). In another study, Zhang et al., (2020) recorded that trace mineral manganese when supplemented in layer duck breeder diet (up to 160 mg/kg of feed), influenced their tibial characteristics, overall production, serum biochemical and antioxidant status. In another study, Baltic et al., (2016) observed that ducks fed high-selenium diets (0.4 mg/kg feed) exhibited significantly higher daily weight gain (15 to 49 days) and final bodyweight than the control or the group supplanted with supra-nutritional (0.6 mg/kg) selenium quantities. The effect of selenium supplementation in diet had non-significant effect on weights of the primal cuts.

It can Based on the above research findings, it is concluded that trace mineral mixture can be supplemented @ 100 -200 g per 100 kg feed in the diets of White Pekin ducks up to 8 weeks of age for better growth rate and meat production.