Since last few years, people have been very much conscious for their food and health. Functional foods have nutritional impact along with positive effect on health and occurrence of  diseases (Hasler, 2002). Eggs are preferred by people as nutrients rich food (Cook and Briggs, 1977). Duck eggs and meat are favorite food for people after chicken and has higher market price (Swain et al., 2022a, 2023). Omega-3 fatty acids prevent diseases caused by high fat and cholesterol (DiMarco et al., 2017). Earlier reports establishes proportional relationship between feed and egg fatty acid contents particularly ω-3 PUFAs in eggs (Dai et al., 2016 and Hammershoj and Johasen, 2016). Eggs enriched with ω-3 fatty acids fetches more price (Marshall and Van Elswyk, 1994). The broken rice is comparable to maize in crude protein, amino acids and energy contents (Verma et al., 1992). Being cheaper than wheat and maize, the use of broken rice is likely to reduce the cost of production (Ambasankar and Chandrasekaran, 1998). Replacing wheat with broken rice up to 50% level in feed partially economize meat  production in white pekin ducks (Naik et al., 2026). Moringa olifera is a rapid growing, drought resistance tree extensively cultivated in different parts of India. Supplementation of moringa leaves as a functional feed additive significantly improved body weight gain, feed efficiency and reduced cholesterol and triglyceride in serum of birds (Dey and Sarathi, 2013). Moringa leaves are good source of fat and water soluble vitamins including ω3 and ω6 fatty acids (Penalver et al., 2022). Laying hens fed 1.5% dried MOLM had significantly higher egg production and higher feed intake (Sharmin et al., 2021). Albumen and yolk indices increased significantly due to addition of MOLM at a level of 0.5-1.5% (Sharmin et al., 2021). Incorporation of MOLM at a level of 1,3 and 5% significantly improved egg quality parameters like shell thickness, albumen index and haugh unit score (Vaghamashi et al., 2025). In another study eggs with enriched ω3-fatty acids and reduced (p<0.05) cholesterol and triglycerides were reported in laying hens fed 1-1.5 % MOLM (Sharmin et al., 2021). Similarly, Abdel-Raheem et al. (2024) found that the serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations of Mulard ducks reduced significantly due to supplementation of MOLM. Azolla is an excellent source of important nutrients including amino acids, essential vitamins and minerals (Swain et al., 2022b).  It has greater quantity of PUFAs ranging from 26.96% to 28.06%. The ω3: ω6 fatty acid ratio in azolla privileged a healthy balance indicating a ratio of 4:1 (Chandrababu et al., 2024). Azolla spp. contains linolenic acid (9.8% to 37%) which is greater than linolenic acid contents of some of the edible oils (Lejune et al., 2000). Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) contains high amount of ω3 fatty acids (Fadaee, 2012). Eisenia fetida is rich in protein, amino acid and fatty acids (Gunya and Masika, 2022). Turkey diets supplemented with eggshell calcium improved egg production performance. However, combination of 50% Ca each from each eggshell and limestone yielded optimum result (Jahan et al., 2024). Hence, this study was planned to evaluate composite diet containing mixture of alternative feed resources on performance, fertility and hatchability of eggs, egg quality, egg omega-3 fatty acids, serum cholesterol and triglyceride contents in Khaki Campbell laying ducks.

Present study was conducted at Regional station of ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India between September 2024 and January 2025. Two experimental diets were formulated i.e. control diet with inclusion of wheat, soybean meal, fish meal and DORB and experimental diet  with inclusion of  a composite feed mix containing mixture of alternative feed resources in addition to control feed ingredients replacing part of wheat, soybean meal and fish meal (Table 1). Eighty number of KC ducks (56 weeks) were allotted to two experimental groups with five replicates of 8 ducks (6 Male +2 Female) each. Ducks were kept on deep litter throughout the experimental period of 22 weeks with ad libitum access to feed and water. The proximate composition of the experimental feed was analysed (AOAC, 2005, Table 1). The calcium content of  the  experimental feed was determined (Talapatra et al., 1940, Table 1). During the experimental period production parameters like egg production in dozen (EPD), duck day egg production (DDEP) % and feed consumption were measured. The FCR was considered as the ratio of amount of feed intake in kg and dozen of egg produced. The fertility, hatchability on fertile egg set basis and hatchability on total egg set basis were measured in fortnight intervals and average values were taken for statistical analysis. The egg weight and shape index were recorded by using a particular formula  (Shultz, 1953). The different egg indices and haugh unit were determined by the method of Heiman and Carver (1936), Sharp and Powell (1930) and Haugh (1937). The egg yolk samples were analysed for fatty acid composition (AFAQAL, Namakkal). At the end of the experiment samples were collected from median metatarsal vein at 75 weeks with sterile syringe and needle and no anticoagulant. Serum separated after centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes (4°C) was stored at -20°C for further analysis. Cholesterol and triglycerides in serum were determined using biochemical kits of Tulip Diagnostic (P) Ltd., Pantnagar, India. Statistical analysis of data was carried out by the help of Microsoft Excel 2010 and evaluation was done through ANOVA making use of SPSS 16.0 (IBM Corp.).

Total egg production in dozen (EPD) and DDEP percent were higher (p<0.05) in composite diet fed ducks (Table 2). Higher (p<0.01) intake of feed was observed in ducks fed composite diet. The feed cost for production of dozen eggs was reduced (p<0.05) in ducks given composite feed. Similarly, feeding of 1% moringa leaf meal had positive effects on growth and egg production in laying hens (Mahfuz and Piao, 2019 and Kokou et al., 2026). M. oleifera supplementation improved egg output and yolk colour scores compared to control group (Abouz-Elezz et al., 2011). According to Adegbenro et al. (2020) the feed intake was increased with increasing level of Composite leaf meal (CLM) (Containing Moringa oleifera leaves) in the diet. The increased feed intake might be due to better palatability as well as higher levels of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants which led to increased consumption. Present findings were consistent with the report of Kakengi et al. (2007) who reported higher feed consumption in hens given diet having 10 and 20% of MOLM. The FCR was better in ducks fed composite feed compared to those fed control feed. Similarly, earlier researchers reported improved FCR in laying hens fed CLM (Adegbenro et al., 2020). Similarly, Ruelas et al. (2023) reported improved FCR due to feeding of MOLM at level of 2.5 %. The better FCR due to composite feed might be due to improved utilization of the nutrients by the ducks which confirmed earlier reposts (Adegbenro et al., 2020).


       
The fertility, HFES and HTES were higher (p<0.01) in ducks given composite feed (Table 3). Similarly, addition of 1% of MOLM improved fertility, HFES and HTES in Japanese quails (Yadav et al., 2022). The findings of present study resembled with the observations of Alebachew et al., (2016) and Tutubulang et al. (2022) who observed improved reproductive parameter because of addition of  MOLM in the diet at a level of 5% and 7%. The improved fertility and hatchability might be due to high contents of vitamin E and zinc in MOLM (Moyo et al., 2011). Further, previous researchers demonstrated that better hatchability might be due to zinc and vitamin E (Park et al., 2004 and Amen and Al-Daraji, 2011). Zinc protects the DNA chromatin in sperm nucleus, which might have improved fertility. 


       
The haugh unit and shell per cent were higher (p<0.05)  in ducks fed composite diet (Table 3). Similarly, the haugh unit was significantly improved due to supplementation of MOLM at levels of 1-5% in RIR laying birds (Vaghamashi et al., 2025). In contrast, many earlier workers did not observe any significant improvement in shell weight and shell percent because of MOLM addition in laying birds diet (Vaghamashi et al., 2025; Karmiyantiningsih et al., 2025 and Swain et al., 2017). In agreement with findings of this study, Adegbenro et al. (2020) reported significant improvement of haugh unit due to addition of composite leaf meal (CLM) at a level of 4-5 g per kg feed containing Moringa oleifera leaves. Similar to the results of present study, inclusion of azolla (Azolla pinnata) at a level of 7.5 % in the diet of Bovans Brown laying hens significantly improved haugh unit and shell weight (Seid, 2023).
       
The ω-3 fatty acids like linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) were higher (p<0.05) in the eggs of composite diet fed ducks (Table 4). Similar to present findings, Sharmin et al. (2021) reported ω-3 fatty acid enriched eggs yolk in laying hens fed diet with 1.0-1.5% MOLM. Vaghamashi et al. (2025) also observed improved n-3 fatty acid contents in eggs of RIR birds given diet containing 1% MOLM. Higher concentration of egg ω-3 fatty acids  in ducks fed composite feed might be due to the MOLM, AM and EWM components of it which are rich in ω-3 fatty acids. This is because the ω-3 fatty acids of eggs are derived from the fatty acids of diets of laying hens (Dai et al., 2016 and Hammershoj and Johansen, 2016). The behenic acid was significantly reduced in eggs of ducks fed composite diet and the fatty acids like myristic and palmitic acids increased numerically and stearic acid decreased due to feeding of composite feed in present study (Table 5). In contrast, myristic  palmitic and stearic acid contents of eggs increased significantly due to feeding of 1 % MOLM in laying birds (Sharmin et al., 2021). This might be due to higher fatty acid concentrations of composite diet which incorporated into eggs.




       
The cholesterol and triglyceride contents in serum were reduced (p<0.05) by 44.39% and 22.96%, respectively due to feeding of composite diet compared to those fed control diet (Table 6). In consistent with the present findings, earlier researchers reported significant reduction in the serum cholesterol and triglyceride contents in hens fed diet containing 0.5,1.0 and 1.5% MOLM  (Sharmin et al., 2021). Similarly, it was reported that supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaves in the diet of poultry bird as a functional feed additive significantly reduced serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and increased the HDL-cholesterol (Dey and Sarathi, 2013). Similar to the present finding, Kokou et al. (2026) reported decreased serum triglyceride content due to feeding of diet containing 3% MOLM. The reduction in cholesterol contents might be due to high antioxidant contents in composite feed containing MOLM and azolla meal as antioxidants enhance the synthesis of bile salts which emulsify fat and reduces its absorption thus lowering cholesterol levels (Ghasi et al., 2000).

It is recommended that feeding of composite feed is advantageous for better egg production,  fertility, hatchability, egg quality, egg omega-3 fatty acids with reduced serum cholesterol and triglycerides and low feed cost for egg production.

Research was supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Government of India.

We wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.