Effect of Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus Levels on Productive Performance, Carcass and Tibia Characteristics of Sudani Ducklings

Abstract

This study was planned to evaluate varying dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels effects on the productive performance of Sudani ducklings during the growth period. A total of 240 unsexed ducklings, 7 days-old were split into four empirical groups, each of three replicates (20 ducklings each). The ducklings in the 1 st up to the 4 th group fed diet contained Ca plus P levels as follows 0.70% Ca+0.35% P (T1), 0.85% Ca+0.40% P (T2, as a control), 1.0% Ca+0.45% P (T3) and 1.15% Ca+0.50% P (T4), respectively during the starter and grower periods. Ducklings in T4 group recorded a significant improvement of live body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio compared to the ducklings in T1 group at 7-91 days-old period. Both eviscerated carcass and total edible parts (%) were ameliorated (P>0.05) by increasing levels of Ca and P. All hematological parameters not significantly affected except for hemoglobin, which decreased by increasing levels of Ca and P. Serum Ca, P, vitamin D and alkaline phosphatase content for ducklings were not differed by varying Ca and P levels. Duckling's tibia calcium content significantly augmented by mounting Ca and P levels; however, their content from P not affected. From the obtained results, it could be concluded that the necessity to use the diet containing 1:1.15 Ca with 0.45: 0.50 P (%) to achieve the best growth characteristics and the ratio of edible parts, as well as tibia Ca content for Sudani ducklings during the growing period.