TY - JOUR T1 - Effect of Dietary Crude Protein and Energy on Gaoyou Ducklings Growth Performance and Carcass Trait AU - Wang, Q. AU - Li, H.F. AU - Dai, Y.L. AU - Chen, K.W. AU - Li, B.L. AU - Wang, Z.Y. AU - Zhang, J. JO - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances VL - 9 IS - 4 SP - 826 EP - 830 PY - 2010 DA - 2001/08/19 SN - 1680-5593 DO - javaa.2010.826.830 UR - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2010.826.830 KW - Gaoyou ducklings KW -crude protein KW -metabolizable energy KW -growth performance KW -carcass traits KW -China AB - The study was undertaken to assess dietary CP and ME concentrations for optimum growth performance and carcass characteristics of Gaoyou ducklings. In a 3x3 factorial arrangement, three hundred and sixty zero-day-old Gaoyou ducklings were randomly assigned to experimental diets with 11.70, 11.90 and 12.12 MJ of ME kg-1 of diet; each contained 18.0, 19.0 and 20.0% CP, respectively, from 0-28 days of age. Each dietary treatment had 4 replicates. Body weight and feed consumptions were measured at every weekend, from 0-28 days of age and carcass characteristics were evaluated at 28 days of age. The result showed that ducklings on a diet with 11.70 and 11.90 MJ of ME kg-1 at 0-28 days of age exhibited greater BW gain than this diet with 12.12 MJ of ME kg-1 (p<0.01), though BW gain was not different among 11.70 and 11.90 MJ of ME kg-1 of diet. Mean BW gain of birds fed 18.0, 19.0 and 20.0% CP diets was significantly different (p<0.001). Feed intake was influenced by dietary ME levels (p<0.000) also. Feed intake of birds fed 18.0% CP diets was higher than those of birds on 19.0 and 20.0% CP diets (p<0.01). Feed conversion ratios of birds fed on 11.70 and 11.90 MJ of ME kg-1 of diet were better than those fed on 12.12 MJ of ME kg-1 (p<0.001). Feed conversion ratios of birds fed on 18.0% CP diets were better than those fed on 19.0 and 20.0% CP diets. In the study, there were significant interactions between dietary CP and ME on growth performance. There was a direct relationship between dietary ME levels and eviscerated carcass percentage (p<0.014), abdominal fat percentage (p<0.000) and breast weight (p<0.037). But the half-eviscerated carcass percentage, eviscerated carcass percentage, breast and leg meat percentage were not influenced by dietary CP concentration. Thus, diets with 11.70 MJ of ME kg-1 and 18.0% CP were used more efficiently from 0-28 days of age by Gaoyou ducklings. ER -