Review of Research in Duck Nutrient Utilization

The duck has a great potential in helping to meet the growing demand for high quality protein in human diets. In order for ducks to meet their potential, more research is needed to establish their dietary requirements. Feeding and excreta collection techniques developed at Purdue University that minimize loss of excreta during collection, the first step towards precise dietary requirement quantification, are described. Using the techniques that were developed, energy and amino acid utilization of White Pekin ducks were evaluated in several studies. Diets supplying 3, 000 kcal ME/kg, 0.6% Methionine, and 1.2% Lysine are adequate to meet duck`s requirement for optimum growth in the first week of life. Predicted ME of diets based on utilization values of individual ingredients was compared with the measured ME in the diets, the result showed that the energy in the feedstuffs had additive when compounded into a diet for ducks. In the case of amino acids, some essential amino acid showed significant associative effect. Enzymes likes xylanase and phytase improved performance and bone mineralization when used in ducks diet. The effect was demonstrated to be due to reduction in digesta viscosity and increased P availability as a result of the use of xylanase and phytase, respectively, the effects being more pronounced in younger ducks. There is need for more research to be done in the areas of amino acid nutrition in ducks and the evaluation of non-traditional feedstuffs.