Effect of dietary calcium and vitamin D3 on calcium and phosphorus retention in white Pekin ducklings

Abstract

Higher concentrations of Ca in the diet may decrease phytate-phosphorus hydrolysis because of chelation of Ca with the phytin molecule. In experiment 1, drakes were fed 0.74, 0.85, 0.95, or 1.11% Ca (analyzed) from 7 to 18 d of age (6 birds/cage, 8 cages/diet). Intestinal mucosa was collected at 18 d of age from birds fed 0.74 and 1.11% Ca for determination of intestinal phytase activity. In experiment 1, 17 d BW gain and feed consumption exhibited a quadratic response to increasing concentrations of Ca and were found to be maximal for ducks fed the 0.95% Ca diet. Toe ash percentage (18 d) had a quadratic response to increasing concentrations of Ca with a maximal response for birds fed the 0.85% Ca diet. Increasing dietary Ca did not affect P retention from 15 to 17 d of age or intestinal phytase activity and brush border vesicle Ca concentration. A positive correlation was found between the Vmax and the Ca concentration within the vesicles (r = 0.59, P < 0.02), suggesting that the vesicle Ca concentration did not negatively affect the kinetics of the phytase assay. In experiment 2, drakes were fed 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, or 1.2% Ca (formulated) with 826 or 8,260 ICU/kg of vitamin D3 from 0 to 13 d of age. There was no response to increasing concentrations of Ca for performance characteristics or bone ash measurements.

Optimising the use of phosphorus sources in growing meat ducks

“…The value for hatchlings (3.1 g/kg) was confirmed for Pekin ducks by Rodehutscord et al (2003), indicating that this remained unchanged over the years. 2 by Rush et al, 2005). In 7 to 17 d old ducks, Rush et al (2005) measured average values for feed/BWG ratio and P utilisation of 1.87 and 46%, respectively.…”

“…The sub-committee on mineral requirements of working group number 2 (Nutrition) of the European Federation of Branches of the WPSA assumed a continuous increase in the P content of body weight (BW) from 3.1 (hatch) to 5.7 g/kg (wk 7) in Pekin ducks, and from Phosphorus use in ducks: M. Rodehutscord 3.1 (hatch) to 6.3 g/kg (wk 12) in Muscovy ducks (WPSA, 1985). In 7 to 17 d old ducks, Rush et al (2005) measured average values for feed/BWG ratio and P utilisation of 1.87 and 46%, respectively. In studies with graded P levels, Pekin ducks achieved a plateau in the P concentration of body weight gain (BWG) of 5.6 g/kg at 2 wk of age, while the value was slightly lower (5.1 g/kg BWG) in 5 wk old ducks .…”

“…When diets containing 6.6 g P/kg were used, Pekin ducks had higher BWG from 7 to 15 d post hatch with 9.5 g Ca/kg of diet as compared to 7.4, 8.5, or 11.1 g/kg (Rush et al, 2005). This indicates that Ca levels recommended by NRC (1994) (6.5 and 6.0 g/kg for ducks <2 wk and >2 wk, respectively) may be too low for modern-type growing ducks.…”

Anseriforme Husbandry and Management

“…Rush et al found that white Pekin duckling growth and toe ash weight were maximized with 0.95% and 0.85%, respectively, dietary calcium [18]. This is in contrast to the NRC recommendation of 0.6% dietary calcium and is just one example where published NRC guidelines may not be appropriate for all waterfowl.…”

Effect ofLolium multiflorumLam. as a Substitute Feedstuff for Ducks in a Rice–Duck Farming System

“…It is evident that the composition of commercial grain mix is different than that of L. multiflorum. The former is usually rich in calcium and phosphate elements, which are very important to the normal growth of ducklings (Rush et al 2005;Xie et al 2009). The MFDR treatment increased the L. multiflorum in the mixed feed during the slow and steady-growth stages of the ducks, which showed positive effects.…”