Response of duck breeders to dietary L-Carnitine supplementation during summer season

Abstract

A total number of 300 (225 ducks and 75 drakes) Sudani ducks, 28-wk-old were divided into five groups to investigate the effects of dietary L-carnitine (LC) supplementation on productive, hatching and physiological performance as well as nutrients digestibility coefficients. The results indicated that the productive performance and Semen quality parameters (ejaculate volume, sperms concentration and advanced motility) were significantly improved by LC supplementation (150-450 mg /kg diet) as compared to the control. Hatchability of fertile eggs (%) was significantly improved, while total embryonic mortality was significantly decreased by supplementing 300 and 450 mg LC/kg diet. Supplementing different dietary LC levels resulted in significantly high values of hemoglobin, red and white blood cells count and lymphocyte (l) cells percentage, while it decreased heterophils (H) cells and H/l ratio. Serum albumin, total cholesterol and AST enzyme values were significantly low in ducks fed diets supplemented with LC. Serum triglycerides were significantly the lowest by feeding 300 and 450 mg LC/kg diet. Nutrients digestibility coefficients were significantly improved in drakes fed diet supplemented with 450 mg LC/kg diet. Conclusively, dietary lC supplementation at 300 or 450 mg/kg for duck breeders in summer could improve productive, hatching and physiological performance and nutrients digestibility coefficients.

Influence of dietary L‐carnitine and lysine–methionine levels on reproductive performance and blood metabolic constituents of breeder ducks

“…In the present study, increasing Lys‐Met above NRC recommendations with or without L‐carnitine improved feed efficiency, but L‐carnitine or Lys‐Met alone had no effects on feed utilization and egg production. These results partially agreed with those obtained by El‐kelawy, 2017 ; Rizk et al., 2019 ; Sigolo et al., 2019 . In a previous study, Leibetseder ( 1995 ) also found no effect of dietary L‐carnitine (500 mg/kg) on laying performance of broiler breeders.…”

Impacts of different antioxidants sources on semen quality and sperm fertilizing ability of Muscovy ducks under high ambient temperature

“…Sperm membrane integrity may be altered by oxidative stress, leading to reduced motility and integrity of acrosome, increased DNA degeneration and low fertility of males (Najafi et al, 2019). Under high ambient temperature conditions, treatment with exogenous antioxidants is considered as an alternative strategy for blocking the deleterious effects of oxidative damage on the quality of fresh semen and male fertility (Del Prete et al, 2018; Rizk et al, 2019).…”

Combined Analysis of the Effects of Exposure to Blue Light in Ducks Reveals a Reduction in Cholesterol Accumulation Through Changes in Methionine Metabolism and the Intestinal Microbiota

“…It is also well-known as a fat-burning agent, but it is rarely used in animal husbandry ( 40 ). It has been reported in the literature that the addition of L-carnitine to the summer diet improves the growth performance of ducks ( 41 ). Notably, L-carnitine significantly improved nutrient digestibility coefficients in ducks.…”