Levels of corn dried distillers grains with solubles and their influence on the growth of Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata)

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the inclusion of different dietary levels of Corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) on the productive performance of male Muscovy duck. Methodology: Eighty-four male ducks were used and evaluated from hatching to 49 days of age. The experimental unit consisted of three ducks. Each treatment was represented by seven replications. Four diets were prepared that included 0, 10, 20 and 30% DDGS and represented the treatments to be evaluated. The nutritional composition of the experimental diets was according to each stage evaluated. Results: The inclusion of 30% DDGS improved body weight with respect to the other treatments, although in the growth stage, the body weight of the control treatment was lower compared to all levels of DDGS inclusion. The inclusion of 30% DDGS increased feed intake with respect to the other treatments, while 10 and 20% DDGS in the diet showed more efficient feed conversions throughout the experiment. According to third degree polynomial regression, DDGS inclusion increases body weight by up to 5% more with 30% DDGS in the diet, while feed conversion becomes more efficient by up to 3% less with 20% DDGS in the diet. Conclusions: The inclusion of DDGS improves body weight and increases feed intake at the highest inclusion level evaluated, although the most efficient feed conversions were obtained with the inclusion of 20% DDGS.