FEEDING PROGRAMS FOR ITIK PINAS (Anas platyrhynchos) DURING THE GROWING PHASE AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE SUBSEQUENT EGG PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE

Abstract

A total of 300 (12-week old) Itik Pinas (IP) ducks were used in the study to evaluate the influence of different feeding programs during the growing period on their growth parameters and subsequently, on their productivity, egg quality and reproductive capacity during the first 12 weeks of lay. Ducks were randomly assigned to the pens using randomized complete block design (RCBD). There were 10 ducks per pen with 10 replications for each treatment. The feeding programs were: developer feeding program (developer diet at 12-18 weeks of age); pre-lay feeding program (developer diet at 12-15 weeks of age, pre-lay diet at 16-18 weeks of age) and layer feeding program (developer diet at 12-15 weeks of age, layer diet at 16-18 weeks of age). Results revealed that performance during the growing stage was not influenced (P>0.05) by the feeding programs. However, the bodyweight uniformity of ducks under the layer feeding program tended to be higher (P=0.10) than their counterparts. For the laying period, all parameters were not influenced (P>0.05) by the feeding programs, except for the eggshell weight of ducks under the layer feeding program which was heavier (P<0.05) than those in the other programs. IOFC was numerically highest from ducks fed pre-lay diet at 16 weeks of age due to the lower cost of feed and high egg production rate. The findings indicated benefits to growing IP ducks under pre-lay feeding program i.e. developer diet at 12-15 weeks, pre-lay diet at 16-18 weeks, layer diet at point of lay.