PERFORMANCE OF MUSCOVY DUCKS (Cairina muschata)

FED WITH ORGANIC GROWTH ENHANCERS

Oliveros M. Valiente1 and Lazarine T. Mamauag2

1
Associate Professor and 2Assistant Professor, Provincial Technical Institute of Agriculture,
Isabela State University, Cabagan Campus, Cabagan, Isabela 3328 PHILIPPINES

ABSTRACT

A study on growth performance of muscovy ducks (Cairina muschata) fed with organic growth
enhancers was conducted to determine the effect of different organic enhancer on the growth
performance of the muscovy ducks. A total of forty eight (48) muscovy ducks was used in the study,
there were four (4) treatments used. The treatment were as follows, T1 – Plain water, T2 – 1 part of
Vermi tea + 10 parts of water, T3 – 1 part of Sorghum syrup + 10 parts of water, T4 – Commercial
feed supplement (Vitamin A & B12). The study followed the Completely Randomized Design (CRD).
One day old ducklings were brooded for one week using artificial lights in cages with an area of 1 x
36 x 10 m. The ducklings were fed with starter mash in the first week, from second to fourth week they
were fed with grower mash and on the fifth week finisher mash was given up to the termination of the
study. The F – test analysis revealed no significant differences among the four treatments on gain in
weight, feed consumption, fluid consumption and feed conversion efficiency. However the highest
economic return on gain in weight over feed consumed was obtained by Treatment 2 with 30.24
percent, followed by Treatment 3 and Treatment 4 with 15.46 percent and 13.39 percent, and the
lowest is Treatment 1 with 12.35 percent.

Key words: diet, dilution, muscovy duck, sorghum syrup, vermi tea

INTRODUCTION

Duck raising is a lucrative industry in the Philippines not only for its eggs but also
its meat due to its delicious flavor and nutritive value.

Muscovies (Cairina muschata) are the only domestic ducks that were derived
from Mallard stock which are South American species. The original (wild type)
coloration is black and white, but domestication has produced many colors including
white, black and chocolate. The males are large, weighing up to twelve pounds with the
smaller female reaching only seven. Over the millennia, we have used animal and plant
derivatives to maintain animal and human health, often documenting such applications in
oral and written traditions. But more recently, we have become dependent upon pure
chemicals and drugs to maintain health. The recent scares over animal production
practices have renewed interest in using alternative ingredients perceived as “natural” and
“safe” by consumers.
 Recent studies revealed that the performance of animals could be improved
through the use of alternatives to antibiotics through the use of organic enhancers. One of
these is the use of organic enhancer such as vermitea as dietary supplement resulting to
high feed conversion ratio in muscovy ducks (Pangilinan, 2007). It is a protein rich meal
maid from ground from earthworm meat. Each protein is about 62 percent with 11
percent fat. It can be used as an ingredient for animal feeds.

Likewise, supplementation of sorghum syrup with methionine (0.15%) and

choline (0.26% and 25% purity) resulted in significant improvement in weight and Feed
Conversion Ration (FCR) of layers on diets at 50 and 100 percent replacement,
respectively, resulted in similar performances as compared to utilization of maize.

The meat of the muscovy ducks unlike that of the other domestic ducks, is not
greasy and much more like veal unlike poultry. Organic dietary supplements like vermin
tea improves the carcass quality of broilers because it contains more vitamins and
minerals than synthetic supplement (Acachon, et al., 2007).

A number of studies revealed that the use of organic growth enhancers such as
vermi tea and sorghum syrup could improve the growth performance as well as the
carcass quality of animals. This is attributed to the presence of vitamins, minerals and
other dietary supplements. It also reduces health problems that we are encountering from
our farm animals especially in poultry. Although there are doubts in scientific circles as
to validity of these organic enhancers, still it is flourishing. Established scientific
credibility had gained importance among researchers on its role on the growth
performance of muscovy ducks as well as to its safetiness as food to consumers because
it is naturally produced.

The most challenging part of the duck industry is to improve production to meet
the current demand of people for meat. An appropriate move of duck raisers is to find an
strategy to enhance duck production and improve meat quality. This could be possibly
achieved thru addition of food supplements like growth enhancers.

At this time, efficacy of growth enhancers is yet to be further investigated. This

study attempts to find out the growth performance of muscovy ducks on different
enhancers in terms of body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency.

METHODOLOGY

Collection and preparation of locally available organic growth enhancers

1. Preparation of vermi tea and sorghum syrup

One kilogram of vermin compost and one kilogram of molasses were mixed with
16 liters of water using a pail and subsequently brewed for 72 hours or three days.
Fermented plant juice was added as flavour.

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 In preparing the sorghum syrup, the following procedures, which are based on the
technology developed by the ISUC Department of Research and Development, were
used:

(a) Harvested stalks were stripped of leaves and put in the shed for 16 to 20 hours, so
as to invert or convert sucrose to reduce sugar and to improve the quality juice;
(b) To make a totally chemical free syrup only aqueous extract of okra should be
added to remove the scam from the heated juice;
(c) When end point is reached at 70oC with 76% sweetness, the heating should be
completely stopped and rapid cooling of up to 80oC should follow;
(d) An average of 10% syrup recovery is possible on stripped stalk weight basis; and

Sanitation was maintained at every stage of preparing the vermi tea and sorghum
syrup.

2. Cage Preparation
Day old ducklings were housed in a large bamboo cage of about 1 x 36.0 x 1.0m.
The cage was divided into twelve (12) cages where ducklings for each treatment were
randomly distributed. The cage was provided with artificial lights, feeding trough and
plastic waterers.

3. Stock Procurement
A total of forty eight (48) Muscovy ducks and artificial lights was used in the
study. The ducklings were purchased from reliable source at Santiago City, Isabela.
Initial weight of each duckling was recorded and distributed to the different treatments.

4. Maintenance of Experimental Animals

Day old ducklings was brooded for one week using artificial light in cages made
up of bamboo slots with an area 1 x 36 x 1.0 m and reared separately following the
desired treatments. Artificial lights were provided until such time that ducklings
developed enough feathers for their own protection.

Experimental ducklings were fed with starter mash in first week, from second to
fourth week they were given grower mash. On the fifth week up to the termination of the
study the ducks were given finisher mash. Different treatments used in the study were
given to the experimental ducklings in each cage from the start of the study up to its
termination.

Other standard operating procedure on animal welfare practice for the proper care
of the ducklings for scientific purposes was followed for all treatments.

5. Experimental Design and Data Analysis

The study followed the Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The different
treatments used in the study were as follows:

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 T1 – Plain Water
T2 – 1 part of Vermi tea + 10 parts of water
T3 – 1 part of Sorghum syrup + 10 parts of water
T4 – Commercial (Vitamin A & B12)

The profitability of each treatment was also analyzed using the Return on
Investment (ROI) technique.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The gain in weight showed in Table 1 indicated that Treatment 3 obtained the
highest final gain in weight with 4002.72 g followed by Treatment 2 and Treatment 4
with 3788.39 g and 3540.84 g, respectively. The least gain in weight was obtained by
Treatment 1 with 3099.01 grams.

Table 1. Gain in weight (grams) of experimental birds on the first to eight week

WEEK TOTAL
GAIN IN
TREATMENTS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WEIGHT
(g)
T1 -Plain water 133.42 196.03 293.42 332.70 383.97 545.03 555.64 658.80 3099.01a
T2 -1 part of
Vermi tea + 219.33 231.78 354.10 351.23 549.06 604.28 719.61 759.55 3788.39b
10 parts of
water
T3 -1 part of
Sorghum 166.80 231.54 294.30 400.00 425.13 654.43 850.32 980.20 4002.72c
syrup + 10
parts of water
T4 -Commercial
feed supplmnt 198.75 163.75 378.75 225.42 456.25 797.92 567.08 722.92 3540.84d
(Vitamin A &
B12)
Note: Means with different letters are significantly different among treatment at 5% level of
significance.

The Analysis of Variance showed significance differences among the gain in

weight of the ducks.

The differences on gain in weight of experimental ducks could be attributed to the

presence of organic dietary supplement such as vitamins and minerals as reported by
Achacon, et al (2007).

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 In regards to feed consumption, Table 2 shows that the highest final feed
consumption was obtained by Treatment 3 with 4677.83 g, followed by Treatment 2 and
Treatment 4 with 4470.71 g and 4383.22 g. The least feed consumption was obtained by
Treatment 1 with 3856.57 grams.

The Analysis of Variance and DMRT of feed consumption from first week up to
eight week period showed significant differences among the treatment means.

Table 2. Feed consumption of experimental birds from first to eight

week of age in grams

WEEK TOTAL
TREATMENT FEED
CONSUMPTION
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (g)

T1 -Plain water 295.83 395.83 411.17 454.16 472.50 575.00 606.67 645.41 3856.57a
T2 -1 part Vermi
tea +10 parts 261.67 383.33 411.75 434.16 568.33 698.33 787.08 926.16 4470.71b
of water
T3 -1 part of
sorghum
syrup + 10 308.33 350.00 384.17 450.08 530.00 692.50 800.25 1162.50 4677.83b
parts of water
T4 -Commercial
feed supplnt 304.16 391.67 427.32 442.08 470.83 579.16 838.33 929.67 4383.22d
(Vitamin A
& B12
Note: Means with different letters are significantly different among treatments at 5%
level of significance.

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the different treatments

Table 3 indicates that the highest final FCR was obtained by Treatment 2 with
9.49 g followed by Treatment 3 and Treatment 4 with 9.89 g and 11.35 g. The lowest
FCR was obtained by Treatment 1 with 14.32 grams.

Significant differences among the treatment means were observed on the Analysis
of Variance.

The use of vermi tea (Treatment 2) as dietary supplement resulted to high feed
conversion ratio in Muscovy ducks. This result coincides with the findings of Pangilinan
2007. Likewise, the supplementation of sorghum syrup with methionine (0.15%) and
choline (0.26 and 25% purity) resulted in significant improvement in weight and FCR of
broilers as reported by Novellie and Lienberg (1970) in their study due to the presence of
several enzymes.

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Table 3. Feed Conversion Ratio (gms) of the experimental bird from
first week to eight week.

TOTAL
TREATMENT WEEK FCR
(g)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

T1 – Plain water 2.20 2.00 2.40 1.56 1.63 1.50 1.40 1.63 14.32a
T2 – 1 part of Vermi
tea + 10 parts of water 1.32 1.65 1.16 1.23 0.85 0.99 1.07 1.22 9.49b
T3 – 1 part of Sorghum
syrup + 10 parts of 1.30 1.41 1.40 1.24 1.16 1.28 1.10 1.00 9.89b
water
T4 – Commercial feed
supplement 1.53 2.39 1.20 1.73 1.03 0.72 1.47 1.28 11.35d
(Vitamin A & B12)
Note: Means with different letters are significantly different among treatments at 5%
level of significance.

Return on Investment (ROI) of mixed diets

The feed and production cost was properly recorded throughout the duration of
the study and was analyzed in relation to the average weight of birds and price per
kilogram live weight in order to determine the return above feed and other production
cost.

As presented in Table 4, T2 obtained the highest return on investment of 72.02 %

followed by Treatment 3 and Treatment 4 with 66.54 % and 46.29 %. The least return of
investment was obtained by Treatment 1 with 27.84 %.

The data on return on investment tends to show that the use of vermi tea and
sorghum syrup is more economical compared to the use of commercial feed supplement.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The results of this study revealed significant differences among the treatments in
terms of gain in weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) for the
growth performance of Muscovy ducks. The treatments used were as follows: T1
(Control) – Plain water; T2 – one part of vermi tea and 10 parts of water; T3 – one part
of sorghum syrup and 10 parts of water, and T4 – commercial feed supplement (Vitamin
A & B12) + water.

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Table 4. Return on Investments (ROI) of the different treatments

TOTAL WEIGHT PRICE/KG GROSS NET RETURN

TREATMENT PRODUCTI OF LIVE INCOME INCOME INCOME
ON COST BIRDS WEIGHT (Php) (Php) (Php)
(Php) (kg) (Php)

T1 -Plain water 242.4 3.099 100.00 309.90 67.50 27.84

T2 -1 part of Vermi
tea + 10 parts of 220.2 3.788 100.00 378.80 158.60 72.02
water
T3 -1 part of Sorghum
syrup + 10 parts of 240.3 4.002 100.00 400.20 159.90 66.54
water
T4 -Commercial feed
supplement 241.98 3.540 100.00 354.00 112.02 46.29
(Vitamin A & B12)

Thus, the use of organic growth enhancers namely, vermitea and sorghum syrup
in muscovy duck diets have comparable effect on feed consumption, gain in weight, and
feed conversion efficiency with that of commercial feed supplement. The analysis on
return on investment also indicates that the use of vermi tea and sorghum syrup is more
economical compared to the use of commercial feed supplement

The use of vermi tea and sorghum syrup can be used as alternative feed
supplement for duck production to maximize profit is therefore recommended.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Achacon, D. L. 2007. Evaluation of the aqueous extracts of organic matters as dietry

supplements for broilers. An Undegraduate Thesis. Isabela State University,
Cabagan Campus, Cabagan, Isabela, Philippines.

Novellie, N. and G. Ienberg. 2008. Studies on the use of sorghum syrup in broiler diets.
http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/4385. Retrieved on February 10, 2008.

Pangilinan, A. D. 2007. Evaluation of vermi tea as dietray supplement on the growth

performance of muscovy duck (Carina muschata) under two raising methods. An
Undergraduate Thesis. Isabela State University, Cabagan Campus, Cabagan,
Isabela, Philippines.

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