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Studies in Duck Nutrition
Studies in Duck Nutrition 2. STUDIES OF PROTEIN AND UNIDENTIFIED VITAMIN REQUIREMENTS M. L. SCOTT AND G. F. HEUSEK
Department of Poultry Husbandry, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
T
HE protein requirements of ducklings have received relatively little attention. Horton (1932) found that a ration containing 19 percent protein produced definitely superior results when compared to the results obtained with a ration containing 12 percent protein. Hamlyn, Branion, and Cavers (1934) concluded from their experiments that the optimum protein level for growing Pekin ducklings is about 18 percent or less. Very little research work has been done on the requirements of the duck for unidentified vitamins. Hegsted and Stare (1945) reported that ducks grew poorly on purified diets unless a source of unidentified factors was supplied. They found, however, that the then unidentified "L. casei factor" (folic acid) was capable of replacing most of the activity of crude liver extract for ducks fed purified diets. In view of the lack of information on these subjects, an investigation was undertaken in this laboratory to determine, more precisely, the protein requirements of Pekin ducklings during the starting and growing periods, and to determine the effect of unidentified vitamins contained in animal proteins and other supplements. The results of these experiments are presented in this report. EXPERIMENTAL AND RESULTS
Twelve to seventeen, day-old, White Pekin ducklings were used in each experimental lot. They were started in large
pens, on wood shavings litter, under electric hovers. The electric hovers were removed at the end of the third week. The litter was changed as frequently as was considered necessary. The diets and water were supplied ad libitum. The ducks were weighed weekly and a record was kept of feed consumption. In view of the influence which method of feeding may have upon the growth rate of ducklings, as demonstrated by Heuser and Scott (1951), all diets used in these experiments were pelleted. Experiment 1.—The composition of the diets used in Experiment 1 is presented in Table 1. These diets varied in protein level from 15 percent for the basal diet to 21 percent for the high protein diet. They also varied in the amount of animal protein which they contained. Diets A, B and C contained 5 percent of skimmilk as the only animal protein supplement. Diets D and E contained 2 percent of fish meal and diets F and G contained 4 and 8 percent of fish meal, respectively, in addition to the dried skimmilk. Diet H, containing the 21 percent level of protein, also contained the highest level of animal protein consisting of 8 percent fish meal, 2.5 percent meat scrap, and 2 percent liver meal in addition to the dried skimmilk. The results of the experiment are presented in Table 2. Inspection of all ducks at 8 weeks of age revealed no abnormalities. There was no mortality. It is evident from the results at 8 weeks that all diets
164
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
(Received for publication July 31,1950)
REQUIREMENT OF DUCKS FOR PROTEIN AND UNIDENTIFIED VITAMINS
165
TABLE 1.—Diets used in experiment 1 Percent in diet* Ingredient A
Protein, percent
3 4 29.75 2
3 4 23 2
— — —
D
3 4 16.25 2
3 4 24.75 1.75 2 0.5
3 4 18 1.75 2 0.5
3 4 26.45 1.5 4 0.5
— —
— —
— —
—
0.5
—
0.5
0.5
— — .
— —
G
H
3 4 23 1 8 0.5
3 4 19 0.5 8 0.5 2.0 2.5 10 15 5
F
E
C
10 15 5
— —•
10 IS 5
30 0.5 0.25 0.013
10 15 5 6.75 30 0.5 0.25 0.013
10 IS 5 13.5 30 0.5 0.25 0.013
10 15 5 3.4 30 0.5 0.10 0.013
10 15 5 10.15 30 0.5 0.10 0.013
30 0.5 0.05 0.013
30 0.5
15.0
17.2
19.4
17.1
19.3
17.1
19.3
10 15 5
—
—
—
—
30 0.5
—
—
0.013
0.013
21.3
* All diets were pelleted.
produced essentially normal ducks. However, the average weights at two weeks of age indicate a slight advantage for the rations containing higher levels of protein. While this advantage is slight, it is consistent and probably indicates that the duck can meet its early protein needs more easily with the higher protein diets but that it can also adjust its food intake to obtain the necessary protein for body growth even when the level of protein in the diet is relatively low.
Increasing the amount of animal protein supplements appeared to have a slight effect on the weight of the birds. The animal protein supplement, fish meal, appeared to have some influence upon efficiency of feed utilization. All diets containing 4 percent or more of fish meal were more efficiently utilized than were those containing zero to 2 percent of fish meal. Experiment 2:—This experiment was conducted in order to obtain information concerning the requirements of ducklings
TABLE 2.—Growth of Pekin ducklings on rations of varying protein and animal protein content
Lot
Treatment*
A B C D
Basal diet 6.75% Soybean oil meal 13.5% Soybean meal 3 . 4 % Soybean m e a l + 2 % fish meal 10.15% soybean meal + 2 % fish meal 4 % fish meal 8% fish meal 8% fish m e a l + 2 % liver m e a l + 2 . 5 % meat scrap
E F G H
All diets contained 5% dried skimmilk.
Average weight 2 weeks
8 weeks
Lbs. feed per lb. gain . (8 wks.)
% 15 17 19
lbs. 1.31 1.36 1.46
lbs. 5.7 5.7 5.6
3.71 3.80 3.80
17
1.47
5.6
3.80
19 17 19
1.52 1.45 1.55
5.6 5.7 5.8
4.00 3.49 3.49
21
1.58
5.9
3.47
Level of protein
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
Alfalfa meal Brewers' yeast, dried Yellow cornmeal Dicalcium phosphate Fish meal Limestone Liver meal Meat scrap Pulverized heavy oats Red dog flour Skimmilk, dried Soybean meal, expeller Wheat standard middlings Fish liver oil, 2,000A, 400D Salt, iodized Manganese sulfate
B
166
M . L. SCOTT AND G. F .
HEUSER
TABLE 3.—Diets used in experiment Z Percent in diets* Ingredient I
K
3
3
3
—
—
—
18.75 2
—
0.5 10 15 —
21.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 15
~-
•
20 30 0.5 0.25 0.013
14 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
+ +
+ +
20.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 15 S 10 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
+ . +
L
M
3 4 21.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 IS
3 4 21.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 15 5 5 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
—
10 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
+ + '
—. —
N 3
—
24 1 8 0.5 10 15
—
8 30 0.5
—
0.013
+ +
O 3 4 23 1 8 0.5 10 IS 5
—
30 0.5
—
0.013
— —
* All diets were pelleted. ** Sufficient riboflavin and choline were added, where necessary, to bring the levels of these factors up to those present in diets M and O.
for unidentified factors present in dried brewers' yeast and dried skimmilk as well as in fish meal. Since the rations containing 19 percent protein and adequate animal protein had given the best results in the previous experiments, a level of 19 percent protein was maintained in all diets used in Experiment 2. The composition of these diets is shown in Table 3. The results of the experiment at 9 weeks are presented in Table 4. I t is a p p a r e n t
from these results t h a t both yeast and dried skimmilk contain a factor or factors of importance in the nutrition of ducklings. T h e addition of either of these supplements to the diet containing 4 percent or more of fish meal caused a marked increase in growth and feed efficiency. The addition of either 4 or 8 percent of fish meal was not advantageous unless the diets also contained dried skimmilk or dried brewers' yeast, or both.
TABLE 4.—Effect of dried skimmilk and dried brewers' yeast upon growth of Pekin ducklings
SUMMARY
Lot
Treatment
Average weight at 9 weeks
Lbs. feed per lb. gain (9 wks.)
I
Basal diet
lbs. 5.9
4.12
J
4 % Fish meal
5.5
4.37
K
4 % Fish meal + 5 % dried skimmilk
6.3
3.76
L
4 % Fish m e a l + 4 % dried brewers' yeast
6.3
3.83
M
4 % .Fish m e a l + y e a s t and skimmilk
6.3
3.50
N
8% Fish meal
5.5
3.82
O
8% Fish meal -1-yeast and skimmilk
6.6
3.86
White Pekin ducklings produced satisfactory gains to 8 weeks of age on a ration containing approximately 15 percent of protein. However, the average weights a t two weeks of age indicate a slight advantage in early growth for rations containing 17 percent or more of protein. T h e results show t h a t both yeast and dried skimmilk contain a factor or factors of importance in the nutrition of ducklings. T h e addition of either of these supplements to the diet containing 4 percent or more of fish meal caused a marked in-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
Alfalfa meal Brewers' yeast, dried Yellow cornmeal Dicalcium phosphate Fish meal Limestone Pulverized heavy oats Red dog flour Skimmilk, dried Soybean meal expeller Wheat standard middlings Fish liver oil, 2.000A, 400D Salt, iodized Manganese sulfate Riboflavin** Choline**
J
ASSOCIATION NOTES
crease in growth and feed efficiency. The addition of either 4 or 8 percent of fish meal was not advantageous unless the diets also contained dried skimmilk or dried brewers' yeast, or both. REFERENCES
ducks. Poultry Sci. 13: 333-337. Hegsted, D. M., and F. J. Stare, 194S. Nutritional studies with the duck. I. Purified rations for the duck. J. Nutrition 30: 37-44. Heuser, G. F., and M. L. Scott, 1951. Studies in duck nutrition. I. Methods of feeding. Poultry Sci. 30: 161-163. Horton, D. H., 1932. A comparison of feeding a twelve percent and a nineteen percent protein ration to White Pekin ducklings. Poultry Sci. 11: 106-109.
Association Notes ANNUAL MEETING PAPERS
Titles and abstracts of papers to be submitted for possible presentation at the Annual Meeting which will be held at Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 27 to 31, must be submitted to the General Chairman, Charles W. Upp, Poultry Industry Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 3, La., not later than April 15. Abstracts must be submitted in triplicate and in no case will more than 200 words be published. No tabular material will be published. Failure to comply will be considered adequate grounds for non-acceptance. An advance note indicating intentions to submit an abstract will be appreciated. A questionnaire was sent to the entire membership to obtain assistance in formulating policies in planning the program of this meeting. Many members expressed appreciation at having the opportunity to do so. Some discerning and pertinent suggestions were secured which will be passed on to the program chairmen. A more complete summary of the replies is being prepared and will be sent to them and to any member who requests it. The brief state-
ments below indicate the reactions of the majority. The membership, on the basis of about 300 replies to the questionnaire sent out, went on record as favoring (by from 63 to 83%): fewer papers; not presenting papers when author(s) are absent; not submitting papers unless authors expect to be at the meeting; not to accept titles unless suitable abstracts are submitted on time; limiting number of papers to two per man; not limiting the number of papers per department (although three was most often indicated as a maximum); and acceptance of papers to be read by title and abstracts printed. Concerning the program the reactions were as follows: allow a half day for recreation—64%; have a speaker on the general program outside poultry field— 60% (from a related science frequently suggested); having strong sectional programs the last half day—70%; concerning a separate teaching section 30% were for, 43% against and 19% no answer; and 53% voted against trying to decrease the number of sectional meetings. Two or three general sessions were favored (57%) and a panel discussion for the general session was favored (69%) with 1 to § hours al-
{Continued on page 179)
.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
Hamlyn, W. L., H. D. Branion and J. R. Cavers, 1934. The influence of protein, on the growth of
167
Department of Poultry Husbandry, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
T
HE protein requirements of ducklings have received relatively little attention. Horton (1932) found that a ration containing 19 percent protein produced definitely superior results when compared to the results obtained with a ration containing 12 percent protein. Hamlyn, Branion, and Cavers (1934) concluded from their experiments that the optimum protein level for growing Pekin ducklings is about 18 percent or less. Very little research work has been done on the requirements of the duck for unidentified vitamins. Hegsted and Stare (1945) reported that ducks grew poorly on purified diets unless a source of unidentified factors was supplied. They found, however, that the then unidentified "L. casei factor" (folic acid) was capable of replacing most of the activity of crude liver extract for ducks fed purified diets. In view of the lack of information on these subjects, an investigation was undertaken in this laboratory to determine, more precisely, the protein requirements of Pekin ducklings during the starting and growing periods, and to determine the effect of unidentified vitamins contained in animal proteins and other supplements. The results of these experiments are presented in this report. EXPERIMENTAL AND RESULTS
Twelve to seventeen, day-old, White Pekin ducklings were used in each experimental lot. They were started in large
pens, on wood shavings litter, under electric hovers. The electric hovers were removed at the end of the third week. The litter was changed as frequently as was considered necessary. The diets and water were supplied ad libitum. The ducks were weighed weekly and a record was kept of feed consumption. In view of the influence which method of feeding may have upon the growth rate of ducklings, as demonstrated by Heuser and Scott (1951), all diets used in these experiments were pelleted. Experiment 1.—The composition of the diets used in Experiment 1 is presented in Table 1. These diets varied in protein level from 15 percent for the basal diet to 21 percent for the high protein diet. They also varied in the amount of animal protein which they contained. Diets A, B and C contained 5 percent of skimmilk as the only animal protein supplement. Diets D and E contained 2 percent of fish meal and diets F and G contained 4 and 8 percent of fish meal, respectively, in addition to the dried skimmilk. Diet H, containing the 21 percent level of protein, also contained the highest level of animal protein consisting of 8 percent fish meal, 2.5 percent meat scrap, and 2 percent liver meal in addition to the dried skimmilk. The results of the experiment are presented in Table 2. Inspection of all ducks at 8 weeks of age revealed no abnormalities. There was no mortality. It is evident from the results at 8 weeks that all diets
164
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
(Received for publication July 31,1950)
REQUIREMENT OF DUCKS FOR PROTEIN AND UNIDENTIFIED VITAMINS
165
TABLE 1.—Diets used in experiment 1 Percent in diet* Ingredient A
Protein, percent
3 4 29.75 2
3 4 23 2
— — —
D
3 4 16.25 2
3 4 24.75 1.75 2 0.5
3 4 18 1.75 2 0.5
3 4 26.45 1.5 4 0.5
— —
— —
— —
—
0.5
—
0.5
0.5
— — .
— —
G
H
3 4 23 1 8 0.5
3 4 19 0.5 8 0.5 2.0 2.5 10 15 5
F
E
C
10 15 5
— —•
10 IS 5
30 0.5 0.25 0.013
10 15 5 6.75 30 0.5 0.25 0.013
10 IS 5 13.5 30 0.5 0.25 0.013
10 15 5 3.4 30 0.5 0.10 0.013
10 15 5 10.15 30 0.5 0.10 0.013
30 0.5 0.05 0.013
30 0.5
15.0
17.2
19.4
17.1
19.3
17.1
19.3
10 15 5
—
—
—
—
30 0.5
—
—
0.013
0.013
21.3
* All diets were pelleted.
produced essentially normal ducks. However, the average weights at two weeks of age indicate a slight advantage for the rations containing higher levels of protein. While this advantage is slight, it is consistent and probably indicates that the duck can meet its early protein needs more easily with the higher protein diets but that it can also adjust its food intake to obtain the necessary protein for body growth even when the level of protein in the diet is relatively low.
Increasing the amount of animal protein supplements appeared to have a slight effect on the weight of the birds. The animal protein supplement, fish meal, appeared to have some influence upon efficiency of feed utilization. All diets containing 4 percent or more of fish meal were more efficiently utilized than were those containing zero to 2 percent of fish meal. Experiment 2:—This experiment was conducted in order to obtain information concerning the requirements of ducklings
TABLE 2.—Growth of Pekin ducklings on rations of varying protein and animal protein content
Lot
Treatment*
A B C D
Basal diet 6.75% Soybean oil meal 13.5% Soybean meal 3 . 4 % Soybean m e a l + 2 % fish meal 10.15% soybean meal + 2 % fish meal 4 % fish meal 8% fish meal 8% fish m e a l + 2 % liver m e a l + 2 . 5 % meat scrap
E F G H
All diets contained 5% dried skimmilk.
Average weight 2 weeks
8 weeks
Lbs. feed per lb. gain . (8 wks.)
% 15 17 19
lbs. 1.31 1.36 1.46
lbs. 5.7 5.7 5.6
3.71 3.80 3.80
17
1.47
5.6
3.80
19 17 19
1.52 1.45 1.55
5.6 5.7 5.8
4.00 3.49 3.49
21
1.58
5.9
3.47
Level of protein
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
Alfalfa meal Brewers' yeast, dried Yellow cornmeal Dicalcium phosphate Fish meal Limestone Liver meal Meat scrap Pulverized heavy oats Red dog flour Skimmilk, dried Soybean meal, expeller Wheat standard middlings Fish liver oil, 2,000A, 400D Salt, iodized Manganese sulfate
B
166
M . L. SCOTT AND G. F .
HEUSER
TABLE 3.—Diets used in experiment Z Percent in diets* Ingredient I
K
3
3
3
—
—
—
18.75 2
—
0.5 10 15 —
21.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 15
~-
•
20 30 0.5 0.25 0.013
14 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
+ +
+ +
20.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 15 S 10 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
+ . +
L
M
3 4 21.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 IS
3 4 21.45 1.5 4 0.5 10 15 5 5 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
—
10 30 0.5 0.05 0.013
+ + '
—. —
N 3
—
24 1 8 0.5 10 15
—
8 30 0.5
—
0.013
+ +
O 3 4 23 1 8 0.5 10 IS 5
—
30 0.5
—
0.013
— —
* All diets were pelleted. ** Sufficient riboflavin and choline were added, where necessary, to bring the levels of these factors up to those present in diets M and O.
for unidentified factors present in dried brewers' yeast and dried skimmilk as well as in fish meal. Since the rations containing 19 percent protein and adequate animal protein had given the best results in the previous experiments, a level of 19 percent protein was maintained in all diets used in Experiment 2. The composition of these diets is shown in Table 3. The results of the experiment at 9 weeks are presented in Table 4. I t is a p p a r e n t
from these results t h a t both yeast and dried skimmilk contain a factor or factors of importance in the nutrition of ducklings. T h e addition of either of these supplements to the diet containing 4 percent or more of fish meal caused a marked increase in growth and feed efficiency. The addition of either 4 or 8 percent of fish meal was not advantageous unless the diets also contained dried skimmilk or dried brewers' yeast, or both.
TABLE 4.—Effect of dried skimmilk and dried brewers' yeast upon growth of Pekin ducklings
SUMMARY
Lot
Treatment
Average weight at 9 weeks
Lbs. feed per lb. gain (9 wks.)
I
Basal diet
lbs. 5.9
4.12
J
4 % Fish meal
5.5
4.37
K
4 % Fish meal + 5 % dried skimmilk
6.3
3.76
L
4 % Fish m e a l + 4 % dried brewers' yeast
6.3
3.83
M
4 % .Fish m e a l + y e a s t and skimmilk
6.3
3.50
N
8% Fish meal
5.5
3.82
O
8% Fish meal -1-yeast and skimmilk
6.6
3.86
White Pekin ducklings produced satisfactory gains to 8 weeks of age on a ration containing approximately 15 percent of protein. However, the average weights a t two weeks of age indicate a slight advantage in early growth for rations containing 17 percent or more of protein. T h e results show t h a t both yeast and dried skimmilk contain a factor or factors of importance in the nutrition of ducklings. T h e addition of either of these supplements to the diet containing 4 percent or more of fish meal caused a marked in-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
Alfalfa meal Brewers' yeast, dried Yellow cornmeal Dicalcium phosphate Fish meal Limestone Pulverized heavy oats Red dog flour Skimmilk, dried Soybean meal expeller Wheat standard middlings Fish liver oil, 2.000A, 400D Salt, iodized Manganese sulfate Riboflavin** Choline**
J
ASSOCIATION NOTES
crease in growth and feed efficiency. The addition of either 4 or 8 percent of fish meal was not advantageous unless the diets also contained dried skimmilk or dried brewers' yeast, or both. REFERENCES
ducks. Poultry Sci. 13: 333-337. Hegsted, D. M., and F. J. Stare, 194S. Nutritional studies with the duck. I. Purified rations for the duck. J. Nutrition 30: 37-44. Heuser, G. F., and M. L. Scott, 1951. Studies in duck nutrition. I. Methods of feeding. Poultry Sci. 30: 161-163. Horton, D. H., 1932. A comparison of feeding a twelve percent and a nineteen percent protein ration to White Pekin ducklings. Poultry Sci. 11: 106-109.
Association Notes ANNUAL MEETING PAPERS
Titles and abstracts of papers to be submitted for possible presentation at the Annual Meeting which will be held at Knoxville, Tennessee, on August 27 to 31, must be submitted to the General Chairman, Charles W. Upp, Poultry Industry Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 3, La., not later than April 15. Abstracts must be submitted in triplicate and in no case will more than 200 words be published. No tabular material will be published. Failure to comply will be considered adequate grounds for non-acceptance. An advance note indicating intentions to submit an abstract will be appreciated. A questionnaire was sent to the entire membership to obtain assistance in formulating policies in planning the program of this meeting. Many members expressed appreciation at having the opportunity to do so. Some discerning and pertinent suggestions were secured which will be passed on to the program chairmen. A more complete summary of the replies is being prepared and will be sent to them and to any member who requests it. The brief state-
ments below indicate the reactions of the majority. The membership, on the basis of about 300 replies to the questionnaire sent out, went on record as favoring (by from 63 to 83%): fewer papers; not presenting papers when author(s) are absent; not submitting papers unless authors expect to be at the meeting; not to accept titles unless suitable abstracts are submitted on time; limiting number of papers to two per man; not limiting the number of papers per department (although three was most often indicated as a maximum); and acceptance of papers to be read by title and abstracts printed. Concerning the program the reactions were as follows: allow a half day for recreation—64%; have a speaker on the general program outside poultry field— 60% (from a related science frequently suggested); having strong sectional programs the last half day—70%; concerning a separate teaching section 30% were for, 43% against and 19% no answer; and 53% voted against trying to decrease the number of sectional meetings. Two or three general sessions were favored (57%) and a panel discussion for the general session was favored (69%) with 1 to § hours al-
{Continued on page 179)
.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of South Dakota and School of Medicine on May 6, 2015
Hamlyn, W. L., H. D. Branion and J. R. Cavers, 1934. The influence of protein, on the growth of
167