EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF BETA-2-ADRENERGIC AGONIST CLENBUTEROL ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND SOME METABOLITES IN DUCKS

1. Ducks (622 in total) aged 25 d were given diets supplemented with c lenbuterol (CL) at 0 (control), 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 5 mg/kg for 25 d to i nvestigate the effect of dietary CL on muscle and fat deposition and s ome metabolites in ducks. 2. The mass of the breast muscles was increa sed by 10 to 31%, while subcutaneous fat plus skin and abdominal fat p ad were reduced by 8 to 23% and 20 to 37%, respectively, in the ducks supplemented 1 to 5 mg CL/kg diet. 3. Increased RNA:DNA ratios in the breast muscle, reduced uric acid and increased free fatty acid concent rations in the serum were observed in clenbuterol-fed ducks.