EFFECT OF QUANTITATIVE FEED RESTRICTION ON GROWTH-PERFORMANCE, CARCASS TRAITS AND MEAT QUALITY OF MALE PEKING DUCKS

The effect of quantitative feed restriction on growth performance, car cass traits and physical meat quality of male Peking ducks were studie d from 2 to 12 weeks of age. Quantitative feed restriction of 85% and 70% retarded (P < 0.01) body weight up to 10 weeks old thereafter duck lings were capable to compensate this retardation and realized compara ble body weight of the fullfed treatment. Cumulative feed conversion d eteriorated of feed intake increased from 70% to ad-lib. intake. Quant itative feed restriction had no influence on mortality rate. Ducklings fed ad-lib. had higher starved body weight and carcass weight than fe ed restricted treatments. At 10 weeks of age, dressing % remained rela tively constant around 68% for all treatments, but at 12 weeks old, th e full fed control treatment realized the best figure. Ducklings fed 7 0% had higher (P < 0.05) legs %, but lower wings % than those fed ad-l ib. at 10 weeks of age. Neither valuable nor less valuable cuts % were affected by quantitative feed restriction. Breast % and the total bre ast and legs % increased, while legs % and the total of less valuable cuts decreased with increasing slaughter age from 10 to 12 weeks. Quan titative feed restriction had no adverse effect on physical meat quali ty. PH-value of breast decreased, while juice holding capacity increas ed with increasing age. Physical characters of thigh meat were not aff ected in relation to age. Thigh meat was darker and had higher pH-valu e and juice holdings capacity than breast meat. The actual feed intake under feed restriction was lower than assumed. Therefore feed restric tion was higher than this indicated, being 76% and 64% during the whol e growing period. From these results, it could be concluded that, quan titative feed restriction of 64% is recommended for male Peking ducks from 8 to 12 weeks of age, because cumulative feed conversion during t his period is deteriorated, but the valuable cuts and meat quality imp roved with prolongation the growing period.