The impact of a fermented diet including Iraqi probiotics on a few productive characteristics in Chinese ducks

Abstract

This study was conducted in a private field for duck breeding in Al-Muthanna Governorate from 12/14/2021 to 02/14/2022. A total of 125 one-day-old chicks were reared from Pekingese ducks, with an average weight of 42 g; ducklings were prepared from local markets in Al-Diwaniah Governorate, and chicks were reared at a semi-enclosed hall with dimensions of 25 × 10 m. Chicks were randomly distributed into five treatments; each treatment was three replicates (10 chicks/replicate), placed in 15 Pens, and the area of one pen was 1.5 × 1 m. The experiment treatments were as follows: the control treatment (T1) and other treatments used feed fermentation with Iraqi probiotics Vs. dry feed 25%+75%, 50%+50%, 75%+25% and 100%+0%, for treatments T2, T3, T4 and T5 respectively. The results indicated a significant improvement in the average live body weight, weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion factor for ducks fed by fermentation with the Iraqi probiotics compared to the control treatment at 4 and 8 weeks of the bird's age. Keywords: feed fermentation, Iraqi probiotics on, productive traits, Chinese ducks