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Effects of commercial premix vitamin level on sternum growth, calcification and carcass traits in meat duck
Author(s) -
Zhang Huaiyong,
Liao Hang,
Zeng Qiufeng,
Wang Jianping,
Ding Xuemei,
Bai Shiping,
Zhang Keying
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.13001
Subject(s) - sternum , vitamin , keel , vitamin c , calcification , vitamin d and neurology , biology , zoology , alkaline phosphatase , calcium , endocrinology , medicine , food science , anatomy , biochemistry , structural engineering , engineering , enzyme
The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary vitamin level on sternum growth, calcification and carcass traits in meat duck. A total of 432 1‐d‐old mixed‐sex Cherry Valley ducks (216 males and 216 females) were randomly allocated and fed low‐vitamin level diet (70% NRC vitamin regimen), high‐vitamin level diet (DSM vitamin regimen) or medium‐vitamin level diet (50% low‐vitamin level diet and 50% high‐vitamin level diet). Sternum and serum were harvested after 49 d of feeding. Compared with the low‐vitamin level group, dietary high‐vitamin level increased body weight (BW) at d 49 ( p = 0.029) but did not alter all parameters of carcass trait ( p > 0.05). Medium‐ and high‐vitamin level increased sternum defatted weight, density, ash and calcium (Ca) concentration ( p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the medium and high‐vitamin level group significantly decreased the relative proportions of the keel cartilage at 49 d ( p < 0.05) and decreased the sternum length and height ( p < 0.05) in meat ducks at 49 d. Likewise, high‐vitamin level improved serum Ca and phosphate (P) content ( p < 0.05) and declined serum Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity ( p = 0.003) compared with the low‐vitamin level group. Our study indicates that high‐vitamin level did not affect the examined carcass traits; however, high‐vitamin level improved growth performance and sternum calcification.