China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (2): 692-702.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2026.02.017

• Nutrition and Feed • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Difference Analysis of Growth Performance, Carcass Performance and Plasma Biochemical Indicators of Meat Ducks with Different Feed Efficiency

LI Yumeng1,2(), WU Yongbao2, WU Sen1(), XU Tong2, WANG Ning2, LU Zhentao2, REN Wenwen1,2, WANG Qimeng2, CAO Junting2, YANG Yiwen2, XING Guangnan3, TANG Jing3, HOU Shuisheng3, WEN Zhiguo2()   

  1. 1.Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary,Qinghai University,Xining 810007,China
    2.Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,Institute of Feed Research,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Beijing 100081,China
    3.Institute of Animal Science,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Beijing 100193,China
  • Received:2025-08-05 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-01-27
  • Contact: WU Sen, WEN Zhiguo E-mail:liyum0520@163.com;wusenkgdsss@hotmail.com;wenzhiguo@caas.cn

Abstract:

Objective This study aimed to compare the differences in growth performance, slaughter performance and plasma biochemical indicators between meat ducks with high and low feed efficiency, and analyze the correlation among these indicators. Method Seventy-five 1-day-old male Pekin ducks with similar body weights and in good health, which had high and low feed efficiency respectively, were selected and divided into high feed efficiency group (HFE) and low feed efficiency group (LFE). Five repetitions in each group, with 15 ducks in each repetition. The experimental ducks were fed the same commercial feed, and the experimental period was 35 days. At 14 and 35 days of age, the weight of each cage of ducks and the weight of the remaining feed were measured. The average weight, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) of the experimental ducks at each stage were calculated, and the residual feed intake (RFI) was also counted. At 35 days of age, blood was collected from the jugular vein and then the ducks were slaughtered.The breast muscle rate, leg muscle rate, liver index, abdominal fat rate, skin fat rate and total eviscerated rate were statistically analyzed, and the plasma biochemical indicators were also measured. The correlations among the various indicators were further analyzed. Result ① The body weight of meat ducks at 14 and 35 days of age and ADG at 1-14, 15-35, and 1-35 days of age in HFE group were significantly higher than those in LFE group (P<0.05). The F/G and RFI of meat ducks in HFE group at 1-14, 15-35 and 1-35 days of age were significantly lower than those in LFE group (P<0.05).② The breast muscle rate and leg muscle rate of meat ducks in HFE group were significantly higher than those in LFE group (P<0.05), while the abdominal fat rate and skin fat rate were significantly lower than those in LFE group (P<0.05).③ Compared with LFE group, the contents of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), uric acid (UA), direct bilirubin (DBIL), as well as the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the plasma of meat ducks in HFE group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the activity of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was significantly increased (P<0.05).④ The F/G of meat duck was significantly negatively correlated with ADG and breast muscle rate (P<0.05), and significantly positively correlated with skin fat rate, RFI, liver index and plasma HDL and LDL contents (P<0.05). Conclusion Meat ducks with high feed efficiency had higher daily weight gain, breast muscle rate and leg muscle rate, and possessed stronger protein deposition ability, while meat ducks with low feed efficiency had higher skin fat rate and abdominal fat rate, and had stronger fat deposition ability.

Key words: meat duck; feed efficiency; growth performance; slaughter performance; plasma biochemistry indicators

CLC Number: