Abstract: This experiment was designed to explore the effect of genistein on slaughter performance and lipids metabolism in ducks. 300 one-day-old cherry valley ducks were randomly divided into 3 groups. Control group was fed a basal diet and two treatment groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 3 and 6 mg/kg genistein, respectively. After 7 weeks, ducks (10 male, 10 female) were killed to test slaughtering index and detect serum lipid level in blood. Compared with control group, the addition of genistein had no effect on the slaughter performance and blood biochemical indices of female duck. Abdominal fat rate, serum total cholesterol concentrations and LDL levels of male duck were decreased significantly adding 3 and 6 mg/kg genistein in basal diet. The muscle ratio and serum leptin levels were significant increased with the addition of 6 mg/kg genistein in diet. Results showed that genistein could impact serum biochemical index and endocrine hormones levels, in turn, affect performance in male ducks. This experiment also indicated there were some significantly difference between different gender.

Key words: Genistein; slaughter performance; lipids metabolism; duck