China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (6): 2582-2591.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.06.012

• Nutritionand Feed • Previous Articles    

Effects of Overfeeding Time on Growth Performance,Slaughter Performance, Nutritional Quality and Intestinal Morphology of Pekin Ducks

LYU Xueze1,2, REN Haiyuan3, WANG Liang1, XIE Shiyong1, YANG Weifang1, LIU Jun1, WU Shugeng4, WU Dimei1, LIU Yanhan2,5   

  1. 1. Beijing Animal Husbandry General Station, Beijing 100107, China;
    2. College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
    3. Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712199, China;
    4. Institute of Feed Research of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
    5. Shandong Center for Animal Disease Prevention and Control, Ji'nan 250100, China
  • Received:2024-10-20 Published:2025-05-27

Abstract: 【Objective】 This study aimed to investigate the optimal overfeeding time for Pekin ducks and investigate the effects of different overfeeding times on the growth performance,slaughter performance,nutritional quality and intestinal morphology.【Method】 150 1-day-old Pekin ducks with similar body weights were randomly divided into five groups using a single factor randomized experimental design.Each group consisted of 6 replicates,with 5 Pekin ducks in each replicate.The latter 7,5,3 and 1 d of the fattening period (36-42 days old) were overfed four times per one day,being force-fed for 1 (OF1 group),3 (OF3 group),5 (OF5 group)and 7 days(OF7 group),respectively and the OF0 group was the control group without overfeeding.The experimental period was 42 days.After the experiment,the Pekin ducks were weighed and their production performance was calculated.Two Pekin ducks were selected from each replicate group for slaughter and their slaughter performance was measured.The sebum and pectoral muscle tissues of Pekin ducks were collected for the detection of fatty acid and amino acid content,respectively.Duodenal,jejunal,and ileal tissues of Pekin ducks were collected for histopathological sectioning.【Result】 ①Compared with OF0 group,the final weight and average daily gain of Pekin ducks in OF3,OF5 and OF7 groups were significantly higher (P<0.05),and the feed-to-weight ratio in OF7 group was significantly higher (P<0.05).②Compared with OF0 group,the slaughter rate,percentage of eviscerated yield,leg muscle weight (rate) and breast muscle weight (rate) of Pekin ducks in the four overfeeding groups were all not significant (P>0.05),but the live weight,dressing weight and sebum weight (rate) of Pekin ducks in OF3,OF5,and OF7 groups were all significantly higher (P<0.05).③ Compared with OF0 group,the contents of total fatty acids (TFA),saturated fatty acids (SFA),monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA),polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA),n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA),and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA) in the skin fat of Pekin ducks in OF1 group were significantly reduced (P<0.05),while the contents of TFA and MUFA in the skin fat of Pekin ducks in OF3 and OF5 groups were significantly increased (P<0.05),and the content of SFA in the skin fat of Pekin ducks in OF5 and OF7 groups was significantly increased (P<0.05),the contents of PUFA,n-3 PUFA,and n-6 PUFA in the skin fat of Pekin ducks in OF3 group were significantly increased (P<0.05),and the n-6/n-3 ratio showed no significant difference (P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the content of total amino acids (TAA) in the pectoral muscle tissue of Pekin ducks (P>0.05),but the content of essential amino acids (EAA) in the pectoral muscle tissue of Pekin ducks in OF7 group was significantly reduced (P<0.05).④ Compared with OF0 group,overfeeding could lead to different degrees of shedding,inflammatory cell infiltration and even necrosis of the villous structure in small intestine of Pekin duck.【Conclusion】 Overfeeding could significantly improve growth performance,slaughter performance and sebum nutrient content of Pekin ducks,but it would damage the intestinal morphology and structure.Thus the optimal overfeeding time was recommended to be 3 days for comprehensive consideration.

Key words: overfeeding; Pekin ducks; growth performance; slaughtering performance; intestinal morphology

CLC Number: