Department of Livestock. Production and Management, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030, India
Toasted guar meal (TGM) and deoiled mustard cake (D MC) as alternate protein sources to soybean meal were evaluated with crossbred layer ducks (Khaki Campbell x local). Two experiments each with 28d duration were - conducted in deep litter system. Maize-soy-sunflower meal diet served as control in both the experiments. TGM, replacing soybean meal part per part and DMC, replacing soy+deoiled rice bran were included in the rations at 10 per cent level. Each diet was fed to 6 replicates of 6 birds each (5 ducks+1 drake). The performance of layer ducks evaluated in terms of duck day egg production, feed intake, feed/dozen eggs, body weight, egg weight, fertitity, hatchability and egg quality was not influenced by the type of alternate protein source included in the ration replacing soybean meal. It is concluded that toasted guar meal and deoiled mustard cake can be included in layer duck rations at 10 per cent level.
Layer ducks, economic rations, soybean meal, deoiled mustard cake, toasted guar meal, performance
