Department of Animal Nutrition, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata - 700 037 (W.B.).
*Corresponding author: E-mail - profgsamanta@yahoo.co.in
1Deptt. of Animal Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalay, Mohanpur, Nadia.
In the present experiment, 90 Khaki Campbell Ducks were randomly assigned into 3 dietary treatments (3 replicates of 10 ducks per treatments). Three dietary treatments were viz. i) group – C having the ducks at early stage of laying. ii) group -T1 ducks at early stage of laying and iii) group -T2 ducks at terminal stage of laying. Control group was given standard layer ration and treatment groups were given basal diet along with organic zinc and selenium (@ 25 g/100 kg of feed). The birds were maintained replicate wise in deep litter system of housing for eight weeks. Highest egg production and egg weight value was observed at the terminal stage of laying. There were no marked effects on haematological and biochemical profiles. Ducks at the terminal part of their production showed highest plasma calcium level and plasma zinc level. However there was no marked effect on plasma phosphorus level. Thus it may be concluded that organic zinc and selenium supplementation in the duck ration has better laying performance even at the terminal part of laying.
Khaki Campbell ducks, organic zinc and selenium, laying performance
