This study was carried out at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Moshtohor, Benha University to investigate the effect of forced feeding and type of cereal (yellow corn, beans, and mixed diet of both by equal amount) on the behavior, feed conversion, weight gain, carcass weight and % , length of digestive tract, weight of liver, abdominal fat, heart, kidney, and weight of gizzard were studied as well. 30 Pekin drakes aged 60 days were randomly divided into 6 groups. There were 3 treated groups, the first was forced –fed dry yellow corn, the second forced fed beans, and the third forced fed a mixture of corn and beans by ratio of (1:1 part). There was control group for each treatment, which was fed the same feed ad libitum. The birds were forced fed 2 times daily starting with 150 grams feed and increased 50 grams every 3 days for each group. Water was provided ad libitum to all groups (both forced fed and control). The obtained results showed that: forced fed ducks did not eat voluntarily during the experiment, while the drinking period increased especially those fed beans and mixed diets. Also forced feeding led to a significant reduction in the body care behavior. Forced fed birds spent most of the time sitting and less time standing and this increased by the advancement of the experiment. Forced fed birds gained more weight than control, and those forced fed mixed diets gained more weight and had best feed conversion and low level of cholesterol than those fed on beans or yellow corns. Carcass weight and its % were best in beans forced fed ducks; on the other hand, thje liver weight, fat weight and % were better in case of yellow corn forced fed birds. The gizzard weight and % and the thickness of its caudodorsal thick muscle was best in beans forced fed ducks. From these results it is concluded that, forced fed ducks were under stress, but because this is the only way for fattening and production of good quality meat and fatty liver especially during the finishing period, thus a mixture of beans and yellow corn of equal amounts is better for forced feeding as this leads to good feed conversion, carcass %, liver weight, less fat, good quality meat and low level of cholesterol. |
