Growth performance of Pateros Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos L.) given fresh and fermented Sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the performance of Pateros ducks (Anas platyrhynchos L.) fed with fresh and fermented sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas L.). Specifically, the study aimed to determine the gain in weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and feed cost per kilogram gain, morbidity and mortality of the Pateros ducks. The study was conducted at Luneta, Loacan, Itogon, Benguet from April 7 to June 1, 2016. Using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) a total of 40 Pateros ducks (28 days of age) were randomly distributed into two treatments, each with four replicates. Treatment 1 were fed with fresh sweet potato leaves + soybean + rice bran+ ground yellow corn ration and Treatment 2 were fed with fermented sweet potato leaves + soybean + rice bran+ ground yellow corn ration. The result of the study revealed no significant difference in the initial weights (113.38 g) of the ducks at 28 days of age on both treatments. However, highly significant differences were observed in the final weight (248.35 g) at 56 days of age, total gains in weight (135.19 g) and average daily gains in weight (2.415 g), total feed intake (2168.76 g) and feed conversion ratio (17.08). The ducks fed with fermented sweet potato leaves + soybean+ rice bran+ ground yellow corn had higher gain in weight and better feed conversion ratio than the ducks fed with fresh sweet potato leaves + soybean+ rice bran+ ground yellow corn. Feed cost per kilogram gains in weight of the ducks fed with fresh sweet potato leaves + soybean+ rice bran+ ground yellow corn has lower feed cost (Php 571.16) than the ducks fed with + fermented sweet potato leaves + soybean+ rice bran+ ground yellow corn (Php 623.39).