Effects of Cherry Valley Male Ducks on Nutrient Digestion and Amino Acid Utilization of Hydrolyzed Feather Meal

ZHU Junrong; ZHANG Haipeng; XIAO Kaige; LYU Yantao; ZHENG Chuntian; WANG Shuang; ZHANG Yanan; WANG Shenglin; JIN Chenglong; HUANG Xuebing; LI Kaichao; CHEN Wei; XIA Weiguang

doi:10.19978/j.cnki.xmsy.2025.05.01

Abstract：This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient digestibility and amino acid utilization of hydrolyzed feather meal produced in Fujian,Shandong,and Guangdong provinces in male Cherry Valley ducks at sexual maturity.Forty-eight healthy adult male Cherry Valley ducks were randomly divided into four groups with 12 ducks in each group.They were fed with 100%corn starch(control group)and 85%corn starch+15%hydrolyzed feather meal(Fujian,Shandong,and Guangdong),respectively.Through the metabolic trial of forced feeding-total feces collection,the excreta were collected,and the quality,moisture,dry matter,crude protein,amino acids,calcium and phosphorus of feed and excreta were determined.There were differences in the contents of dry matter,crude protein and true amino acids in hydrolyzed feather meal originating from different regions.The hydrolyzed feather meal produced in Fujian showed the highest contents of dry matter(93.7%)and crude protein(83.4%).The crude protein contents of hydrolyzed feather meal produced in Shandong and Guangdong were slightly higher than those of Fujian,but the differences in crude protein were not significant(P>0.05).The true amino acid availability of aspartic acid,threonine and glutamic acid in Fujian hydrolyzed feather meal was higher than that in Shandong and Guangdong(P<0.01).After force-feeding the diets containing hydrolyzed feather meal produced in Fujian,Shandong and Guangdong,no differences was observed in the weights of feces and fecal contents of dry matter,crude protein,calcium,and phosphorus.The digestibility of dry matter,protein and nitrogen in the feces of Cherry Valley ducks fed hydrolyzed feather meal from different production areas did not show significant differences among Fujian,Shandong and Guangdong(P>0.05).There were few differences in other nutrients except amino acids in hydrolyzed feather meal from different production areas.The amino acid contents of hydrolyzed feather meal in Fujian were higher,especially the true availabilities of aspartic acid and threonine was significantly better than those of hydrolyzed feather powder in Shandong and Guangdong.The digestibility of dry matter and crude protein of hydrolyzed feather meal among Fujian,Shandong,and Guangdong was less significant.