GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION OF CARCASS MUSCLES OF PEKIN DUCKS AS INFLUENCED BY DIETARY-PROTEIN LEVELS AND PARTIAL WING AMPUTATION

Unsexed Pekin ducks (48) were slaughtered from approximately 1 000 to 2 050 g live weight to determine the influence of protein level in the diets (16% vs 18% crude protein at 2 900 kcal ME/kg) and partial wing amputation on growth and distribution of carcass muscles. Relative to total muscle weight, ducks fed 18% protein had significantly higher growth rate for breast muscle than those fed 16% protein. Partial wing amputated ducks had significantly higher growth rate for drumstick muscle and lower growth rate for neck muscle than controls. At the same muscle weight, ducks on 18% protein had more muscle in breast, abdominal wall and intercostal than those on 16% protein. Breast muscles made up a greater proportion of total muscle in partial wing amputated ducks than in control ducks. There were diet x wing amputation interactions for muscle in drumstick and in hind leg when compared at equal muscle weight. It is concluded that favourable muscle weight distribution can be brought about by either protein concentration in the diet or by partial wing amputation.