Inclusion of an emulsifier to the diets containing different sources of fats on performances of Khaki Campbell ducks

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of an emulsifier (glycerol polyethylene glycol ricinoleate: GPGR) and different sources of fat on the performance of Khaki Campbell ducks. Ducks were assigned into five groups with three replicates (10 ducks/replicate) in each group. Treatments were a control diet (C1: without added oil and emulsifier)، control diet added with 2% soybean oil (C2). For the other three groups، maize was replaced with rice bran and added with 2% soybean oil plus emulsifier (T1)، 2% palm oil plus emulsifier (T2)، and 2% lard plus emulsifier (T3). Feed intakes were not affected (P>0. 1) by any dietary treatment. There were also no effects (P>0. 1) of dietary treatment on body weight gain and feed efficiency except for T3 group، where body weight gain was lower compared with other treatments، and feed efficiency was lower than C2، T1، and T2. The metabolizability of dry matter tended (P=0. 08) to decrease in T1، T2 and T3 groups than in C1 and C2 groups. Apparent metabolizable energy contents were significantly greater (P<0. 05) in the C2 group than in the C1 group، but were similar among C1، T1، T2 and T3 groups. Themetabolizability of fat and other nutrients were not affected (P>0. 10) by dietary treatments. Major carcass traits were unaffected (P>0. 10) among the treatments. In conclusion، soybean oil and palm oil with GPGR as emulsifier could be added in the diets containing high amount of rice bran without affecting the performance; whereas lard may adversely affect the performance of ducks.