The effect of whole ground rubber seed on 
short term growth response of ducklings

Chhay Ty, Cambodia

chhayty@yahoo.com

Abstract

Sixteen ducklings of 7-10 day-old were used in a short-term growth response according to 2x2 factorial arrangement. The first factor was the inclusion or whole rubber seed meal in the diet (0 and 30%) and the second the addition of DL-methionine as amino acid supplement (0 and 0.5%). The basal diet was formulated with wheat bran and soybean meal were given ad-libitum. The rubber seeds were of Cambodian origin and contained DM 84.6%, organic matter 96.7 %, crude fat 27.3 %, N 2.08 % and cyanide 61.23 mg/kg in dry basis. Feed and water were provided ad libitum.

After 25 days of experimentation any symptom of cyanide intoxication was apparent in the birds. There were no rubber seed x methionine significant (P>0.05) interaction. Feed intake was significantly low (P<0.001) when rubber seeds were included in the diet (40.6 and 34.0 g DM/day) or when the diets were supplemented with methionine (40.2 and 34.6 g DM/day). There was no treatment effect on average daily gain. Methionine and rubber seeds appeared to improve duckling feed conversion efficiency with no significant (P>0.05) effect.

The use of whole ground rubber seeds in duckling diets is suggested. Further studies concerning the use of graded levels of either whole ground rubber seeds or methionine in duckling nutrition are recommended.