Effect of graded levels of cottonseed meal with and without ferrous sulphate on growth performance, hematobiochemical parameters in white pekin ducks

Abstract EN

A six weeks feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with cottonseed meal (CSM) with or without ferrous sulphate supplementation on the growth performance and hematobiochemical parameters of white Pekin ducks.

One hundred, one-day old white Pekin ducks were randomly divided into five groups.

The first group was fed standard basal diet (control group).

The second group was fed diet where 20% of soybean meal was replaced with cottonseed meal (CSM20).

The third group was fed diet where 20% of soybean meal was replaced with cottonseed meal and supplemented with ferrous sulphate (CSM20+).

The fourth group was fed diet where 41% of soybean meal was replaced with cottonseed meal (CSM41).

The fifth group was fed diet where 41% of soybean meal was replaced with cottonseed meal and supplemented with ferrous sulphate (CSM41+).

On the 42 days of age, blood samples were collected from the different groups (6 birds randomly selected/each group).

Dietary replacement of either 20% or 41% soybean meal with cottonseed meal had no encouraging effect on the growth performance and feed conversion rate from the 1st week to the end of the experiment.

Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin (Hb) level, packed cell volume% (PCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), and reduced glutathione (GSH) in CSM20 and CSM41 groups compared with control group.

Meanwhile, there were a significant increase in the same two groups (CSM20 and CSM41) in serum alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase activity (AST), creatinine (Cr), cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) compared with control group.

Addition of ferrous sulphate to diets of ducks in which soyabean protein replaced by 20% or 41% of cottonseed meal protein groups (CSM20+ and CSM41+) alleviate the adverse effect of gossypol on growth performance, blood picture and organ functions.