Effect of Supplementing the Worms and Earthworms on Growth of Local Duck (Pet Laat)

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Integrated Farming Demonstration center of Champasack University, situated about 13 km from Pakse city, Pakse District, Champasack males, with initial weights of 500-600 g. were allocated to a arrangement with four a Completely Block Design replications were: diets and supplementation with worm and earthworm. The basal diet The fanixture of rice bran and broken rice. The diets were offered in amounts based on an expected DM intake of 10% of live weight. For the control diets (no worm and earthworm), for the diets supplement with worm, earthworm and worm plas earthwormthe proportions (% DM) were 20, 20 and 10), worm, earthworm, worm plusearthwormrespectively.

Daily feed intakes were 244.5, 369.7, 376 and 401 g/dayDM and daily live weight gains were 26.2, 28.0, 30.1, and 29.1g for control (DRB), DRBW, DRBEW and DRBWEW respectively. Corresponding feed conversion ratios were 4.31, 4.24, 3.88 and 4.21 respectively. There were significant differences among the treatments (P<0.01) The diet supplement with earthworm20% in the diet was the most profitable for growing local duck (Pet Laat).

It was concluded that worm and earthworm can meet the duck's requirement for protein; earthworm can add up to 20% of the rice bran and broken rice in diets for growing ducks without any reduction in growth performance.For smallholder farmers in the area there are likely to be significant economic benefits from the opportunity to fatten local ducks using resources (rice bran, worm and earthworm) that are widely available in the region and of lower cost than commercial feeds.