Effect of dietary energy levels on growth performance, blood parameter and intestinal morphology of Pekin ducks in low ambient temperature

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels on growth performance, blood parameter, and intestinal morphology of Pekin ducks in low temperature. A total of 500, 21-d-old Pekin ducks (initial BW = 1,089 ± 5.21 g) were evenly assigned to five dietary treatments (2,950, 3,000, 3,050, 3,100, or 3,150 kcal AME/kg, calculated on an as-is basis) with four replicates (pens) for each treatment (25 ducks per pen). During the experiment, hens were provided with feed and water ad libitum. Overall, increasing dietary energy levels corresponded to an increase of final body weight and body weight gain (linear, p < 0.01). Feed intake decreased (linear, p < 0.01) and feed conversion ratio increased (linear, p < 0.01) with increasing levels of energy. There were no significant differences (p < 0.05) in the level of leukocytes between groups. However, heterophils decreased (quadratic, p < 0.05) and lymphocytes increased (linear, p < 0.01) as inclusion of dietary energy levels increased. The H/L ratio increased (linear, p < 0.01) with increasing dietary energy levels while serum corticosterone levels decreased at overall experimental periods. Triglycerides increased (linear and quadratic, p < 0.05) with increasing dietary energy levels. There were no significant changes in villus height or crypt depth of the jejunum at overall experimental. In conclusion, increasing concentrations of dietary energy levels up to 2,950–3,150 kcal/kg in diet. Additionally, 3,150 kcal/kg dietary energy had been revealed more beneficial and could be practiced as protective management for the Pekin ducks reared under low ambient temperature (8°C to 10°C).