Effect of duck diet supplemented with fermented seaweed wastes on carcass characteristics and production efficiency of indigenous Indonesian ducks

Gracilaria sp is as eaweed with carbohydrate-rich wastes. Its symbiont, Brotia sp, is rich in calcium and protein. The effects of Gracilaria's wastes (GW) as formulated feed supplement on carcass characteristics and production efficiency of local Indonesian ducks. Data were collected from 120 ducks fed either a basal dietor a fermented Gracilaria's wastes supplemented diet (FGW). Treatment levels of FGW were 10%, 12.5%, and 15%. The highest level of meat antioxidant status was reached at 15% FGW, while the optimum level of FGW for decreasing the fat content was 12.5%. The best reduction in meat fat mass was at 15% FGW. Further more, duck feed with FGW resulted in lower average and normalized costs and increased income than observed with the basal diet. Thus, GW as a feed supplement effectively ameliorated the productivity and carcass quality of indigenous Indonesian ducks.