Effect of PROXYMet™ replacing MHA-FA on performance of Peking ducks
The trial showed that MHA-FA can be directly replaced by the same weight of PROXYMet™ without compromising growth and slaughter performance in Peking ducks. This trial confirmed the nutritional value of 65% for MHA-FA compared to DL-methionine (DLM) in Peking ducks under commercial conditions. Feed costs per ton were reduced by 6.5 RMB when using PROXYMet™ instead of MHA-FA.
Replacing 100 % MHA-FA with 65% DLM on a customer’s farm led to the same performance in Peking ducks and reduced feed cost.
Business Manager, Evonik China
The objectives of this study were:
- to validate that PROXYMet™ can directly replace MHA-FA in commercial meat duck feeds without compromising animal performance
- to provide strong evidence for duck feed customers to switch from MHA-FA to DL-methionine (DLM)
Location: Hebei, China
Project team leaders: Ailsa Lv, Dr. Tom Han
| Animals | 7,600 15-day-old Peking ducks |
| Design | Two groups of 3,800 animals each |
| Housing | Ducks were raised on raised-net floor on a commercial farm |
| Diets | Corn-miscellaneous-meals-based commercial finisher duck feed Control group: commercial feed with MHA-FA (2.5 kg/t) |
| Feeding | Both groups received the corresponding feed and were managed under the customer’s standard operating procedures |
| Parameters | Final body weight (kg) Feed intake (kg) Feed conversion ratio (FCR) Skin fat rate Breast rate Skin loss rate Scratch rate |
| Duration | 20 days (15-35d) |
Trial results
- Ducks in MHA-FA or PROXYMet™ groups reached a similar final body weight (2.62 vs 2.64 kg; Figure 1).
- No differences were found in feed intake, FCR, skin fat rate, and skin loss rate (Figure 1).
- Ducks of the PROXYMET™ group showed a higher breast meat yield and a lower scratch rate than then MHA-FA group (Figure 1).
- Feed costs per ton were reduced by 6.5 RMB when using PROXYMet™ instead of MHA-FA (Figure 2).
