Adding Duckweed (Lemna minor ) to Local Duck Diet: Determined Based on the Performance and Heavy MetalConcentration in their Meat

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine whether addingduckweed fertilized with bioslurry to the diet corresponds to duckperformance and heavy metal concentration in their meat. The study wasdesigned using a completely randomized design. The treatments weredifferent levels of adding duckweed as a diet component, as follows: Basalfeed (control, no duckweed, TC), basal feed +2.5% duckweed (TL1), basalfeed +5% duckweed (TL2), basal feed +7.5% duckweed (TL3), and basalfeed +10% duckweed (TL4). Each treatment diet was provided twice dailyfor the ducks aged 3 to 12 weeks during the experiment. The results showedthat duckweed is a promising alternative protein source for ducks, with acrude protein content of 16.9%. Duckling adding duckweed to their diet didnot affect feed consumption, average daily weight gain, and feedconversion, but significant effects were recorded on the concentrations of allvariable heavy metals deposited in their meat (p<0.05). In conclusion, a dietprepared with the addition of duckweed up to 10% in the total ration did notresult in any adverse effects on the productivity performance of ducks, and itshould be noted that all samples of duck meat were found to contain arelatively high concentration of Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Hg with someconcentrations exceeded quality standards. Further research is required toinvestigate the various access points of heavy metal accumulation besidesfeed exposure and the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon.