Live weight loss of male muscovy duckling during the slaughtering fast

Abstract

Live weight loss in male muscovy ducklings was measured during the fasting period before slaughtering. A poor reproducibilily was observed for weight loss when expressed using live weight at the beginning of the fast as a reference. On the contrary, reproductibility was better when live weight after an 8 h fast (when birds are placed in transportation boxes) was used as a reference. Rate of weight loss was about 0,20 % per hour and could be considered as linear with respect to time. Live weight decrease was slightly more pronounced when ambient temperature was about 20°C as opposed to 10°C. Offering water during fast had no influence on the intensity of live weight loss.