Yacon meal (Smallanthus sonchifolius) as prebiotic in rations of muscovy (Cairina moschata) ducks during the fattening phase

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of yacon meal as a prebiotic in rations for Muscovy ducks. One hundred and fifty male ducks of seven weeks of age were used. The ducks were grouped in five treatments: T0, control (without yacon and antibiotic); T1, zinc bacitracin 0.035%; T2, T3 and T4, yacon meal at 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% respectively. Treatments T1, T2 and T4 resulted in higher body weight gain as compared to T0 (p<0.05). No differences were observed between treated groups and T0 on feed consumption. Feed conversion index was significantly better in T1, T3 and T4 as compared to T0 (p<0.05). The cost of feed per unit of body weight gain was lower in T1, T2, T3 and T4 as compared to T0. The inclusion of 0.75% of yacon meal in the diet would be an alternative to the use of antibiotics in rations of ducks during the fattening phase. © 2012 Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.