THE INFLUENCE OF ADDING ORGANIC SELENIUM IN CONCENTRATED MIXTURES ON PRODUCTION RESULTS OF DUCKS FATTENING

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of the addition of different amounts of organic selenium (ALKOSEL R397) in concentrated mixtures on duck fattening production results. The tests was performed on 240 one-day ducklings (Cherry Valley), which were freely selected into 4 groups, one control K0 group, and three experimental K1, K2 and K3 groups. In two stages of fattening, ducklings were fed with two and nutritionally different concentrated feed ingredients: starter (from 1 to 14 days) and finisher (15 to 49 days of fattening). The control group of the ducklings (K0) was fed with food without added organic selenium in both stages of the fattening. The test group K1 in both phases was fed with food as well as a control group, but with the addition of 0.2 mg/kg of organic selenium, while the experimental group K2 used food with 0.4 mg/kg, and the experimental group K3 with 0.6 mg/kg of organic selenium. Adding organic selenium to duck foods has influence on increase in daily growth and a decrease in total consumption of food in ducks. The best food conversion was found in a group of ducks that received the highest amount of organic selenium during the whole experiment. Based on the research carried out, it can be concluded that the addition of organic selenium in concentrate mixtures had a positive effect on the production results of ducks fattening.