The effect of addition of calcium mineral in feed containing fishery wastes on egg production and hatching performance of Mojosari ducks

Abstract Calcium (Ca) is an essential mineral for eggshell formation and muscle contraction, and a lack of it can result in poor egg quality and decreased egg output in laying ducks. This study aims to see how feeding the mineral Ca in a ration containing Shrimp head meal and Bilis fish head affects the laying performance and quality of hatching eggs in Mojosari ducks. A total of 105 female and 15 male Mojosari ducks, aged 78 weeks, were raised for three months and randomly divided into 15 flocks (each flock containing seven females and one male duck). There were three kinds of treatment, namely P0 (control, without mineral), P1 (ratio of Shrimp head meal and Bilis fish head 2:1 + 1% mineral), and P2 ((ratio of Shrimp head meal and Bilis fish head 1:2 + 1% mineral). The findings revealed that adding mineral Ca to feed, including Shrimp head meal and Bilis fish head, had no significant influence (P>0.05) on laying Mojosari duck performance in terms of feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg quality, ducklings produced, and income over feed cost (IOFC). Furthermore, Ca addition in the ration did not result in substantial increases (P>0.05) in fertility, hatchability, or egg size characteristics. Based on the findings of this study, feeding ducks with shrimp head meal and Bilis fish head can be used as an alternate calcium-free feed formulation.