Weight Gain and Plasma Cholesterol Concentration in Mojosari Ducks Fed Different Levels of Chitin Extracted from Crab Wastes

High fat and cholesterol contents of eggs and meat of ducks may limit the consumption of people who are especially aware on health. Attempts to lower cholesterol levels in ducks can be done by incorporating chitin extracted from crab (Portunus pelagicus) wastes in the ration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of chitin in diet for growing Mojosari ducks on growth and plasma cholesterol concentration. Forty unsexed two-month-old ducks were randomly assigned into four dietary treatments with ten ducks each. All ducks were reared in individual cage for five weeks. Each duck received one of four diets, i.e., the control diet (T0) consisted of ground yellow corn, concentrate, rice bran, crude palm oil and mineral and vitamin premixes, the control diet containing 1% chitin (T1); 2% chitin (T2); 3% chitin (T3). The results showed that ducks fed on diet containing 2% and 3% chitin consumed much higher (P0.01) feed than those consumed diet without or containing only 1% chitin but there was no significant difference (P0.05) in weight gain and feed conversion ratio among treatment means. Levels of dietary chitin did not significantly affect (P0.05) concentration of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), but tended to reduce (P = 0.24) low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG) concentration in growing Mojosari ducks. It is concluded that levels of dietary chitin did not significantly affect total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein (HDL), but tended to reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) concentration in growing ducks