Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of heat stress on growing Muscovy ducks during summer season and some strategies to alleviate adverse effect of heat stress as nutrition strategies addition of ascorbic acid (AA) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to feed and swimming access. Forty eight (seven week old) Muscovy ducks randomly allotted to 4 groups (heat stressed group (HS) without any supplementation, ascorbic acid (AA), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) group and swimming access (SWIM)). The results indicated that the swimming access significantly improved Muscovy duck welfare by improving body care behavior (preening, head shake, body shake and ruffling) and significantly increased the standing behavior and reduced crouching percent with significant reduction in blood corticosterone level and( heterophils / lymphocyte) H/L ratio. However, swimming access had significant reduction in relative weight gain than control group.

Key words: Behavior, heat stress, Muscovy ducks, welfare, swimming access