There are thirteen kinds of vitamins that ducks need to provide in feed, among which fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K, and water-soluble vitamins are thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, choline, folic acid and vitamin B 12. Vitamins A, D and riboflavin are the most important and easy to lack in ducks.
(1) The main nutritional function of vitamin A is to protect mucous membrane and epithelial tissue, prevent night blindness, maintain the normal function of nervous system, resist diseases and promote growth. Carotene in green feed is the raw material for duck to synthesize vitamin A.
1 IU Vitamin A = 0.3 μ g Vitamin A (ethanol).
(2) The main nutritional function of vitamin D is to reduce the pH value of small intestinal juice, which makes calcium and phosphorus salts easy to decompose in acidic environment, which is beneficial to the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus. Duck skin and feather contain a kind of 7- dehydrocholesterol, which can be converted into vitamin D3 by ultraviolet irradiation in the sun.
1 IU vitamin D = 0.025 μ g vitamin D3 crystal.
(3) Vitamin E is also called tocopherol. Its main function is related to duck reproduction and antioxidation in vivo. It works synergistically with selenium to maintain the normal functions of muscles, testicles and embryos.
1 international unit Vitamin E = 1μgα- tocopherol (4) Vitamin K, also known as clotting vitamin, is an essential substance for blood coagulation. Green feed and juicy feed contain vitamin K, and poultry intestines can also synthesize a part. If the mother duck lacks vitamin K in the feed, or is infected with coccidiosis, or uses sulfonamides, it will cause the lack of vitamin K in the mother duck, which will inevitably lead to a serious decline in the vitamin K reserve of newborn ducklings, and even minor trauma will lead to bleeding and even death of ducklings.
Vitamin K is measured in milligrams.
(5) Thiamine is related to maintaining normal activities of glucose metabolism and nerve function. When lacking, the nervous system of ducklings is abnormal, twitching, and the head bends backwards. There are more germs and hulls in the grain. The reasons for thiamine deficiency are: the feed is contaminated by mold, the feed is stored for a long time, a large number of inferior fish meal is used, and anticoccidial agents and antibiotics are used for a long time.
1 international unit thiamine = 3 micrograms thiamine hydrochloride.
(6) Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is related to energy and protein metabolism in several enzyme systems. Vitamin B2 is the most important and easiest deficiency for ducks. Young ducks gain weight slowly, lose weight, and bend their toes when lacking. Breeding eggs lack vitamin B2, and the hatching rate is low. Green feed, yeast and fish meal are abundant. 1 international unit riboflavin = 2.5 micrograms of vitamin B2.
(7) Nicotinic acid is calcium pantothenate, also called nicotinic acid. Nicotinic acid mainly participates in animal metabolism in the form of coenzyme, which plays an important role in the utilization of energy and the synthesis and decomposition of fat, protein and carbohydrates. The utilization rate of nicotinic acid in natural feed for ducklings is extremely low, which leads to leg diseases and difficulty in walking. The demand for nicotinic acid in ducks is much higher than that in chickens. The unit of measurement is milligrams.
(8) Choline is the main component of lecithin, which participates in fat metabolism and prevents fatty liver. When the ducklings are insufficient, they grow slowly and suffer from flexor tendon disease. Meat ducks should pay attention to choline supplementation. The unit of measurement is milligrams.
Other important vitamins include pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B 12 and vitamin C, which are not easy to be deficient in feeding.