author(s)
N Madhan Kumar, ST Selvan, G Srinivasan, L Radhakrishnan, S Prakash and R Venkataramanan

abstract
A total of 224 day old straight run Arni ducklings were reared under intensive system at PGRIAS, Kattupakkam, Chennai to study the effects of dietary protein and energy levels on meat quality, cholesterol level in meat, pH, haematology and serum biochemical parameters. The experimental period were divided into starter (0-3 weeks) and finisher (4-12 weeks) phases. One control and 6 combinations of CP and ME were used as treatment diets. Dietary protein and energy levels had non-significant effects on proximate composition, pH (5.8 ± 0.01) and sensory evaluation of meat. Highest values of proximate composition like moisture, crude protein, total ash, ether extract seen in T4 (62.8 ± 1.9), T1 (19.4 ± 0.4), T1 (4.3 ± 0.9) and T2 (25.1 ± 1.2) respectively. But, had significant (P< 0.01) effect on cholesterol level of meat. Highest and lowest cholesterol content was observed in T3 (84.3 ± 0.4 mg) and control group (60.3 ± 1.2 mg) respectively. Haematology and serum biochemical parameter were not influenced by dietary protein and energy levels except serum uric acid, which had significant (P< 0.01) effect by dietary treatment groups. Serum uric acid in control group (1.95 ± 0.2) and group T1 (1.96 ± 0.1) were significantly (P< 0.01) higher than group T6 (1.04 ± 0.1).