Two hundred Muscovy hatched ducklings of 5 weeks of age were randomly divided into three groups : group (1) fed control diet all over the experimental period, group (2) received the control diet supplemented with 5 % sunflower oil from 5 to 12 weeks of age. Group (3) was fed a diet as group 2 up to 8 weeks of age, then birds were fed control diet supplemented with 7.5 % sunflower oil from 9 to 12 weeks of age. Feed and water were offered ad libitum during the whole experimental period. Four birds from each group were randomly selected to determine the body temperature (BT) and respiration (RR) rate at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Also, two males and two females from each group at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age were slaughtered and blood samples were collected. Total counting of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), hematocrit (Hct) and hemoglobin (Hb) were determined. Plasma total proteins (TP), albumin (A), globulins (G), A/G ratio, total lipids (TL), cholesterol (Chl), glucose (Glc), calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P), GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase (Alk. Phos.) enzymatic activities, creatinine (Crt) and T3 were also assayed.
The data revealed that : adding 5 % level of sunflower oil at 8 weeks of age caused increased in : RBCs, A/G, TL (P < 0.05), Chl (P < 0.05), Glc (P < 0.05), T3, GPT; and caused decreases in : BT, WBCs (P < 0.05), Hb, TP, A, G, GOT, Alk. Phos. (P < 0.05), Crt, Ca and P. Adding 5 % level of sunflower oil at 12 weeks of age caused increases in : RBCs, Hct % (P < 0.05), Hb, TL (P < 0.05), Chl (P < 0.05), Glc (P < 0.05), T3 (P < 0.05), GPT; and caused decreases in : RR (P < 0.05), WBCs (P < 0.05), TP (P < 0.05), A, G (P < 0.05), GOT (P < 0.05), Alk. Phos., Crt, Ca and P. Adding 7.5 % level of sunflower oil at 12 weeks of age caused increases in : BT, RBCs, A/G (P < 0.05), TL(P < 0.05), Chl, Glc; and caused decreases in : RR (P < 0.05), WBCs (P < 0.05), Hct % (P < 0.05), Hb, TP (P < 0.05), A, G (P < 0.05), T3 (P < 0.05), GOT, GPT, Alk. Phos., Crt (P < 0.05), Ca and P (P < 0.05).