effects of l-carnitine administration on growth performance

Arch. Anim. Nutr., October 2003, Vol. 57(5), pp. 381 – 388 

EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE ADMINISTRATION ON 

GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS TRAITS, 

BLOOD SERUM PARAMETERS AND ABDOMINAL 

FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF DUCKS 

C. ARSLAN a, *, M. Ç I˙TI˙L b and M. SAATCI c 

a Department <strong>of</strong> Animal Nutrition, b Department <strong>of</strong> Internal Disease, c Department <strong>of</strong> Animal Science, 

Faculty <strong>of</strong> Veterinary Medicine, University <strong>of</strong> Kafkas, Kars, Turkey 

(Received 27 February 2003, accepted 21 May 2003) 

Effects <strong>of</strong> L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> via drinking water on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum 

parameters and abdominal fatty acid composition <strong>of</strong> ducks was examined. One hundred day-old Turkish 

native duck chicks were divided into two groups, each with five replicates and given the same diets with 0 and 

200 mg/l <strong>carnitine</strong> chlorhydrate via drinking water. The study lasted 8 weeks, with the first 4 weeks as a starter 

and the last 4 weeks as grower period. At the end <strong>of</strong> the study five ducks were randomly selected from each 

subgroup for slaughter. Growth performance parameters <strong>of</strong> ducks were not affected significantly by L<strong>carnitine</strong> 

<strong>administration</strong>. Live weight, daily weight gain, cumulative feed consumption and average feed 

conversion efficiency were found to be 1490 and 1621 g, 26.0 and 28.1 g, 5386 and 5662 g, 3.75 and 3.54 kg/kg 

in the control and in the <strong>carnitine</strong> groups respectively. L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> did not effect carcass traits 

and serum cholesterol, total lipid, triglyceride and glucose levels. Total saturated fatty acid content <strong>of</strong> 

abdominal fat significantly decreased, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid content were not affected by L<strong>carnitine</strong> 

<strong>administration</strong>. In conclusion, L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> by drinking water did not affect growth 

performance, carcass traits and blood parameters in ducks. 

Keywords: Carnitine; Growth; Carcass composition; Blood composition; Abdominal fat; Ducks 

1. INTRODUCTION 

L-<strong>carnitine</strong> (b-hydroxy-g-N-trimethylamino butyrate) is a water-soluble quaternary 

amine, which occurs naturally in micro-organisms, plants and animals (Bremer, 

1983; Borum, 1987). This compound is synthesized in vivo from lysine and 

methionine in the kidney (feline) and liver in all whole mammals (Rebouche and 

Paulson, 1986; Feller and Rudman, 1988). The metabolic importance <strong>of</strong> L<strong>carnitine</strong> 

is indispensable for the transport <strong>of</strong> long-chain fatty acids from the 

cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix for b-oxidation (Bremer, 1983; Borum, 

1987). 

*Corresponding author: Dr C. Arslan, University <strong>of</strong> Kafkas, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Veterinary Medicine, Department 

<strong>of</strong> Animal Nutrition, 36300, Kars, Turkey. Tel: + 90 474 2426800/1142; Fax: + 90 474 2426853; E-mail: 

carslan42@hotmail.com 

ISSN 0003-942X print; ISSN 1477-2817 online # 2003 Taylor & Francis Ltd 

DOI: 10.1080/00039420310001607734

382 C. ARSLAN et al. 

Ducks are genetically predisposed to the fatness. Excessive fat in ducks is 

unattractive to consumers who are concerned about the negative <strong>effects</strong> <strong>of</strong> 

saturated fat intake on health. Different studies conducted on weaned pigs 

found that L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation in diet could reduce carcass fat and 

improve feed conversion efficiency (Weeden et al., 1991; Owen et al., 1996). In 

poultry, the <strong>effects</strong> <strong>of</strong> L-<strong>carnitine</strong> addition to the diet are less clear. There have 

been several results indicating that L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation <strong>of</strong> broiler diets 

improved growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, breast and thigh meat yield 

and reduced abdominal fat in broilers (Rabie et al., 1997a,b; Rabie and 

Szilagyi, 1998). However, Barker and Sell (1994), Leibetseder (1995), and Buyse 

et al. (2001) failed to observe any positive <strong>effects</strong> <strong>of</strong> L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation 

on diet or drinking water (Rodehutscord et al., 2002) on broiler 

performance. 

In several species, including rabbits (Bell et al., 1987) and rats (Mondola et al., 1992) 

dietary L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation decreased serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. 

In contrast, it is noticed that L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation in the diet did not affect 

serum cholesterol levels in broilers (Lien and Horng, 2001). Any literature related to the 

usage <strong>of</strong> L-<strong>carnitine</strong> and its effect on abdominal fatty acid composition in duck feeding 

could not be found. 

In the current study, the <strong>effects</strong> <strong>of</strong> L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> via drinking water on 

growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters and abdominal fatty acid 

composition were investigated in Turkish native ducks. 

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS 

2.1. Animals and treatments 

One hundred, unsexed, day-old Turkish native duck chicks were divided into two 

groups, each with five replicates, containing 10 chicks. Both groups were fed the 

diets prepared to meet National Research Council (NRC, 1984) recommendation 

for ducks (Table I). Additionally, 0 (Control group) and 200 mg/l <strong>carnitine</strong> 

chlorhydrate (Carnitine group) (Hepabial Carnitine, SOGEVAL Laboratoire, 

France) were administrated via drinking water. Due to the <strong>carnitine</strong> chlorhydrate 

being in a liquid form, it was <strong>of</strong>fered via drinking water. The study lasted 8 

weeks, with the first 4 weeks as a starter and the last 4 weeks as a growth 

period. Ducklings were placed in electrically heated battery brooders for the first 

2 weeks and continuous incandescent lights were shone. At 15 days <strong>of</strong> age, the 

ducklings were transferred to a feeding platform (1 m 6 2m685 cm) made from 

metal, which consisted <strong>of</strong> a 1 cm mesh wire floor, over a concrete floor. After the 

second week the study was conducted at room temperature (208C). Diets and 

water were available at all times during the experimental period. Water 

consumption <strong>of</strong> <strong>carnitine</strong> groups were monitored but net water consumption 

could not be estimated due to excessive use <strong>of</strong> water by ducks either for drinking 

or play. It is well known that a growing chicken drinks approximately twice as 

much water as the feed it consumes (NRC, 1984). L-<strong>carnitine</strong> intake by ducks 

might be estimated with fortnightly feed intake in this study. Additionally, studies 

have already shown that L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation did not affect water intake 

(Ç elik and O¨ ztu¨ rkcan, 2003).

EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE ON GROWTH 

TABLE I Composition and proximate analysis <strong>of</strong> the starter and grower diets 

Ingredient Starter Grower 

Yellow maize [%] 59.55 64.80 

Barley [%] 2.95 10.40 

Wheat bran [%] – 6.00 

Soybean meal [%] 30.00 16.40 

Fish meal [%] 5.00 – 

Lime stone [%] 1.25 1.20 

Dicalcium phosphate [%] 0.65 0.60 

Salt [%] 0.25 0.25 

Premix 1 [%] 0.35 0.35 

Calculated analyses 

Metabolizable energy (MJ/kg DM) 12.13 12.13 

Lysine [%] 1.33 0.72 

Methionine + cystine [%] 0.73 0.50 

L-<strong>carnitine</strong> [mg/kg] 2 

12.80 6.80 

Analysed crude nutrients 

Dry matter [%] 92.95 93.08 

Crude protein [% DM] 23.63 16.34 

Diethyl ether extract [% DM] 3.80 3.49 

Crude fibre [% DM] 3.71 4.42 

Ash [% DM] 7.70 6.10 

1 Provided per kg concentrate: Vitamin A, 21 000 IU; vitamin D3, 4200 IU; vitamin E, 52.5 mg; vitamin K3, 4.38 mg; vitamin 

B 1, 5.25 mg; vitamin B 2, 12.25 mg; vitamin B 6, 7 mg; vitamin B 12, 0.03 mg; folic acid, 1.75 mg; D-biotin, 0.08 mg; vitamin 

C, 87.5 mg; niacin, 70 mg; Ca-D-pantothenat, 14 mg; choline chloride, 219 mg. 

2 Baumgartner and Blum (1997). 

2.2. Data and sample collection 

Individual live weight <strong>of</strong> ducks and feed consumption per subgroup were 

determined fortnightly. Feed conversion efficiency was also calculated. At the 

end <strong>of</strong> the study, five ducks from each subgroup were randomly selected for 

slaughtering. At the time <strong>of</strong> slaughter, blood samples were taken and separated 

serums labelled and stored in a deep freeze until analysis. Evaluation <strong>of</strong> carcass 

traits were made according to Jones (1984). During the carcass evaluation 

abdominal fat samples were also taken, labelled and stored in a deep freeze until 

analysis. 

2.3. Chemical analysis 

Dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and ash content <strong>of</strong> diets were 

determined according to AOAC (1984) procedures. Blood serum cholesterol, total lipid, 

triglyceride and glucose levels were determined by autoanalyser (Abbot Alcyon 300i, 

Illinois, USA) using laboratory kits produced by the same supplier. Abdominal fat 

samples obtained from each <strong>of</strong> the subgroups were mixed homogeneously. Thus, a total 

<strong>of</strong> five samples were prepared for analysis from each group. Concentration <strong>of</strong> individual 

fatty acids were determined in TUBITAK Marmara Research Centre, Koceli, Turkey, 

using gas chromatography (Thermoguest Trace GC) according to methods described by 

Paquot (1979). 

383


2.4. Statistics 

The results were statistically analysed using t-test in SPSS (SPSS inc., 1993). Values 

were expressed as mean + standard error (Sx). 

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

In both the starter and growth periods, L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> did not affect live 

weight, live weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency in ducks 

(Table II). Although, there were no statistical differences between the groups, live 

weight was found to be 8.1% higher in the <strong>carnitine</strong> group than in the control group. 

This situation might be related to the positive effect <strong>of</strong> L-<strong>carnitine</strong> on lipid and energy 

metabolism. Gropp et al. (1994) reported that dietary L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation 

could improve fatty acid and energy utilization and, therefore, live weight gain and feed 

conversion efficiency may be improved in poultry. Live weight <strong>of</strong> 8 week old ducks was 

similar, according to the results <strong>of</strong> I˙s¸ gu¨ zar et al. (2002) for Turkish native ducks. The 

natural L-<strong>carnitine</strong> content <strong>of</strong> the starter and growth diets used in the study was 

calculated 12.8 and 6.8 mg/kg, respectively (Table I). Probably, these amounts <strong>of</strong> 

TABLE II Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> on live weight, live weight gain, feed consumption and feed 

conversion efficiency in ducks (Means + Sx) 1 

Age Control group Carnitine group 

Live weight [g] 

Hatching 46.4 + 0.4 46.6 + 0.4 

2 weeks 180.8 + 10.5 220.7 + 9.6 

4 weeks 506.5 + 26.5 628.0 + 17.9 

6 weeks 1182 + 19.5 1251 + 22.3 

8 weeks 1490 + 5.3 1621 + 11.7 

Live weight gain [g/d] 

2 weeks 10.4 + 0.3 12.4 + 0.7 

4 weeks 23.3 + 1.1 29.1 + 1.0 

6 weeks 48.2 + 0.5 44.5 + 0.6 

8 weeks 22.0 + 1.0 26.5 + 1.9 

0–8weeks 26.0+ 7.9 28.1 + 6.5 

Feed consumption [g/d] 

2 weeks 22.6 + 0.8 23.2 + 0.9 

4 weeks 58.7 + 2.4 67.0 + 2.2 

6 weeks 143.9 + 3.3 144.3 + 2.9 

8 weeks 159.6 + 5.8 169.9 + 11.7 

0 – 8 weeks (cumulative) 5386 + 136 5662 + 204 

Feed conversion ratio [kg/kg] 

2 weeks 2.19 + 0.1 1.88 + 0.1 

4 weeks 2.53 + 0.0 2.31 + 0.1 

6 weeks 2.98 + 0.1 3.24 + 0.0 

8 weeks 7.27 + 0.2 6.48 + 0.3 

0–8weeks 3.75+ 0.1 3.54 + 0.1 

1 Hatching: n = 50; week 2: n = 48 and n = 49 for control and <strong>carnitine</strong> group, respectively; weeks 4 – 8: n = 48. 

Means are not significantly different (P 4 0.05).

L-<strong>carnitine</strong> and L-<strong>carnitine</strong> precursors (lysine and methionin) in the diet may be 

adequate for the ducks’ requirements. In a study conducted on fish, piglets and quail, 

Schumacher et al. (1993) concluded that L-<strong>carnitine</strong> seemed effective in improving body 

weight gain and feed conversion, mainly in groups with diets marginally in lysine and 

methionine plus cystine content, respectively. 

Average live weight gain during the whole experimental period can be calculated as 

26.0 and 28.1 g in the control and in the <strong>carnitine</strong> group, respectively (Table II). 

Ducklings have shown very rapid live weight gain and better feed conversion efficiency 

in the first 6 week period, but after this period poor feed conversion efficiency has been 

observed because <strong>of</strong> slow live weight gain. The findings may be accepted as a criteria for 

determination <strong>of</strong> slaughter time in Turkish native ducks. L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> did 

not affect feed consumption, which was 5386 and 5662 g in the control and in the 

<strong>carnitine</strong> groups, respectively, during the whole experimental period (Table II). Similar 

results were reported in previous research conducted on broilers (Mast et al., 2000; Lien 

and Horng, 2001; Buyse et al., 2001; Ç elik and O¨ ztu¨ rkcan, 2003). The ducks supplied 

with L-<strong>carnitine</strong> via drinking water, consumed approximately the same amount <strong>of</strong> feed 

as the control ducks, but they gained more weight than the control group during the 

experimental period. Therefore, feed conversion efficiency was improved (not 

significant) in the <strong>carnitine</strong> group (Table II). Similar results were reported by other 

research (Barker and Sell, 1994; Mast et al., 2000; Lien and Horng, 2001; Buyse et al., 

2001; Rodehutscord et al., 2002). 

As shown in Table III, L-<strong>carnitine</strong> had no significant effect on the examined carcass 

parameters. Carcass ratio was found to be 63.6 and 65.9% in the control and in the 

<strong>carnitine</strong> group, respectively. These values are slightly lower than those reported by 

I˙s¸ gu¨ zar et al. (2002) on Turkish native ducks. Ducks are characterized by the genetic 

predisposition to fat. The consumers usually prefer food with a low fat content. 

Abdominal fat weight could be used as a criteria for prediction <strong>of</strong> total body fat content 

<strong>of</strong> poultry (Sonaiya, 1985). From this point <strong>of</strong> view, L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> tended 

to result in a leaner carcass with decreasing abdominal fat percentage, which was again 

not significant. This finding is in agreement with those <strong>of</strong> Rabie et al. (1997b), Rabie 

and Szilagyi (1998) and Buyse et al. (2001) on broiler chickens. Unchanged liver and 

TABLE III Carcass traits <strong>of</strong> ducks (Means + Sx, n = 25) 

Parameters Control group Carnitine group 

Live weight [ g ] 1653 + 10.4 1750 + 3.4 

Carcass weight [ g ] 1053 + 7.2 1153 + 3.4 

Carcass ratio [%] 63.6 + 0.7 65.9 + 0.9 

Carcass parts [% <strong>of</strong> the carcass weight] 

Breast 16.6 + 0.4 19.0 + 0.9 

Legs 26.9 + 0.4 25.8 + 0.6 

Wings 14.9 + 0.4 15.2 + 0.5 

Neck 12.7 + 0.4 10.1 + 0.5 

Back 26.7 + 0.4 28.1 + 0.7 

Heart 1.0 + 0.0 0.8 + 0.0 

Liver 3.68 + 0.3 3.52 + 0.2 

Mesenteric fat 0.68 + 0.0 0.32 + 0.0 

Abdominal fat 1.46 + 0.3 1.02 + 0.1 

Means are not significantly different (P 4 0.05). 


385


heart percentages showed that L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> did not influence edible 

giblets weight in duck. 

As indicated in Table IV, L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation did not affect serum 

cholesterol, total lipid, triglyceride and glucose levels. However, cholesterol, total lipid, 

triglyceride and glucose levels were 13.71, 6.33, 19.49 and 11.40% lower in the <strong>carnitine</strong> 

group than in the control group. Non significant decreases in lipid fractions 

(cholesterol, total lipid, triglyceride) were probably the result <strong>of</strong> b-oxidation <strong>of</strong> long 

chain fatty acids with the support <strong>of</strong> additional L-<strong>carnitine</strong>. Similarly, several studies 

conducted on different animal species indicated that L-<strong>carnitine</strong> supplementation 

decreased serum cholesterol, total lipid and triglyceride levels (Bell et al., 1987; 

Mondola et al., 1992). Lien and Horng (2001) noticed that the activity <strong>of</strong> <strong>carnitine</strong> 

palmitoyl transferase, which is the fatty acid b-oxidation enzyme, was significantly 

increased by supplementary L-<strong>carnitine</strong> in broilers. Whole serum parameters were in 

TABLE IV Blood serum parameters in ducks (Means + Sx, n = 25) 

Parameters Control group Carnitine group 

Cholesterol [mg/dl] 124.0 + 2.3 107.0 + 1.4 

Total lipid [mg/dl] 454.8 + 16.9 426.0 + 18.9 

Triglyceride [mg/dl] 175.5 + 3.7 141.3 + 1.0 

Glucose [mg/dl] 186.0 + 1.8 164.8 + 2.0 

TABLE V Fatty acid composition <strong>of</strong> abdominal fat in ducks [%] (Means + Sx) 

Fatty acids Control group Carnitine group 

C12:0 0.04 + 0.00 0.04 + 0.00 

C14:0 0.57 + 0.01 0.53 + 0.04 

C15:0 0.05 + 0.00 0.05 + 0.00 

C16:0 23.77 + 0.88 a 

22.65 + 0.19 b 

C17:0 0.10 + 0.01 0.08 + 0.00 

C18:0 4.48 + 0.32 4.03 + 0.17 

C20:0 0.07 + 0.00 0.06 + 0.00 

C21:0 0.11 + 0.00 0.10 + 0.01 

C24:0 0.04 + 0.01 0.03 + 0.00 

S SFA 1 

29.22 + 1.19 a 

27.57 + 0.20 b 

C14:1 0.11 + 0.01 0.11 + 0.01 

C16:1 5.16 + 0.26 5.33 + 0.27 

C18:1 49.62 + 1.27 51.43 + 0.72 

C20:1 0.34 + 0.01 0.45 + 0.05 

C24:1 0.06 + 0.01 0.03 + 0.00 

S MUFA 2 

55.28 + 1.48 57.34 + 0.55 

C18:2 11.24 + 0.37 11.95 + 0.48 

C18:3 0.52 + 0.01 0.58 + 0.02 

C20:2 0.11 + 0.01 0.10 + 0.01 

C20:3 0.07 + 0.00 0.07 + 0.00 

C22:2 0.14 + 0.01 0.10 + 0.01 

S PUFA 3 

12.09 + 0.38 12.80 + 0.51 

1 SFA: Saturated fatty acids. 

2 MUFA: Monounsaturated fatty acids. 

3 PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acids. 

Means with different superscript letters are significant (P 5 0.05).

agreement with data reported by Baranyiova and Holub (1969) and Janan et al. (2000) 

for ducks and geese. 

Total saturated and unsaturated fatty acid levels <strong>of</strong> abdominal fat were found to be 

27.6 – 29.2 and 67.4 – 70.1% in the experimental groups (Table V). It is noticed that 

abdominal fat <strong>of</strong> ducks is rich for saturated fatty acids. The major SFA were palmitic 

and stearic acid, the major MUFA were oleic and palmiteloic acid and the major PUFA 

was linoleic acid. Although, L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> did not affect total MUFA and 

PUFA content (P 4 0.05), but it significantly decreased the total SFA content 

(P 5 0.05). The total SFA, MUFA and PUFA in this study were in agreement with 

Kirchgessner et al. (1997) and Blotnicka et al. (1999) for geese. 

In conclusion, L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong> via drinking water did not affect growth 

performance, carcass traits and serum cholesterol, total lipid, triglyceride and glucose 

levels. Total saturated fatty acid content <strong>of</strong> abdominal fat significantly decreased, while 

mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids were not influenced by L-<strong>carnitine</strong> <strong>administration</strong>. 

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