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¹ Ankara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Ankara
² Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Ankara - This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that the feeding immediately after hatching have effect on the post hatching growth, livability and slaughter characteristics. After hatching, feeding to be done in three method: gavage (force-feeding), box feed and standard (routine). A total of 360 (180 male, 180 female) ducklings were obtained from a 32 week old Pekin duck breeder flock (Grimaud Freres-STAR 53 H.Y). Body weights on days 7, 21, 35 and 49 for G group were 242.48; 1376.31; 2654.49 and 3445.65g; for K group were 266.67; 1394.46; 2657.26 and 3463.78 g; for T group were 265.11; 1448.04; 2703.10 and 3389.69 g; for male group 262.79; 1407.69; 2689.97 and 3475.96 g; for female group 253.38; 1404.86; 2653.27 and 3390.12 g, respectively. Livability was % 99.04 in all groups for the first week; on week 4 for G group was % 98.85; K and T groups were % 100; on week 8 for G group was % 97.44; for K group was % 100; for T group was % 98.73. Livability for male group on week 1 in G, K and T groups % 100, 100 and 98.08; on week four % 97.73; 100 and 100; on week eight % 94.87; 100 and 100 respectively. Livability for female group on week 1 in G, K and T groups % 98.08; 98.08 and 100; on week four % 100; % 100 and % 100; on week eight % 100, 100 and 97.50 respectively. The period of growth K and T groups were equal value and group G was lowest value for livability. Slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield and cooler shrinkage for G group were 3139.01; 2352.36; 2305.14 g; % 74.45; 72.93 and % 2.04; for K group were 3155.41; 2404.64; 2338.70 g; % 76,19; 74.11 and % 2.71; for T group were 3078.72; 2325.16; 2276.69 g; % 75.39; 73.89 and 2.01; for male group were 3125.13; 2368.73; 2322.95g; % 75.57; 74.16 and % 1.88; for female group were 3123.63; 2352.71; 2290.73; %75.11; 73.14; % 2.63 respectively. Conclusion of this study that feeding immediately after hatching was not provide an advantage in commercial enterprises. It is recommended that being feed applied (routine) method is the best method in Pekin ducks. Keywords : Pekin Duck, Growth, Viability, Slaughter characteristics