5. Barnyard millet 5. Walter's millet 



6. Paspalum acuminatum 6. Barnyard millet 



7. Domestic rice 7. Brownseed paspalum 



8. Sprangletop 8. Bagscale grass 



9. Smartweed, Swamp 9. Amaranthus sp. 

 10. Junglerice 10. Unknown panicum 



(G.S.) 



Keywords: pintails, teals, duck food habits, Louisiana 



V-B-23 



Junca, H.A. 1962. A quantitative study of the nutrient content of food 



from crops of wild mallards. M.S. Thesis, Louisiana State University, 



Baton Rouge. 94 pp. 



A study was conducted (1) to determine the nutrient content of 

 foods removed from the crops of wild mallards, (2) to identify these 

 foods, (3) to compare the foods eaten by mallards with those reported 

 in other studies from the same area, and (4) to compare the results 

 from the chemical analyses with the dietary recommendations for 

 domestic and semi -domestic ducks. 



An analysis of 226 mallard craws, collected during the hunting season 

 of 1960-1961, in seven areas representing the major waterfowl 

 concentration areas of south Louisiana, showed that the Graminae 

 family made up the largest volume and weight of total plant food, 

 and gastropods were the most important animal food. 



An analysis of variance showed that there was more variation 

 between areas than within areas, in regard to crude protein, crude 

 fiber, nitrogen-free extract, ash, and phosphorus. Ether extract 

 and calcium percentages were insignificant at both the one percent 

 and five percent levels of probability. 



It appeared that most of the samples analyzed were nutritionally 

 deficient when compared to the calculated analysis of a semi-domestic 

 duck breeder ration. However, of the 226 ducks examined, 185 were 

 rated good, 21 fair, 4 poor, and 16 unknown, based on the amount 

 of fat deposition on the carcass. (A. A.) 



Keywords: nutrient values, mallards, Louisiana 



224 



