Effect of fennel, thyme and probiotic as feed additives on the performance and the microbial content of the intestine of Muscovy ducks
Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of fennel, thyme and probiotic (Livesac) supplementation on the productive performance, nutrients digestibility, plasma components, carcass characteristics and intestinal microbial content of the Muscovy ducks. A total number of 224 one-day Muscovy ducklings were divided into eight treatment groups of 28 birds each (12 males and 16 females), each group was subdivided into four replicates of 7 birds (3 males and 4 females) each. The basal starter and grower/finisher (T1) diets were supplemented with either fennel fruits (0.5%, T2 and 1.0%,T3 ), thyme leaves (0.5%, T4 and 1.0%,T5), mixture 1:1 of fennel and thyme (0.5%, T6 and 1.0%, T7) or a commercial probiotic (Livesac 0.0 5%,T8). The basal diets contained 22 % CP and 2900 Kcal ME/kg during the starting period (0-4 wee1cs of age) and 19% CP and 3000 Kcal ME/kg during the growing an4 finishing period (5-10 weeks of age).
Results showed that adding herbs (fennel or thyme) to the control diet significantly improved (P<0.05) BW, BWG, FCR and PI at the first period (0-4 wks). While, probiotic did not improve BW, BWG, Fl, FC and Plat the same period (0-4 wks). At the second period (5-10 wks), the herbs and probiotic had no effect on the productive performance. Supplementing fennel and thyme with 1.0% were better than 0.5% while, supplementing the mixture of them at 0.5% were better than 1.0% on productive performance of ducks. The best duck performance obtained from supplementing 1.0% fennel (T3) and mixture of fennel and thyme at 0.5% (T6). Carcass characteristics revealed no significant differences in dressing %, liver %, edible giblets and empty gizzard While, the high levels either of fennel or thyme (1.0%) recorded the lowest value of abdominal fat compared with the low level (0.5%) of each. Moreover. probiotic recorded the worst value of abdominal fut. The results of digestion coefficient indicates that no significant differences (P<0.05) were detected among treatments in OM, EE and NFE except T6 (herbal mixture at 0.5%) and T8 (probiotic at 0.05%) which recorded the highest values (P<0.05) compared with the control group. However, the addition of 1.0% fennel or thyme (T3 or T5), the mixture of them (T6 and T7) and probiotic group revealed significant digestibility of CP and CF compared with the basal diet (T1). The addition either of fennel, thyme or their mixture as well as probiotic did not affect the meat content of CP and EE. Plasma total protein, albumin and globulin significantly increased in T3 (fennel at 1.0%) and probiotic (T8) compared to control group. Plasma cholesterol was significantly decreased in T6 (0.5% mixture) compared with the control and probiotic groups. Triglyceride and createnine were decreased among all groups compared to control and probiotic groups. In addition, GOT was decreased by adding all levels of fennel or thyme compared to control and probiotic groups, while GPT decreased by using low levels of fennel or thyme (T2 and T4). The total count of duck ileum and caecum were significantly lower by adding mixture of fennel and thyme (T6 and T7) than other treatments or control groups. Also, same trend was obtained from some microbial groups such as proteolytic bacteria, cellulose digesters and libolytic bacteria in the duck's ileum and ceacum. The economical efficiency study showed that ducks fed diets containing 1.0%fennel (T3) and 0.5% mixture (T6) recorded better economical efficiency values than those of other treatments.
It could be concluded that, the addition of fennel fruits or thyme leaves at. 1.0% or mixture of them at 0.5% can improve the productive performance of Muscovy duck particu1ary during the starter period (0-4 wks).
Publication year 2007
Pages 1009-1029
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City الاسكندرية
serial title Egyptian Poultry Science
ISSN 1110-5623
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    محمود سعد ابو سكين معهد الدراسات و البحوث البيئية - جامعة المنوفية
    طة شحات الالفى كلية الصيدلة- جامعة الازهر
Agris Categories Animal feeding
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Feed additives. Fennel. Intestines. Muscovy ducks. Performance testing. Probiotics. Thyme.
Publication Type Journal
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