Effect of Organic Acid Supplementation on Feed Quality, Performance, Gastrointestinal Milieu and Blood Minerals of Khaki Campbell Ducks

摘要

The experiment was conducted to assess the effects of dietary supplementation of formic, propionic and lactic acid, vis-a-vis bacitracin methyl disalicylate (BMD) on feed quality as well as performances of Khaki Campbell ducklings. The day old birds (n=234) were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments, viz., control, BMD (0.05%), formic acid (0.3%), propionic acid (0.3%), formic and propionic acid (FP) (0.15% each), and formic, propionic and lactic acid (FPL) (0.1% each). The diets of all the treatments were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Each group comprised of 3 replicates of 13 birds each. In the experiment it was found that pH, B-value, total coliforms, Escherechia coli, Clostridiumperfringens, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and anatoxins Bt levels were significantly reduced in the organic acid supplemented feeds. However, BMD had no effects on feed quality. The body weight and feed efficiency of the birds were significantly improved for organic acid and antibiotic supplemented groups and these were highest for FP group and lowest for the control group. Total feed intake was not affected by the treatments. Digesta pH in the crops of the birds was significantly reduced for organic acid groups and lowest pH was for formate group.However, there were no significant changes in digesta pH in other parts of gastrointestinal tracts of the birds of organic acid and BMD groups compared with control group. Concentrations of total coliforms, Escherechia coli and Clostridium perfringens inthe small intestine were significantly decreased for organic acid and BMD supplemented groups. The villus height was highest for FP group followed by propionate, FPL, BMD, formate and control groups. The blood mineral levels were also significantly increased for FP group followed by propionate, FPL, BMD, formate and control groups.