Assessing the Effects of Lactobacillus spp. Isolated from Ensiled Swamp Forage on Body Weight, Carcass Characteristics, and Abdominal Fat in Local Ducks Fitra Yosi (a*), Sofia Sandi (a), Nuni Gofar (b), Eli Sahara (a), Meisji Liana Sari (a), Rizki Palupi (a), Farin Farandhita (a)
a) Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indralaya 30662, Indonesia
*fitrayosi[at]unsri.ac.id
b) Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indralaya 30662, Indonesia
Abstract
Using lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, as probiotics in poultry farm is a common practice. However, little research has been conducted on the application of Lactobacillus derived from swamp forage silage. This study aims to investigate the supplementation of Lactobacillus spp. derived from swamp grass (Hymenachne acutigluma) silage on body weight, carcass characteristics, and abdominal fat in local ducks. A total of sixty 24-week-old ducks were randomly allocated into five treatment groups with four replicates per group using a completely randomized design and were reared for 60 days. The treatment groups included a control group without Lactobacillus (LAC) supplementation and groups LAC1, LAC2, LAC3, and LAC4, which were supplemented with a Lactobacillus solution in their drinking water at concentrations of 1x106, 107, 108, and 109 CFU/mL, respectively. At 33 weeks of age, the ducks final weight was measured. Then, one duck per replicate was slaughtered to analyze carcass characteristics and abdominal fat percentage. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance, followed by a Duncan multiple range test. The results showed that administration of the LAC solution increased carcass and thigh slice percentages (p < 0.05). The LAC3 group had a higher carcass percentage than the control group and the other LAC groups (p < 0.05). Adding the LAC solution also reduced the percentage of abdominal fat (p < 0.05). However, the LAC solution did not affect final body weight. In conclusion, supplementing drinking water with an LAC solution at concentrations up to 1x 109 CFU/mL improved carcass yield, particularly in thigh cuts, and decreased abdominal fat production in ducks.
