Abstract

Probiotics represent a beneficial approach to boost the welfare, health, and meat quality

of poultry. One hundred and twenty one-day-old male Muscovy ducklings were divided

among 24 floor pens (five ducklings per pen). The pens were randomly distributed among

one of four dietary treatments with six replicates (G-C) without any supplementation of

probiotics; (G-A) was supplemented with 0.4 g/kg of Amnil.; (G-M) was supplemented

with 0.5 g/kg of M-Mobilize.; and (G-A-M) was supplemented with 0.4 g/kg of Amnil.

(1–30 day) and 0.5 g/kg of M-Mobilize. (31–60 day), respectively. The results indicated that

BW at day 60 was improved in (G-A) birds compared with (G-C) ones, IL-6 was decreased

in (G-A) and (G-A-M) in liver and spleen in comparison with (G-C) (p < 0.05), but no

differences were observed between (G-C) and (G-M) (p > 0.05); IL-10 was decreased in all

the probiotic-fed ducklings compared with (G-C) birds in the spleen (p < 0.05), and IL-10

was decreased in the (G-A) birds compared with the other treatments in the liver (p < 0.05).

Probiotic-fed birds showed a higher enumeration of Lactobacillus spp. compared to (G-C)

group (p < 0.05). In addition, the (G-M) group showed improved breast meat flavor, general

acceptability, and water-holding capacity (WHC%) compared to (G-C) group (p < 0.05).

These results suggest that the probiotic supplement (G-A), could be a good management

tool for improving Muscovy ducks’ health and production and further research is needed

to improve meat quality traits.

Keywords: Muscovy ducklings; probiotic; welfare; immunity; meat quality