Laying performances, gut health and blood profile of Khaki Campbell ducks supplemented with dietary organic acids

A 12 weeks of study was conducted on 216 female Khaki Campbell ducks (36 week old). The birds were randomly assigned to six isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments, viz., control, bacitracin methyl disalicylate (BMD) (0.5 g/kg), 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). Each group comprised 3 replicates of 12 birds each. There was significant (P<0.01) difference in body weight gain during the laying period. Egg production, egg weight, feed intake (kg/dozen of egg) and feed intake (kg/kg egg mass) were higher (P<0.01) for FP group followed by propionate, FPL, BMD, formate and control groups. Shell weight was higher (P<0.05) for FP group followed by propionate, FPL, BMD, formate and control groups. Digesta pH in the crops of the birds was reduced (P<0.01) for organic acid groups and lowest pH was for formate group. Total coliforms, Escherechia coli and Clostridium perfringens count in the small intestine were decreased (P<0.01) for organic acid and BMD supplemented groups. The villus height was highest (P<0.01) for FP group followed by propionate, FPL, BMD, formate and control groups. The plasma mineral profile and protein level were also increased (P<0.05) for FP group followed by propionate, FPL, BMD, formate and control groups. The best performance of laying Khaki Campbell ducks was observed with the supplementation of formate-propionate combination (FP).