Fermented Liquid Feed Technology in Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) Nutrition in the Western Highlands of Cameroon: Influence on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Gut Microbiota

This study assessed the effect of fermented liquid feed technology (FLFT) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and gut microbiota of Muscovy ducks as an alternative to synthetic growth promoters (SGP). Sixty ducks aged 12 weeks with a pooled initial weight of 1440.00±390.72 g were assigned to four treatments: T0 = (Basal diet + water, without Lactobacillus and without fermentation, soaked for 30 minutes and fed), T1 = 12 h, T2 = 24 h, and T3 = 48 h FLF. Feed was inoculated with L. acidophilus at 1g/kg feed (1.0×106 CFU/kg), at 20°C, at a water-feed ratio of 1.5L:1kg. The trial lasted 14 weeks. Growth used pens as experimental units for feed intake and FCR, individual for body weights. Carcass and caecal microbiota were evaluated. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA with means separated by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5%. Growth performance and carcass characteristics were not significantly influenced (p > 0.05). Numerically, T2 recorded the highest feed intake (8670.88 g) while T0 was the lowest (8265.60 g). The highest weight gain (1079.00 g) was in T3, and the lowest (985.40 g) was in T2. Carcass-wise, T3 had numerically the highest neck (7.55%), T2 the highest breast (25.08%) and thigh (13.93%), and most organ weights, although p>0.05. The only significant effect was a reduction in presumptive Campylobacter spp. (p<0.05), T3 48h: 1.00±0.00 vs T0: 1.77±0.10 (log10 CFU/g). No significant effect (p>0.05) on presumptive E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Lactobacillus spp. although Lactobacillus peaked numerically at 24 h (1.80±0.28). Within the limitations of this study (presumptive identification only), 48h FLF may have the potential to reduce presumptive caecal Campylobacter spp. without adverse effects on growth and carcass traits (p>0.05) under Western Highlands conditions. Further studies with molecular confirmation and on-farm validation are needed before broad recommendation to farmers.