Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum Microbiome

This study investigates the effects of incorporating paper mulberry (<i>Broussonetia papyrifera</i> L.) powder into the diets of Cherry Valley ducks on growth performance, serum biochemistry, and the gut microbiome. A total of 350 14-day-old male Cherry Valley ducks were randomly assigne...

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Main Authors: Yi Xiong, Chu Tang, Xuekai Wang, Yongsheng Wang, Fuyu Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1602
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author Yi Xiong
Chu Tang
Xuekai Wang
Yongsheng Wang
Fuyu Yang
author_facet Yi Xiong
Chu Tang
Xuekai Wang
Yongsheng Wang
Fuyu Yang
author_sort Yi Xiong
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the effects of incorporating paper mulberry (<i>Broussonetia papyrifera</i> L.) powder into the diets of Cherry Valley ducks on growth performance, serum biochemistry, and the gut microbiome. A total of 350 14-day-old male Cherry Valley ducks were randomly assigned to five groups receiving diets with 0%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% paper mulberry powder for 42 days. Growth performance, meat quality, serum immunity, and cecal microbial composition were assessed. The results showed no significant differences in average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio among treatments, with the 6% paper mulberry group showing the highest average daily gain (79.73 g) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Meat quality parameters, including color, drip loss, cooking loss, and shear force, were not significantly affected by paper mulberry powder supplementation, while the 8% paper mulberry group showed the highest pH<sub>24</sub> value (5.47) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Serum biochemistry revealed increased total protein (G0, G4, G6, G8, and G10: 41.50, 44.47, 45.58, 45.67, and 45.85 g/L, respectively), albumin (G0, G4, G6, G8, and G10: 18.61, 19.56, 20.29, 20.2, and 20.39 g/L, respectively), total cholesterol (G0, G4, G6, G8, and G10: 5.31, 4.96, 5.37, 5.53, and 5.59 mmol/L, respectively), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in ducks fed 6%, 8%, and 10% paper mulberry powder, with lower alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBI) in the 8% and 10% groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cecal microbial diversity was enhanced with paper mulberry powder, particularly in the 6% group, which showed increased Bacteroides abundance (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Supplementing duck diets with 6% paper mulberry powder increased average daily gain, without adversely affecting meat quality and health, suggesting its potential as a sustainable feed ingredient in the duck meat industry.
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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spelling doaj-art-a5ad7d029b2c4adc9a29b94ef82a70fe2025-08-20T03:10:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011511160210.3390/ani15111602Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum MicrobiomeYi Xiong0Chu Tang1Xuekai Wang2Yongsheng Wang3Fuyu Yang4Frontier Technology Research Institute of China Agricultural University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518000, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaAgricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, ChinaFrontier Technology Research Institute of China Agricultural University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518000, ChinaThis study investigates the effects of incorporating paper mulberry (<i>Broussonetia papyrifera</i> L.) powder into the diets of Cherry Valley ducks on growth performance, serum biochemistry, and the gut microbiome. A total of 350 14-day-old male Cherry Valley ducks were randomly assigned to five groups receiving diets with 0%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% paper mulberry powder for 42 days. Growth performance, meat quality, serum immunity, and cecal microbial composition were assessed. The results showed no significant differences in average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio among treatments, with the 6% paper mulberry group showing the highest average daily gain (79.73 g) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Meat quality parameters, including color, drip loss, cooking loss, and shear force, were not significantly affected by paper mulberry powder supplementation, while the 8% paper mulberry group showed the highest pH<sub>24</sub> value (5.47) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Serum biochemistry revealed increased total protein (G0, G4, G6, G8, and G10: 41.50, 44.47, 45.58, 45.67, and 45.85 g/L, respectively), albumin (G0, G4, G6, G8, and G10: 18.61, 19.56, 20.29, 20.2, and 20.39 g/L, respectively), total cholesterol (G0, G4, G6, G8, and G10: 5.31, 4.96, 5.37, 5.53, and 5.59 mmol/L, respectively), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in ducks fed 6%, 8%, and 10% paper mulberry powder, with lower alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBI) in the 8% and 10% groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Cecal microbial diversity was enhanced with paper mulberry powder, particularly in the 6% group, which showed increased Bacteroides abundance (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Supplementing duck diets with 6% paper mulberry powder increased average daily gain, without adversely affecting meat quality and health, suggesting its potential as a sustainable feed ingredient in the duck meat industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1602paper mulberry powderCherry Valley duckgrowth performanceserum biochemistrycecum microbiome
spellingShingle Yi Xiong
Chu Tang
Xuekai Wang
Yongsheng Wang
Fuyu Yang
Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum Microbiome
Animals
paper mulberry powder
Cherry Valley duck
growth performance
serum biochemistry
cecum microbiome
title Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum Microbiome
title_full Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum Microbiome
title_fullStr Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum Microbiome
title_full_unstemmed Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum Microbiome
title_short Unlocking the Potential of Paper Mulberry Powder in Cherry Valley Ducks: Impacts on Growth, Serum Biochemistry, and Cecum Microbiome
title_sort unlocking the potential of paper mulberry powder in cherry valley ducks impacts on growth serum biochemistry and cecum microbiome
topic paper mulberry powder
Cherry Valley duck
growth performance
serum biochemistry
cecum microbiome
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1602
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AT chutang unlockingthepotentialofpapermulberrypowderincherryvalleyducksimpactsongrowthserumbiochemistryandcecummicrobiome
AT xuekaiwang unlockingthepotentialofpapermulberrypowderincherryvalleyducksimpactsongrowthserumbiochemistryandcecummicrobiome
AT yongshengwang unlockingthepotentialofpapermulberrypowderincherryvalleyducksimpactsongrowthserumbiochemistryandcecummicrobiome
AT fuyuyang unlockingthepotentialofpapermulberrypowderincherryvalleyducksimpactsongrowthserumbiochemistryandcecummicrobiome