Effects of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i>-81-Fermented Feed on Growth and Intestinal Health of Muscovy Ducks

Feed fermented by various strains of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> (LP) produces distinct biologically active substances. This study systematically evaluates the growth performance, gut microbiota modulation, and immune response parameters in Muscovy ducks fed with LP81-fermented diets...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhaolong Li, Song Peng, Mengshi Zhao, Xiaodong Zhuang, Huini Wu, Tiecheng Sun, Fengqiang Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Fermentation
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/6/311
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Summary:Feed fermented by various strains of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i> (LP) produces distinct biologically active substances. This study systematically evaluates the growth performance, gut microbiota modulation, and immune response parameters in Muscovy ducks fed with LP81-fermented diets (LP81-FF) compared to conventional regimens. Our findings demonstrate that LP81-FF elicits dose-dependent improvements in Muscovy duck production parameters. Through a 70-day feeding trial, LP81-FF administration reduced feed intake by 3.1% and improved the average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 9.18% and 6.65% (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to conventional feed. Systemic antioxidant capacity analysis revealed 25.99% elevation in total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (<i>p</i> < 0.05), accompanied by 14.37% and 30.79% increases in serum IgG and IgM levels, respectively. Immune organ indices showed dose-responsive enhancement, with the high-dose group (HD) achieving 47.27% and 28.92% increases in thymus and bursa of Fabricius indices (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that LP81-FF optimized the intestinal microbial community structure of Muscovy ducks by promoting the abundance of <i>Bacteroides</i>, <i>Butyricicoccus</i>, and <i>Ruminococcus</i> (beneficial bacteria) (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while inhibiting the increase of <i>Escherichia-Shigella</i> and <i>Rothia</i> (harmful bacteria). It also promoted the secretion of beneficial metabolites such as Glutaric acid and 2,6-Diaminohexanoic acid in the intestine, inhibited the production of harmful substances dominated by Fexofenadine, and enhanced the strength of physical barrier-related factors such as intestinal mucosa villi and goblet cell count. These multi-omics insights establish that LP81-FF enhances growth performance through coordinated modulation of gut–liver axis homeostasis, mucosal immunity activation, and microbial-metabolic network optimization. Our results position LP81-FF as a sustainable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in waterfowl production systems.
ISSN:2311-5637