The Effect of Probiotic Derived from Kumpai Minyak (Hymenachne Amplexicaulis) Silage on Performance and Egg Quality Characteristics of Pegagan Ducks

The study aimed to determine the effect of probiotics derived from an isolate of silage Kumpai Minyak grass on performance and the physical egg quality of Pegagan ducks. The study was conducted in 16 weeks, from May to September 2020. The sample size was 400 female Pegagan ducks aged five months. The treatments included basal diet (Control) and base diet plus 0.2% (P2), 0.4% (P4), 0.6% (P6), and 0.8% (P8) probiotic silage of Kumpai Minyak grass. The observed variables were performance (egg production, egg weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio) and physical quality (albumen index, albumen weight, yolk weight, and Haugh unit). Observation data on probiotic treatment 0.8% (P8) established a significant effect on egg weight, compared to other treatments. Moreover, P8 probiotic treatment could significantly affect daily egg production and feed conversion ratio, compared to P2 and P4 probiotic treatments. Different results were found in the observations on feed consumption, where the overall treatment diet indicated significant results, compared to the control treatment. Specifically, several variables showed a significant effect, namely albumen index, albumen weight, egg yolk weight, and Haugh unit. Each observed variable value increased along with increasing probiotic treatment levels. However, egg index, egg yolk index, shell weight, and thickness were inversely related to the other variables investigated in this study. The P8 probiotic treatment could increase digestibility and absorption of feed nutrients due to inhibition of pathogenic bacteria and optimization of the digestive tract. The probiotics at the level of 0.8% produced from the Kumpai grass silage process can be used as a growth promoter for laying ducks to replace commercial antibiotic products.