Effect of fermentation bed on bacterial growth in the fermentation mattress material and cecum of ducks

The composition of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract is closely related to the intestinal microenvironments and the exterior growth environments of host. In this study, 16S rDNA sequencing technology was adopted to investigate the influence of fermentation bed on the cecum microorganisms of ducks. Two feeding density treatment groups were set up, including group A (n = 4brids/m2) and group B (n = 6brids/m2). Samples were collected from the intermediate core fermentation layer (10–20 cm) of the fermented mattress materials and from the intestinal contents of ducks at 4, 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Results showed that Bacteroidetes (20.12–27.17%) and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 (2.97–10.1%) were the predominant microorganisms in duck cecum, while the Truepera (5.08–6.29%), Pricia (4.44–5.44%) and Luteimonas (3.62–4.99%) were the dominant microorganisms in fermentation mattress material. The cecum bacteria exhibited great difference among different growth periods of the ducks. Increasing the stocking density of ducks had a negative effect on the beneficial bacteria in the cecum. The microbial populations in fermentation mattress material were very different from that in the cecal. In summary, our findings can provide a scientific data for the rational use of fermentation bed feeding mode in poultry production.