Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of encapsulated Centella asiatica extract on growth performance, intestinal development, and intestinal microbial in ducks. A total of 240 two-day-old male Tegal ducks with an initial body weight of 42.5 ± 2.3 g were divided into four treatments with six replications. The treatments were T0, basal diet without encapsulated C. asiatica extract (ECAE); T1, basal diet + 0.2% ECAE; T2, basal diet + 0.4% ECAE; and T3, basal diet + 0.6% ECAE. The measured variables included intestinal segment weight, length, pH, percentage of live weight, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and coliform populations, villus height, crypt depth, feed consumption, body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and carcass percentage. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, followed by Duncan’s test at the 5% significance level. The results showed that ECAE significantly increased jejunal length and decreased ileal and cecal pH at 21 days of age (p<0.05). It also increased intestinal length, weight, and the percentage of intestinal segments of live weight at 35 days of age (p<0.05). The LAB population increased significantly in T2 and T3 (p<0.05). Villus height and crypt depth also increased significantly (p<0.05). Body weight gain and final body weight increased significantly in T1, while the FCR decreased (p<0.05). In conclusion, ECAE at all levels (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%) positively affected growth performance, intestinal development, and intestinal microbial in ducks, with the most pronounced improvement in intestinal and microbial parameters observed at 0.6% level and in growth performance parameters (body weight and FCR) at 0.2% level.