Integration of Grape-Duck Production Pattern Boosts Duck Behavior, Meat Quality, Fecal Microbiota and Soil Microorganisms

Abstract

The combination of planting and breeding, an agricultural production system, makes full use of land, ecological space and time, increasing the utilization rate and yield of both plant and animal production. This experiment aimed to explore the effects of the grape-duck farming system by analyzing behavior, meat quality, and fecal microbiota of ducks and the soil microbiota. The results differed significantly on the expressions of positive behaviors between the breeding group and the combination of planting and breeding group, including actions of foraging, feeding and walking (p < 0.05), while the free-range group showed more stereotyped behavior of no apparent purpose or significance. In terms of meat quality, the yellow value b* of the combination group was significantly higher than that of the free-range group (p < 0.05). The drip loss rate of the planting and breeding group was 1.80%, and the drip loss rate of the combination group was 3.80%, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). The combination of planting and rearing increased the alpha diversity of soil microbiota (p < 0.05), but it had no obvious effect on the fecal microbiota of ducks. PCoA showed that soil microorganisms and fecal microbiota are obviously separated and clustered. In conclusion, the combination production mode of “grape-duck” had a positive effect on duck behavior, meat quality, and soil microorganisms, however, it changed virtually nothing in duck production performance and fecal microbiota.