Effect of Tributyrin and Prebiotic on Cecum Microflora, Faecal Protozoa, and Mortality of Weaning Rabbits Heli Tistiana1)*, Osfar Sjofjan1), Veronica Margareta Ani Nurgiartiningsih1), and Eko Widodo1)
1)Faculty of Animal Science, University of Brawijaya, Malang Indonesia 65151
*) tistiana_heli[at]ub.ac.id
Abstract
This research aimed to determine the effect of tributyrin and prebiotics in feed on the mortality rate of weaned rabbits and its relationship with the number of Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., and Lactic Acid Bacteria in the cecum, as well as the number of protozoa in feces. The research used was 40 male weaning rabbits. The levels of tributyrin and prebiotic in the treatment groups were as follows: Control T0 (without tributyrin and prebiotics), T1 (0.4% tributyrin + 0.05% prebiotic), T2 (0.4% tributyrin + 0.10% prebiotic), T3: (0.6% tributyrin + 0.05% prebiotic), and T4 (0.6% tributyrin + 0.10% prebiotic). The parameters measured included the populations of Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., and Lactic Acid Bacteria (BAL) in the cecum, the number of protozoa in feces, and the mortality of weaning rabbits. The results showed that the treatment had a different effect (P<0.05) on the number of Escherichia coli bacteria and protozoa in the feces, but no different effect (P>0.05) on the number of Salmonella sp. and Lactic Acid Bacteria. The treatment also reduces mortality in rabbits (P<0.01). The conclution that the addition of tributyrin and prebiotics is able to improve the balance of microflora in the cacum and reduce cases of diarrhea and death in weaning rabbits.
