Table 8 Total bacterial count and total fungal count of different litter materials in growing period of Muscovy ducks

Total bacterial count

×10⁷ CFU/g

2^ndweek (zero day)

2.69^a ± 0.10

2.26^b ± 0.10

2.82^a ± 0.10

2.65^a ± 0.10

0.02

4^th week

7.70 ^b ±0.08

7.15 ^c ±0.08

8.03 ^a ±0.08

7.75 ^b ±0.08

< 0.001

6^th week

7.69^b ± 0.10

7.48^b ± 0.10

8.30^a ± 0.10

8.05^a ± 0.10

0.002

8^th week

8.03^c ± 0.04

7.83^d ± 0.04

8.33^a ± 0.04

8.16^b ± 0.04

< 0.001

10^th week

7.78^b ± 0.09

7.13^c ± 0.09

8.08^a ± 0.09

8.14^a ± 0.09

< 0.001

Total Fungal count×10⁷

CFU/g

2^nd week (zero day)

2.26 ± 0.09

2.00 ± 0.09

2.36 ± 0.09

2.20 ± 0.09

0.10

4^th week

7.30^a ± 0.10

6.68^b ± 0.10

7.33^a ± 0.10

7.29^a ± 0.10

0.004

6^th week

7.27^ab ± 0.14

6.81^b ± 0.14

7.51^a ± 0.14

7.38^a ± 0.14

0.04

8^th week

7.50^a ± 0.08

7.18^b ± 0.08

7.67^a ± 0.08

7.53^a ± 0.08

0.01

10^th week

7.08 ± 0.13

6.58 ± 0.13

6.88 ± 0.13

7.01 ± 0.13

0.09