Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers
Growing concerns about antibiotic resistance in the livestock industry have prompted researchers to explore alternative solutions. This study investigated the effects of Megathyrsus maximus as a phytobiotic supplement on the production performance and health of Sasso broilers raised in tropical envi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2444457 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850088976758603776 |
|---|---|
| author | Yee Lyn Ong Eric Lim Teik Chung Nazri Nayan Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse Awis Qurni Sazili |
| author_facet | Yee Lyn Ong Eric Lim Teik Chung Nazri Nayan Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse Awis Qurni Sazili |
| author_sort | Yee Lyn Ong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Growing concerns about antibiotic resistance in the livestock industry have prompted researchers to explore alternative solutions. This study investigated the effects of Megathyrsus maximus as a phytobiotic supplement on the production performance and health of Sasso broilers raised in tropical environments. 216 Sasso mixed-sex broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six treatment groups (six replicates per treatment): Treatment 1 (T1) as a negative control (no antibiotics), Treatment 2 (T2) as a positive control (100 mg/kg oxytetracycline), and Treatments 3–6 received 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00 g/kg of M. maximus grass meal on top the basal diet, respectively, without antibiotics. At day 56, broilers in T6 had the highest final body weight (1.87 kg) and superior FCR of 1.93. Nutrient digestibility was optimised at higher doses of M. maximus, with the highest CP (67.68%) and EE (74.50%) digestibility in the T6 group (p < 0.001). Megathyrsus maximus also improved intestinal morphology, with higher VH:CD in all segments. However, microbial counts and carcase characteristics remained largely unaffected, though meat quality was significantly improved in terms of reduced drip loss and shear force at supplementation levels of 5.00 g/kg. Blood biomarkers analysis and decreased liver enzyme activity in the M. maximus groups, particularly in T6, suggests lowered inflammation and enhanced liver function. This study concludes that M. maximus supplementation, particularly at the highest inclusion level (T6) shows potential as an effective antibiotic replacement in tropical poultry production. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec8e07dab6d341d49a77a8662fac2c57 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec8e07dab6d341d49a77a8662fac2c572025-08-20T02:42:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2025-12-0124114916310.1080/1828051X.2024.24444572444457Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilersYee Lyn Ong0Eric Lim Teik Chung1Nazri Nayan2Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz3Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse4Awis Qurni Sazili5Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra MalaysiaInstitute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra MalaysiaInstitute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra MalaysiaDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra MalaysiaDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra MalaysiaDepartment of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra MalaysiaGrowing concerns about antibiotic resistance in the livestock industry have prompted researchers to explore alternative solutions. This study investigated the effects of Megathyrsus maximus as a phytobiotic supplement on the production performance and health of Sasso broilers raised in tropical environments. 216 Sasso mixed-sex broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six treatment groups (six replicates per treatment): Treatment 1 (T1) as a negative control (no antibiotics), Treatment 2 (T2) as a positive control (100 mg/kg oxytetracycline), and Treatments 3–6 received 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, and 5.00 g/kg of M. maximus grass meal on top the basal diet, respectively, without antibiotics. At day 56, broilers in T6 had the highest final body weight (1.87 kg) and superior FCR of 1.93. Nutrient digestibility was optimised at higher doses of M. maximus, with the highest CP (67.68%) and EE (74.50%) digestibility in the T6 group (p < 0.001). Megathyrsus maximus also improved intestinal morphology, with higher VH:CD in all segments. However, microbial counts and carcase characteristics remained largely unaffected, though meat quality was significantly improved in terms of reduced drip loss and shear force at supplementation levels of 5.00 g/kg. Blood biomarkers analysis and decreased liver enzyme activity in the M. maximus groups, particularly in T6, suggests lowered inflammation and enhanced liver function. This study concludes that M. maximus supplementation, particularly at the highest inclusion level (T6) shows potential as an effective antibiotic replacement in tropical poultry production.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2444457megathyrsus maximusphytocompoundsalkaloidfeed additivesasso broiler |
| spellingShingle | Yee Lyn Ong Eric Lim Teik Chung Nazri Nayan Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse Awis Qurni Sazili Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers Italian Journal of Animal Science megathyrsus maximus phytocompounds alkaloid feed additive sasso broiler |
| title | Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers |
| title_full | Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers |
| title_fullStr | Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers |
| title_short | Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers |
| title_sort | phytobiotic effects of guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured broilers |
| topic | megathyrsus maximus phytocompounds alkaloid feed additive sasso broiler |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2444457 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yeelynong phytobioticeffectsofguineagrasssupplementationonproductionandhealthperformancesofcolouredbroilers AT ericlimteikchung phytobioticeffectsofguineagrasssupplementationonproductionandhealthperformancesofcolouredbroilers AT nazrinayan phytobioticeffectsofguineagrasssupplementationonproductionandhealthperformancesofcolouredbroilers AT muhamadfarisabaziz phytobioticeffectsofguineagrasssupplementationonproductionandhealthperformancesofcolouredbroilers AT faezfirdausabdullahjesse phytobioticeffectsofguineagrasssupplementationonproductionandhealthperformancesofcolouredbroilers AT awisqurnisazili phytobioticeffectsofguineagrasssupplementationonproductionandhealthperformancesofcolouredbroilers |