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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor and Francis
2024
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/1/118630.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848867558911901696 |
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| author | Ong, Yee Lyn Chung, Eric Lim Teik Nayan, Nazri Ab Aziz, Muhamad Faris Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Sazili, Awis Qurni |
| author_facet | Ong, Yee Lyn Chung, Eric Lim Teik Nayan, Nazri Ab Aziz, Muhamad Faris Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Sazili, Awis Qurni |
| author_sort | Ong, Yee Lyn |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:38:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-118630 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:38:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1186302025-07-21T02:25:36Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/ Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers Ong, Yee Lyn Chung, Eric Lim Teik Nayan, Nazri Ab Aziz, Muhamad Faris Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Sazili, Awis Qurni 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. Taylor and Francis 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/1/118630.pdf Ong, Yee Lyn and Chung, Eric Lim Teik and Nayan, Nazri and Ab Aziz, Muhamad Faris and Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah and Sazili, Awis Qurni (2024) Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 24 (1). pp. 149-163. ISSN 1594-4077; eISSN: 1828-051X https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1828051X.2024.2444457 10.1080/1828051X.2024.2444457 |
| spellingShingle | Ong, Yee Lyn Chung, Eric Lim Teik Nayan, Nazri Ab Aziz, Muhamad Faris Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Sazili, Awis Qurni Phytobiotic effects of Guinea grass supplementation on production and health performances of coloured-broilers |
| 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 |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118630/1/118630.pdf |