GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND VILLI MORPHOLOGY OF BROILERCHICKENS IN RATION SUPPLEMENTED WITH DIGMAN (HYDRILLAVERTICILLATA) ANDDRINKINGWATER WITH KAMIAS (AVERRHOA BILIMBI) ANDKATMON (DILLENIA PHILIPPINENSIS) EXTRACTS

This study evaluated the growth performance and villi morphology of Ross broiler chickens under five different treatments: Control (commercial feeds and water), Commercial feeds + 3% Dried Digman, Commercial feeds + 200ml Kamias Fruit Extract (diluted in 1L water), Commercial feeds + 90ml Katmon Fruit Extract (with water), and Doxycycline (13 to 15days old). A total of 240 Ross broilers, with 12 birds per treatment group were used. Weekly data collection included body weight and feed intake, while jejunal villi were sampled at 12, 21, and 28 days for measurement.

Results indicated significant differences in villi morphology. At 5 days, Kamias Fruit Extract showed notable improvements in villi width and surface area compared to the Control and Dried Digman. By 14 days, Katmon Fruit Extract significantly outperformed the Control, Dried Digman, and Kamias Fruit Extract. At 21 days, Dried Digman and Katmon Fruit Extract demonstrated superior villi measurements compared to the Control and Kamias Fruit Extract. Notably, Katmon Fruit Extract exhibited the greatest enhancement in villi length and crypt depth ratio, particularly at 5 and 21 days.

In conclusion, all treatments showed potential as alternatives to commercial antibiotics, with Kamias Fruit Extract beneficial in early stages and Katmon Fruit Extract significantly improving villi morphology and absorption capabilities. Dried Digman also performed comparably to Doxycycline across the study period.