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Livestock-Based Farming Systems, Renewable Resources and the Environment |
Useful effect of Phyllanthus amarus powder as a feed additive on chicken was evaluated at many using levels with respect to growth performance, liver histopathology and gut microflora. 250 seven day old Cobb 500 chicks (sex balanced, 172.2 ± 8.8 g initial body weight) were randomly assigned in a completely randomized design (CRD) to five diets containing: no Phyllanthus amarus powder in the feed (P0); 0.25% Phyllanthus amarus powder in the feed (P0.25); 0.5% Phyllanthus amarus powder (P0.5); 1% plant powder (P1) and 1.5% Phyllanthus amarus powder in the feed (P1.5). Different levels of Phyllanthus amarus powder in the diets did not affect average daily weight gain, average weight gain, and feed conversion ratio of chickens (P>0.05). However, using this plant powder had tendency in affecting the weight after viscera removal, carcass weight and thigh/carcass ratio among chickens. P1 and P1.5 levels tent to reduce the weight after viscera removal and carcass weight compared to 0.25% and 0.5% level and no level groups (P=0.051 and P=0.092). Whilst, thigh/carcass ratio of P0.25 and P0.5 treatments tent to be lower than those of P0 and P1.5 groups (P=0.094). Average score of liver fatty degeneration was showed that no adding Phyllanthus amarus treatment had most severe fatty degeneration in chicken livers (1.67) while this plant powder could decrease this problem in using P. amarus groups (P=0.085).