RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Reduced crude protein (CP) diets offer potential benefits such as optimized feed efficiency, reduced expenses, and lower environmental impact. The objective of this study was to evaluate black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) meal on a low-protein diet for duck performance, blood biochemical, intestinal morphology, gastrointestinal development, and litter. METHODS: The experiment was conducted for 42 days. A total of 210-day-old male hybrid ducklings (5 replicate pens, 7 ducks per pen) were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments (3×2 factorial arrangements) in randomized design. The factors were CP level (18%, 16%, 14%) and protein source feed soybean meals (SBM), black soldier fly larvae meals (BSFLM). RESULTS: Reduced dietary CP levels significantly decreased growth performance, feed intake, the percentage of nitrogen, pH (p<0.05), and tended to suppress ammonia in litter (p = 0.088); increased lipid concentration; and enhanced relative weight of gastrointestinal tracts (p<0.05). In addition, dietary BSFL as a source of protein feed significantly increased lipid concentration and impacted lowering villus height and crypt depth on jejunum (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the use of BSFLM in a low-protein diet was found to have a detrimental effect on growth performance. However, the reduction of 2% CP levels in SBM did not have a significant impact on growth performance but decreased nitrogen and ammonia concentrations.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Understanding the phenotypic characteristics of indigenous livestock breeds is essential for their utilization and conservation. This study aimed to characterize indigenous chicken breeds in Indonesia based on phenotypic traits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on eight qualitative and 12 quantitative traits were recorded for 250 chickens from six breeds: Black Kedu, Gaga, Merawang, Nunukan, Pelung, and Sentul. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance to test the effect of breed on observed traits. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted separately for each chicken breed. Data on quantitative traits were subjected to Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin, which was computed to test the sampling adequacy and the pattern of correlation among the traits, and Bathlett's tests were used to assess the validity of the factor analysis of each of the datasets and determine whether the partial correlations among traits were small. RESULTS: We found considerable phenotypic variation in both qualitative and quantitative traits among indigenous chicken breeds. Multicolored plumage (96.40%), wild plumage (39.20%), gold feather flick (51.20%), yellow shank (36.80%), single comb (80.80%), red comb (94.80%), red earlobe (77.60%), and orange eyes (61.60%) were the most common features in the indigenous chickens. In addition, breed had a significant effect on all the quantitative traits that were analyzed (p<0.05). There were higher mean values for all quantitative traits for Pelung chickens than other chickens. In addition, the overall mean values for all quantitative traits in Merawang chicken were intermediate between Pelung chickens and Black Kedu, Gaga, and Nunukan chickens. The PCA showed two principal factors extracted that accounted for 77.80% and 78.38% of the total variance in the original variables for males and females, respectively. CONCLUSION: In general, body weight and body measurements, except wattle length, were loaded in PC1 as the primary factors responsible for the variation. The phenotypic variation observed in indigenous chickens in Indonesia could provide valuable basic information for the design of selection and genetic improvement programs.
RESUMO
Background: There has been great interest in the use of seaweed as a functional feed ingredient for poultry in the last decade. This study aimed to assess the effects of dietary seaweed inclusion on growth performance of broiler chickens by using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Methods: A systematic search of published research articles related to seaweed, broiler chickens, and growth performance was conducted using three online databases (Scopus, PubMed, and SciELO). Mean values, standard deviation, and sample size were extracted from each eligible study. The estimated effect size was then quantified using Hedges' g with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Data were pooled using a fixed-effect model due to the absence of heterogeneity after being pre-checked using the I2 statistic. Results: A total of six studies (nine comparisons) involving 2,257 broiler chickens were accommodated in this study. The seaweed type consisted of seaweed blend, Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, Hizikia fusiformis, and Ulva lactuca. The inclusion dose ranged from 2 to 30 g/kg, while the intervention duration ranged from 21 to 42 days. No substantial heterogeneity among studies ( I2 = 0.00%) was found for feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. Dietary seaweed had no significant effect on feed intake (Hedges' g = 0.19; 95% CI = -0.22 to 0.60; P = 0.280). However, broiler chickens fed dietary seaweed had superior body weight gain (Hedges' g = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.22 to 1.06; P = 0.000) and preferable feed conversion ratio (Hedges' g = -0.53; 95% CI = -0.95 to -0.11; P = 0.004). Conclusions: The current investigation highlights that dietary seaweed had growth-promoting potency for broiler chickens. However, more research on this issue is still required to build more comprehensive evidence.
