Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) meal modulates growth efficiency, gut morphology, and systemic health in broiler chickens

Authors

• Eric Lim Teik Chung, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFollow
• Yee Lyn Ong, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFollow
• Nazri Nayan, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFollow
• Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFollow
• Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra MalaysiaFollow
• Faizal Andri, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas BrawijayaFollow
• Arissara Sopawong, Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani UniversityFollow

Abstract

Grass and leaf meals, which include vital phytocompounds, have the potential to be a natural and safe alternative to antibiotics in the poultry industry. Therefore, this study aims to assess Pennisetum purpureum leaf meal and its phytocompounds on the health performances of colored-broilers. A total of 216 unsexed Sasso chicks were assigned to six diet groups. The negative control (T1) received a commercial basal diet without antibiotics, while the positive control (T2) received the same diet with oxytetracycline (100 mg/kg). Groups T3 to T6 received no antibiotics and included P. purpureum meal at 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, or 5.00 grams per kilogram of feed, respectively. The feeding trial was conducted for 8 weeks. Feed intake and body weight were recorded weekly to calculate the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Other measures included intestinal morphology, cecal microbiota, and serum biochemical profiles. The 5.00 g/kg diet (T6) delivered the most consistent gains, showing significant improvements in growth performance, intestinal structure, and cecal microbial composition (P < 0.05). Several blood biochemical markers improved with P. purpureum, with the strongest effects at 5.00 g/kg. Overall, P. purpureum meal at 5.00 g/kg appears to be a practical plant-based alternative to antibiotic growth promoters, supporting better health performance and selected health-related outcomes in tropical broiler systems.

DOI

10.56808/2985-1130.4024

First Page

1

Last Page

11

Recommended Citation

Chung, Eric Lim Teik; Ong, Yee Lyn; Nayan, Nazri; Aziz, Muhamad Faris Ab; Jesse, Faez Firdaus Abdullah; Andri, Faizal; and Sopawong, Arissara (2026) "Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) meal modulates growth efficiency, gut morphology, and systemic health in broiler chickens," The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine: Vol. 56: Iss. 2, Article 14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2985-1130.4024
Available at: https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/tjvm/vol56/iss2/14