Growth Performance and Gut Morphology of Broiler Chickens fed on Palm Kernel Ration

Abstract

In Tanzania the poultry sector is constrained by several challenges, including the limited availability and high cost of conventional feed ingredients, particularly protein and energy sources such as sunflower seed cake and cottonseed cake, which are commonly used in poultry diet formulations. To address these challenges, it is essential to identify affordable and locally available alternatives to enhance the sustainability of poultry production. In this study, a feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of replacing sunflower seed cake and cottonseed cake with palm kernel meal (PKM), a non-conventional feed ingredient, on the growth performance and gut morphology of broiler chickens. The experiment involved 195 one-day broiler chicks, which were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD), with each treatment replicated three times to minimize the effects of random variation. The dietary treatments were as follows: T1, a diet without PKM as a control; - T2, a diet formulated by substituting PKM for sunflower seed cake; - and T3, a diet made by substituting PKM for cotton-seed cake. Growth performance parameters, including weekly body weight gain and daily feed intake, were recorded throughout the feeding trial. At the end of the experiment, 15 chickens from each treatment were humanely slaughtered, and their gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) were collected for morphological assessment. Villus height, villus width, and crypt depth in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were measured to determine intestinal development. Results showed significant differences (p <0.05) in growth performance and gut morphology among the treatments. Broilers fed a diet in which PKM replaced sunflower seed cake (T2) showed improved feed conversion ratio, higher body weight gain, and enhanced villus structure compared with those in the T1 and T3. The results of this study suggest that substituting sunflower seed cake with PKM can enhance growth performance and improve gut development in broiler chickens without causing adverse effects. These findings indicate that PKM could be a practical alternative protein source for poultry diets, especially in regions where conventional feed ingredients are scarce or expensive, supporting more sustainable and cost-effective poultry production. Key words: palm kernel meal, chicken feed, growth performance, gut morphology