Myrmecodia pendans Supplementation in Broiler Drinking Water: Effects on Performance, Water Consumption, Carcass Yield, and Intestinal Microorganisms

This study evaluated the efficacy of different levels of Myrmecodia pendans (MP) drinking water on the performance, water consumption, carcass yield, and intestinal microorganisms of broiler chickens during a 5-week experimental period. A total of 112 3-day-old Lohmann broilers (initial body weight 53.61 ± 0.77, CV 1.43%) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 drinking water treatments: a control (without MP), 16 g MP, 32 g MP, and 48 g MP per litre of water. The results showed that MP drinking water significantly decreased total Escherichia coli and tended to decrease total intestinal microorganisms in a dose-dependent manner. Intestinal Salmonella was only found in the control treatment. Feed consumption significantly increased with MP administration, particularly at the 48 g dose, and a tendency for increased water consumption was observed. The administration of MP had no significant effect on body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and percentage of carcass yield. In conclusion, the addition of MP at a minimum level of 16 g was able to inhibit the growth of total intestinal microorganisms, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella, and increased feed consumption, but had no significant effect on BWG, feed conversion ratio, and carcass yield. Further research is needed to investigate the specific mechanisms by which MP affects intestinal microorganisms.