Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Gill Powder as a Novel Feed Additive for Enhanced Histological Structure and Performance in Broilers

Abstract

The burgeoning population of Indonesia has led to a heightened demand for animal protein, particularly within the broiler industry. However, the commercial broiler feed tends to be costly due to its reliance on imported ingredients. Therefore, the potential utilization of Nile tilapia gills as an additional protein source for broiler feed has been explored in this study. The primary objective was to investigate how tilapia gill powder affects the histological structure of the small intestine, pectoralis muscle, and overall growth performance of broilers. For the study, a total of 200 dayold male Cobb-500 broiler chicks were utilized, employing a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replications. Each replication consisted of 8-day-old chicks. Tilapia gill powder was incorporated into the basal feed at varying concentrations: Control (basal feed), tilapia gill powder 1 (0.25% tilapia gill powder/kg basal feed), tilapia gill powder 2 (0.5% tilapia gill powder/kg basal feed), tilapia gill powder 3 (1% tilapia gill powder/kg basal feed), and tilapia gill powder 4 (2% tilapia gill powder/kg basal feed). Comprehensive histological analysis and growth performance assessments were carried out. The outcomes revealed that the tilapia gill powder 4 group, administered at an optimal concentration of 2% tilapia gill powder/kg basal feed, exhibited significant enhancements in small intestine morphology, pectoralis muscle structure, and overall chicken growth performance when compared to the control group. The supplementation of tilapia gill powder at this optimal concentration (2% tilapia gill powder/ kg basal feed) showcased a favorable impact on broiler performance.