Abstract

The restriction of antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production has increased the demand for plant-based effective alternatives. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Alpinia nigra rhizome powder and extracts on growth performance, meat quality and composition, serum biochemical parameters, and gut health of broilers. The day-old broiler chicks (n=80) were randomly divided into control and treatment groups receiving A. nigra powder (1%) and ethanolic and n-hexane extracts at 100 mg/kg feed. Each group consisted of 20 birds. At 35 days of age, birds were sacrificed, and blood, cecal contents, duodenum, and breast meat were obtained for serum biochemical profiling, gut microbial evaluation, duodenal histopathology, and breast meat quality and composition analysis, respectively. Supplementation, especially with the ethanolic extract, improved body weight, feed conversion ratio, serum lipid profiles, water-holding capacity of breast meat, cooking loss, and favorably modulated cecal microbial populations without any adverse effects on liver and kidney functions. Histomorphological analysis of the duodenum showed improved absorptive characteristics such as villus height and width coupled with a reduction in crypt depth in the treated birds. These findings suggest that A. nigra enhances broiler performance, supporting its potential as a locally available phytogenic feed additive for sustainable and antibiotic-free poultry production.

Key words: Alpinia, Broilers, Growth performance, Meat quality, Histopathology