The impact of incorporating cassava pulp as an alternative energy source in broiler feed on performance and internal organ health

Astri Ramadhanti¹, Nahrowi^2,3, Muhammad Ridla^2,3, Rita Mutia^2,3 and Widya Hermana^2,3

¹ Graduate School of Animal Nutriti on and Feed Science, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Kampus Dramaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
hmridla@apps.ipb.ac.id
² Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
³ Center for Tropical Animal Studies (CENTRAS), IPB University, Jl. Raya Pajajaran, Bogor 16153, Indonesia

Abstract

The study aimed to explore cassava pulp, a byproduct of tapioca flour production, as a potential alternative energy source in broiler feed compared to corn. 250 broiler chickens (CP-707 strain) at their early stages were fed for 35 days with integrated cassava pulp. 800 kilograms of cassava pulp were utilized in a controlled housing environment. The feeding regimen included starter commercial feed for days 0 to 7 and treatment feed (incorporating cassava pulp) from days 8 to 35, formulated based on digestible amino acids and essential minerals. Three feed formulations were employed: feed without cassava pulp (Cp0), feed with 7.5% cassava pulp (Cp7.5), and feed with 15% cassava pulp (Cp15), using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 treatments and 5 replications. Cassava pulp inclusion did not significantly alter (p>0.05) feed consumption across all treatment groups. Broilers in each group consistently displayed similar feed intake levels throughout the study. The utilization of cassava pulp as an alternative energy source did not markedly affect (p>0.05) broiler growth and internal organ functionality, except for a variation in the duodenum between broilers fed with cassava pulp-based diets and the control group (p<0.05). Overall, the study concluded that cassava pulp demonstrates promise as a substitute for corn in broiler diets, with favorable outcomes observed at inclusion rates of up to 15%, maintaining performance and digestive well-being without compromising growth.

Keywords: cassava pulp, broiler, performance, internal organs

Introduction

The surge in chicken meat production in Indonesia has created a higher demand for raw materials in poultry feed, mainly centered around corn. The use of corn for animal feed constitutes more than 58% of Indonesia's total corn demand (Kementan 2013), resulting in limited availability and increased prices of corn. To address this supply issue, the government turned to imports; however, in recent years, corn imports have been restricted. According to BPS data (2020), Indonesia imported 1.2 million tons of corn, primarily to fulfill the demand for yellow corn. Nonetheless, these imports are no longer sufficient to meet the country's corn requirements. As a result, there is a growing search for alternative feed ingredients that are cost-effective, easily accessible, abundant, and do not compete with human food resources, to meet the demands of the poultry feed industry.

Cassava pulp, a residual product generated during tapioca flour production, holds substantial potential as an alternative energy source compared to corn. In Indonesia, where numerous tapioca flour manufacturing facilities operate, this abundant waste product can serve as a viable feed ingredient for broilers. For every ton of cassava processed, approximately 250 kg of tapioca and 114 kg of cassava pulp are produced, highlighting the promising nature of cassava pulp as a feed component. Indonesia's cassava production between 2020 and 2022 ranged from 15.73 to 16.35 million tons, as reported by the Direktorat Jenderal Tanaman Pangan (2023). Consequently, there exists the potential to generate an estimated 1,793 to 1,863 tons of cassava pulp annually from this production volume. The nutrient content of cassava root and cassava pulp is shown in Table 1.

The use of cassava pulp as an alternative energy source in broiler feed has raised interest due to its potential benefits. As broilers require diets with balanced energy and nutrient content, evaluating the effect of cassava pulp inclusion becomes crucial in achieving optimal performance and maximizing growth potential. Additionally, understanding how this alternative energy source affects the internal organs of broilers is essential to ensure the safety and suitability of cassava pulp as a feed ingredient. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the impact of incorporating cassava pulp into broiler feed on various performance indicators, as well as on the health and well-being of their internal organs. Examining the response of broilers to cassava pulp supplementation may provide valuable insights that can guide nutritionists and poultry producers in formulating cost-effective and efficient diets for broiler production.

Materials and methods

Ethical approval

The research protocol involving animal subjects in this study adhered to ethical standards and obtained approval from the ethical committee, as per the Animal Ethics Committee of IPB University. Ethical clearance was obtained before the commencement of the study, and a certificate with No.038/KEH/SKE/III/2023 was issued

Location and duration

This research was conducted for 5 months, spanning from October 2023 to March 2023. The study took place at the closed-house chicken coop within the Faculty of Animal Science at IPB University. The various analyses were carried out at the Laboratory of Feed Science and Technology, and the Laboratory of Poultry Nutrition (both located within the Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University).

Material

This study used 800 kg of cassava pulp and 250 strain broiler CP-707 DOC. The broiler chickens were reared for 35 days in a closed-house system. The housing facility was divided into 25 (100 x 100 cm) compartments consisting of 10 DOC for each part and equipped with feeding troughs, water drinkers, Thermo hygrometers, digital scales, lamps, and blowers. The feed used during the rearing period 0 to 7 days was starter commercial feed and from 8 to 21 grower treatment feed and from 22 to 35 days was the finisher treatment feed. During the first 7 days, all chicks were given control feed, every 3 hours. From day 7 to day 21, the grower feed for each treatment was given every 4 hours. From day 22 to day 35, the finisher feed was given three times a day (at 06:00 AM, 12:00 noon, and 06:00 PM). Water was provided ad libitum. The chickens were weighed and provided with anti-stress supplements through drinking water every week. On day 14, they were administered the Gumboro vaccine via the spray method.

Feed production

The feed was formulated based on digestible amino acids and macro and micro minerals regarding the nutritional requirements of broiler chickens following the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) No. 8173.2-2015. The results of feed formulation and the nutrient content of the starter and finisher feed can be seen in Table 2 and Table 3.

Measurement of chicken performance

1. Feed Consumption (g/bird/day): Feed consumption is measured once a week by calculating the feed given minus the remaining feed over a week.

2. Body Weight Gain: Body weight gain is measured every week by subtracting the initial body weight from the final body weight.

3. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR): FCR is the ratio of the amount of feed consumed to the body weight gain.

4. Mortality (%): Mortality is calculated by dividing the number of dead chickens during the study by the initial chicken population, then multiplying by 100%.

Measurement of chicken organs

The organs whose weights are measured include the digestive organs (proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, pancreas), as well as specific parts of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum). The measurement results will be calculated based on specific formulas.

Design and data analysis

The treatments given consist of 3 different feed formulations. The treatments are as follows:

Cp0: Feed without cassava pulp (control)

Cp7.5: Feed with 7.5% cassava pulp

Cp15: Feed with 15% cassava pulp

The experimental design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 treatments and 5 replications. The obtained data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan's multiple range test. The data analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS software version 25.

Results and discussion

Broiler performance

Various aspects of broiler chicken performance were monitored, such as feed consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and mortality. Table 4 presents the effects of feed treatments using cassava pulp on the overall performance of broiler chickens.

The inclusion of cassava pulp in the broiler diet did not affect (p>0.05) feed consumption compared to the control group. Broilers in all treatment groups showed similar levels of feed intake throughout the study period. This suggests that cassava pulp can be successfully incorporated into broiler diets without adversely affecting feed consumption. This is consistent with the study by Khempaka et al (2009), where the use of 12% and 16% dried cassava pulp in broiler feed did not show significant effects. Various factors, both dietary and managerial, can influence feed consumption in broiler chickens. Dietary factors include the nutrient composition of the diet, feed formulation, feedstuff inclusion levels, and feed pellet quality (Abdollahi et al 2018). On the other hand, managerial factors encompass the availability of feed and water to the birds, environmental management, stocking density, and disease control (Baracho et al 2019). These factors play a significant role in determining the overall feed intake and performance of broiler chickens.

Broilers fed with diets containing cassava pulp demonstrated comparable body weight gain to those in the control group, with no significant differences in weight gain observed among the treatment groups. This finding suggests that cassava pulp can effectively serve as an alternative energy source to support broiler growth, comparable to the conventional corn-based diet. Additionally, the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), which reflects the efficiency of feed utilization, was not significantly different between the treatment groups and the control. A similar discovery was also proposed by Okrathok and Khempaka (2019) which stated that the use of cassava pulp as feed can improve digestibility without affecting the feed conversion ratio.

Moreover, according to Lubis et al (2007), the fact that the use of cassava pulp did not differ in all treatments might be due to the consistent crude fiber content and palatability across all diets may have contributed to the observed effects. Additionally, uniform environmental management was applied to all broilers. This resulted in comparable genetic traits, management practices, and feeding intake, which ultimately led to similar body weight gain and feed conversion ratio among the broilers. Broilers fed with cassava pulp-based diets exhibited similar feed conversion ratios to those on the standard corn-based diet. This indicates that cassava pulp can be utilized as a viable energy source without compromising feed efficiency. Therefore, the incorporation of cassava pulp in broiler diets appears to be a promising approach to promote both optimal body weight gain and feed utilization efficiency in broiler production.

During the study, the mortality rate among broilers in all treatment groups was carefully monitored and found to be within an acceptable range. Kalangi et al (2021) stated that the broiler farming business usually determines the maximal limit of tolerable mortality as ±5% which in this study the mortality only rate at 2% on treatment Cp7.5. There were no significant differences in mortality observed when compared to the control group, indicating that the inclusion of cassava pulp in broiler diets did not lead to an increase in mortality risk. Maintaining a low and stable mortality rate is essential in broiler production as it directly impacts the overall profitability and success of the operation. High mortality rates can be indicative of various health or management issues, such as disease outbreaks, poor feed quality, inadequate environmental conditions, or overcrowding (Yerpes et al 2020). However, the absence of any significant differences in mortality between the cassava pulp-based diets and the control group suggests that cassava pulp can be safely incorporated into broiler diets without adverse effects on bird health.

Digestive organs

The organs of broiler chickens that were observed during the study include the digestive organs (proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, cecum, and colon), as well as specific parts of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum). The digestive organs play a vital role in digesting feed and absorbing nutrients. The impact of feed treatments based on cassava pulp on the internal organs of broiler chickens is presented in Table 5.

The findings from the study showed that there were no differences in the relative weight of digestive organs, except for duodenum and jejunum, between broilers fed with cassava pulp-based diets and those on the control diet (corn-based diet). This suggests that the inclusion of cassava pulp as an alternative energy source in broiler diets did not have a detrimental impact on the development and functionality of the digestive organs. The relative weight of digestive organs is an important indicator of the health and efficiency of the digestive system in broiler chickens (Sugiharto et al 2019). Tejeda and Kim (2021) stated that the fiber content from cassava pulp undeniably played a role in stimulating the inner organs and affecting the relative weight of the small intestine. This suggests the necessity to adjust for the rise in digesta volume caused by the bulky nature of fiber particles, a phenomenon observed by other researchers who employed various types of fiber in their studies. Any adverse effects on these organs could result in reduced feed digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall performance of the birds. However, the results of this study provide promising evidence that the incorporation of cassava pulp in the diet does not disrupt the normal development and function of the digestive organs. This implies that cassava pulp can be effectively utilized as an alternative energy source in broiler diets without compromising the digestive health of the birds.

The absence of significant differences in the relative weight of digestive organs further supports the feasibility of using cassava pulp as a viable and sustainable feed ingredient in poultry production. A balanced and well-functioning digestive system is crucial for efficient feed utilization and nutrient absorption in broiler chickens. The comparable relative weight of digestive organs in both the cassava pulp and control groups suggests that cassava pulp can be effectively utilized as an alternative energy source in broiler diets without compromising digestive organ development and functionality.

In this study, the relative weight of the duodenum and jejunum was found to be different (p<0.05) between broilers fed with cassava pulp-based diets and those on the control diet (corn-based diet). The significant difference in the relative weight of the duodenum and jejunum indicates that the inclusion of cassava pulp had a notable impact on the development or function of the duodenum in broiler chickens. A similar finding observed by Sugiharto et al (2020) showed that diets containing cassava by-products had there was a tendency that duodenum-relative weight lower in the treated than in control broilers.

Considering the association of these facts, the duodenum plays a crucial role in the digestive process as it receives partially digested food from the stomach and is responsible for further breaking down nutrients with the help of digestive enzymes. Any alterations in the relative weight of the duodenum and jejunum may reflect changes in its size or cellular composition, suggesting potential shifts in its ability to absorb nutrients effectively. The observed difference in the duodenal weight suggests that the incorporation of cassava pulp as an alternative energy source in the diet may have influenced the digestive physiology of broiler chickens, particularly in the duodenal and jejunal regions. This could potentially affect the efficiency of nutrient absorption in the duodenum and jejunum, which is crucial for supporting the overall growth and health of the birds. The precise reason behind the reduced relative weight of the duodenum and jejunum in the broilers from this study remains uncertain. However, this decrease appears to be beneficial for broiler chicks. Wang et al (2016) proposed that a decrease in intestinal weight could indicate improved nutrient utilization, where more energy is directed toward growth rather than maintenance.

Immune organs

The outcomes of the study elucidated that the relative weight of immune organs in broilers, when provided with cassava pulp-based diets, exhibited no noteworthy discrepancies compared to the control group that received a conventional corn-based diet (Table 6). The same notion was also put forth by Sugiharto et al (2016), who stated that the provision of alternative feed such as cassava pulp did not result in significant differences in the relative weight of immune organs. This finding strongly suggests that the integration of cassava pulp as an energy source in the diet did not impose any detrimental effects on the growth, structure, or operational efficiency of these immune-related organs. The relative weight of immune tissues can sometimes serve as an indicator of the response and effectiveness of the immune system. In the current study, it is plausible that the unfermented cassava pulp, characterized by its elevated fiber content, played a role in stimulating the growth of immune tissues in chickens. (Sugiharto et al 2014) These organs play a pivotal role in orchestrating the body's immune defenses and their relative weight can provide insights into how well the immune system is functioning. Changes in the relative weight of these immune organs can signify variations in immune activity, potentially reflecting the overall health and immune responsiveness of the organism (El-Katcha et al 2014). These organs, including the Lymph, Thymus, and Bursa of Fabricius, are integral components of the broiler's defense mechanism, working in unison to identify, neutralize, and eliminate harmful pathogens that could compromise the bird's well-being. The fact that there were no significant differences in the relative weight of these organs between the two dietary groups underscores the nutritional adequacy and compatibility of cassava pulp in broiler diets. The development of immune organs in chickens is influenced by nutrition and its constituent elements (Zhang et al 2013).

Positive outcomes underscore cassava pulp's seamless integration into broiler diets, preserving crucial immune organ health. This aligns with our objective of promoting broiler well-being through sustainable feed alternatives. The absence of adverse effects on immune organs further supports cassava pulp as a viable corn substitute, bolstering its practicality in poultry production. This highlights the potential for more environmentally friendly poultry practices. Moving forward, prioritizing the demonstration of cassava pulp's impact, particularly at higher inclusion levels, takes precedence over delving into further effects.

Conclusion

• Cassava pulp has demonstrated its viability as an alternative to substitute corn in broiler diets up to 15% without compromising performance and digestive health.
  
  
• The study underscores the importance of ongoing research and the adoption of alternative feed ingredients such as cassava pulp.
  
  
• Incorporating such options enables the poultry industry to address feed cost challenges and make meaningful contributions to environmental sustainability.

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) for providing financial support for this research through the Advanced Indonesia Research and Innovation funding program for the fiscal year 2023, regarding contracts number 4/IV/KS.05/2023 and 13955/ IT3/PT.01.03/P/B/2023.

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