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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of encapsulated Cosmos caudatus leaf extract on growth, organ weight, and intestinal bacterial population and morphology of broilers at high-density pens. From day 15 onward, 370 broiler chicks were allocated to 5 treatment groups including LSD (10 chicks/m2 and fed on basal diet), HSD (16 chicks/m2 and fed on basal diet), HSD5 (16 chicks/m2 and supplemented with 0.5 g/kg of encapsulated C. caudatus leaf extract), HSD10 (16 chicks/m2 and supplemented with 1.0 g/kg of encapsulated C. caudatus leaf extract), and HSD15 (16 chicks/m2 and supplemented with 1.5 g/kg of encapsulated C. caudatus leaf extract). Study was terminated on day 35. Results showed that the treatments did not affect (p > .05) slaughtered body weight, weight gain, internal organ weight, and gut morphology of broilers. Feed intake was highest (p < .05) in HSD than that in other groups. Encapsulated C. caudatus leaf extract improved (p < .05) feed conversion ratio of high-stocked broilers, as compared to those of normal-stocked broilers. Encapsulated C. caudatus leaf extract reduced (p < .05) coliform and Enterobacteriaceae, while increasing lactic acid bacteria counts in ileum and caecum. In conclusion, dietary incorporation of encapsulated C. caudatus leaf extract improved feed conversion and bacterial population of broilers under stress condition due to high stocking density.
Cite this article as: Ningrum, D. M., Wahyuni, H. I., Yudiarti, T., Widiastuti, E., Sartono, T. A., & Sugiharto, S. (2022). Encapsulated Cosmos caudatus K. leaf extract improved feed conversion and intestinal bacterial population of broilers stocked at different density-induced stress. Acta Veterinaria Eurasia, 48(3), 183-188.