Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) meal modulates growth efficiency, gut morphology, and systemic health in broiler chickens

Grass and leaf meals, which include vital phytocompounds, have the potential to be a natural and safe alternative to antibiotics in the poultry industry. Therefore, this study aims to assess Pennisetum purpureum leaf meal and its phytocompounds on the health performances of colored-broilers. A total of 216 unsexed Sasso chicks were assigned to six diet groups. The negative control (T1) received a commercial basal diet without antibiotics, while the positive control (T2) received the same diet with oxytetracycline (100 mg/kg). Groups T3 to T6 received no antibiotics and included P. purpureum meal at 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, or 5.00 grams per kilogram of feed, respectively. The feeding trial was conducted for 8 weeks. Feed intake and body weight were recorded weekly to calculate the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Other measures included intestinal morphology, cecal microbiota, and serum biochemical profiles. The 5.00 g/kg diet (T6) delivered the most consistent gains, showing significant improvements in growth performance, intestinal structure, and cecal microbial composition (P < 0.05). Several blood biochemical markers improved with P. purpureum, with the strongest effects at 5.00 g/kg. Overall, P. purpureum meal at 5.00 g/kg appears to be a practical plant-based alternative to antibiotic growth promoters, supporting better health performance and selected health-related outcomes in tropical broiler systems.