Prebiotic effects of Amorphophallus muelleri on growth performance and gut microbiota in broilers

The global poultry industry is shifting towards sustainable practices, necessitating alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) to enhance broiler performance and gut health. This study evaluated the effects of Amorphophallus muelleri (Porang) powder supplementation as a functional feed additive. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in which 300 broilers were assigned to one of four diets supplemented with 0, 0.25, 0.50, or 0.75% A. muelleri powder. Growth performance metrics were recorded, and gut microbiota were analyzed using metagenomic techniques. Supplementation improved final body weight (BW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and performance index. These benefits were achieved without altering feed intake, indicating enhanced nutrient utilization. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that supplementation modulated microbial composition, enriching beneficial taxa such as Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus johnsonii. These findings suggest the prebiotic activity of glucomannan in A. muelleri powder modulates the gut microbiota and improves growth performance. This study supports the use of A. muelleri powder as a sustainable feed additive for enhancing broiler growth performance without antibiotics.