Effect of Fermented Dragon Fruit Peel Extract and Fermented Papaya Seeds in Drinking Water on Improving the Growth and Carcass Quality of Free-Range Native Chickens
Abstract
Free-range native chickens have considerable potential for growth and carcass production. However, their productivity often remains low, mainly due to limitations in feed quality and management practices. One promising approach to address this issue is the use of natural additives in drinking water, particularly those derived from agricultural by-products such as fermented dragon fruit peel and papaya seeds. These materials are rich in bioactive compounds and are environmentally friendly, making them attractive alternatives to synthetic additives. Previous studies have shown that phytobiotics and fermented products can improve nutrient digestibility and utilization in poultry. Nevertheless, information on the use of fermented dragon fruit peel and papaya seed extracts—either individually or in combination—on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and offal yield of free-range native chickens is still limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of these fermented extracts when administered through drinking water. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications, involving a total of 200 native chickens reared under a free-range system. The treatments consisted of drinking water without extract (control, T0), drinking water supplemented with 4% fermented dragon fruit peel extract (T1), drinking water supplemented with 4% fermented papaya seed extract (T2), and drinking water containing a combination of 2% fermented dragon fruit peel extract and 2% fermented papaya seed extract (T3). Growth performance parameters observed included final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, while carcass traits included slaughter weight, carcass weight, carcass percentage, and internal and external offal percentages. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, followed by Duncan's multiple range test when significant differences were detected. The results showed that supplementation with fermented dragon fruit peel extract, fermented papaya seed extract, or their combination significantly improved final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, slaughter weight, carcass weight, and carcass percentage compared to the control group. Final body weight ranged from 812.75 g (control) to 920.00 g (combination treatment), while carcass percentage increased from 64.29% (control) to 65.73% (combination treatment). In contrast, feed intake as well as internal and external offal percentages were not affected by the treatments. These findings indicate that fermented dragon fruit peel and papaya seed extracts, administered through drinking water, can be effectively used to enhance growth performance and carcass production of free-range native chickens.
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Introduction
Free-range chickens are local poultry that have high economic value and are sought after by consumers for their distinctive meat flavor. In Bali, free-range chickens play a very important role in religious ceremonies, so many people raise them. The free-range system is widely used by the community because it requires relatively little cost, utilizes the surrounding environment, and is in line with the concept of animal welfare. Challenges often faced by smallholder farmers with this system include fluctuations in the quality of natural feed, the risk of exposure to pathogens from the environment, and lower production efficiency compared to intensive systems.
Another common problem is that native chickens are susceptible to digestive tract disorders due to exposure to pathogenic microorganisms from soil, water, and the open environment. This condition affects low weight gain, high feed conversion ratios, and unstable production performance. The use of drugs and antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) is increasingly restricted
Conclusion
Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of agricultural waste in the form of fermented dragon fruit peel extract and fermented papaya seed extract in drinking water is a potential natural feed innovation in free-range native chicken farming. The bioactive compounds, antioxidants, and phytogenic substances in both materials, especially after fermentation, can support improvements in the quality of free-range chicken carcasses.
The administration of fermented dragon fruit peel extract (T1), fermented papaya seed extract (T2), and their combination (T3) has been proven to have a significant effect on final body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, slaughter weight, carcass weight, and carcass percentage of free-range chickens compared to the control treatment (T0). The combination treatment (T3) produced the highest final body weight (920.00 g), best feed conversion ratio (3.85), and highest carcass percentage (65.73%). However, the treatments did not significantly affect feed intake or the percentages of internal and external offal. This indicates that the treatments play a greater role in improving nutrient utilization efficiency and body tissue distribution than in increasing overall feed consumption.
The use of a free-range rearing system combined with fermented natural additives is in line with the concept of animal welfare and supports sustainable and environmentally friendly livestock production. Therefore, fermented dragon fruit peel extract and fermented papaya seed extract, particularly in combination, can be recommended as natural supplement alternatives through drinking water to improve the growth performance and carcass quality of free-range native chickens without negatively impacting offal.
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