Growth morphology of the gastrointestinal tract, pectoralis thoracicus muscle, lymphoid organ and visceral index of kampong chicken

The kampong chicken farming industry has excellent potential to develop in Indonesia. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the growth of kampong chickens in order to obtain an optimal quality of meat and eggs. This research aims to study the growth morphology of the gastrointestinal tract, pectoralis thoracicus muscle, lymphoid organs and visceral index in kampong chickens. In this study, 100 male and female KUB (Kampung Unggul Balitbangtan) chickens were used, which were reared from post-hatching to 63 days of age. Parameters measured were body weight, organ index, body morphometry, and morphology of small intestine, pectoralis thoracicus muscle, and lymphoid organs. Organ histological preparations were made using paraffin methods, Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE), and Periodic Acid Schiff-Alcian Blue (PAS-AB) staining. The results showed that the growth rate of the small intestine and the lymphoid organ peaked at 35 to 49 days of age, while the maximal growth rate of the pectoralis thoracicus muscle occurred at 21 to 35 days and experienced a decrease later at 35 days. The growth index of the viscera started to decrease at 35 days. Body weight reached optimum growth rate at 42 to 45 days of age, while chicken body morphometry continued to increase until 63 days old. The conclusions of the study is that the small intestine, pectoralis thoracicus muscle, and lymphoid organ of kampong chicken experienced rapid growth during 35 to 49 days post-hatch. Therefore, in kampong chicken, the appropriate nutritional management should be increased between day zero and 49 post-hatch.