The effect of tropical alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv Kacang Ratu BW) supplementation on performance, intestinal histomorphology, and nutrient digestibility in hybrid ducks

Tropical alfalfa is a legume nutritionally complete and palatable to poultry. Hybrid ducks are aquatic birds with a
higher tolerance to fiber-sourced feed than other breeds. This study aimed to determine the effects of tropical
alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv Kacang Ratu BW) or KRBW supplementation on growth performance, histomorphology, and nutrient digestibility. Seventy-five hybrid ducks were used in this study. The treatments included T1 (basal feed or control), T2 (4% KRBW supplementation in basal feed), T3 (8% KRBW supplementation in basal feed), and water was provided ad libitum. The KRBW supplement was prepared in powder. Data were collected based on performance including feed intake, final body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR);
digestible dry matter (DDM), digestible organic matter (DOM), digestible crude fiber (DCF), and digestible ether
extract (DEE); and the histomorphology of the intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum). All data obtained in this
study were analyzed using a completely randomized design. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 software.
The results of this study showed that KRBW supplementation significantly decreased body weight gain. In contrast, control and 4% KRBW supplementation rates had no effects compared with 8% KRBW supplementation on feed consumption. However, KRBW supplementation had no significant effect on the FCR. Supplementation with 4% and 8% significantly decreased the DDM, DOM, DCF, and DEE. Furthermore, KRBW supplementation affected the histomorphology of the villi surface area in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. It could be concluded that the KRBW supplement reduced performance, intestinal histomorphology, and nutrient digestibility in hybrid ducks.