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 posthatching 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.