Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi pengaruh suplementasi kefir air kelapa terhadap morfologi saluran pencernaan ayam broiler, khususnya berat dan panjang relatif usus. Penelitian menggunakan ayam broiler yang dibagi ke dalam empat kelompok perlakuan, yaitu P0 (kontrol, 100% akuades), P1 (5% kefir air kelapa), P2 (10% kefir air kelapa), dan P3 (15% kefir air kelapa). Parameter yang diamati meliputi bobot relatif dan panjang usus halus: duodenum, jejunum, ileum, sekum, dan usus besar. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian kefir air kelapa berpengaruh nyata (P<0,05) terhadap peningkatan bobot relatif jejunum dan ileum, serta panjang relatif usus halus (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), dengan nilai tertinggi pada perlakuan P2. Suplementasi kefir air kelapa hingga 10% memberikan hasil terbaik dalam meningkatkan panjang jejunum (88,2±2,86 cm) dan ileum (61,2±2,17 cm), dibandingkan kelompok kontrol. Pemberian kefir tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap bobot relatif sekum dan usus besar (P>0,05), namun menurunkan bobot sekum secara signifikan (P<0,05), seiring meningkatnya dosis kefir. Peningkatan morfologi usus halus diduga disebabkan oleh aktivitas probiotik dalam kefir yang memperbaiki mikroflora dan struktur jaringan usus, meningkatkan efisiensi penyerapan nutrien. Kesimpulannya, suplementasi kefir air kelapa hingga 10% dapat memperbaiki morfologi usus halus ayam broiler, tanpa menyebabkan peningkatan beban organ pencernaan lainnya.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of coconut water kefir supplementation on the intestinal morphology of broiler chickens, particularly the relative weight and length of the intestines. The study used broiler chickens divided into four treatment groups: P0 (control, 100% distilled water), P1 (5% coconut water kefir), P2 (10% coconut water kefir), and P3 (15% coconut water kefir). The
observed parameters included the relative weight and length of the intestinal segments: duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and large intestine. The results showed that coconut water kefir supplementation had a significant effect (P<0.05) on increasing the relative weight of the jejunum and ileum, as well as the relative length of the small intestines (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum), with the highest values observed in the P2 group. Supplementation with 10% kefir resulted in the most pronounced improvement in jejunum (88.2±2.86 cm) and ileum (61.2±2.17 cm) lengths compared to the control. Kefir administration did not significantly
affect the relative weights of the cecum and large intestine (P>0.05), but it significantly reduced the cecal weight (P<0.05) as kefir concentration increased. The improvement in small intestine morphology is presumed to be due to the probiotic activity in kefir, which enhances gut microflora and intestinal tissue structure, thereby increasing nutrient absorption efficiency. In conclusion, coconut
water kefir supplementation up to 10% can improve the morphology of the small intestine in broiler chickens without increasing the burden on other digestiveorgans.