TITLE:
Selection-Specific Bioactive Metabolites from Vernonia hymenolepis Wash Water Dictate Broiler Growth and Metabolic Efficiency in a Yeast-Dominant Fermentation System
AUTHORS:
Divine Ewane, Lawrence Monah Ndam, Godfred Mbah Nchole Ndifor, Brulin Aneng Ndi, Brandon Rahim Fogang Keubiwou, Emmanuella Esunge Ekwelle Ewane, Ekuh Bazil Ewane, Eugene E. Ehabe, Kennedy F. Chah
KEYWORDS:
Fermentation, Vernonia hymenolepis, Chemotype, Phytobiotics, Yeast-Dominant, Metabolic Antagonism, Nutrient Decoupling, Broiler
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.16 No.1,
January
21,
2026
ABSTRACT: The combined application of fermentation, phytobiotics, and endogenous probiotics offers a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional feed strategies, particularly for small-scale poultry production. This study evaluated the effects of fermenting a corn/soy diet using wash water (VhWW) derived from four distinct chemotypes of Vernonia hymenolepis (Green Bitter [GBVh, T4], Green Sweet [GSVh, T5], Purple Bitter [PBVh, T6], and Purple Sweet [PSVh, T7]) on broiler performance, nutrient utilization, and metabolism. A mandatory daily aeration step in the 72-hour staggered fermentation system created a novel Yeast-dominant, Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB)-suppressed ecology across all VhWW treatments (≥8.00 log10CFU/mL Saccharomyces cerevisiae). This ecology conferred antimicrobial selectivity, achieving the elimination of E. coli in T4, T5, and T6. The PBVh selection (T6) yielded the highest Body Weight Gain (BWG: 2191.00 g, P