The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary Flammulina velutipes mycelium (FVM) on broiler chick performance, pathogenic bacterial (E. coli, Salmonella) counts in caecal contents and amount of NH3 in excreta. Ninety-six broiler chicks (HanHyup No. 3, Korea) were divided into four groups: 1) Control (basal diet), 2) T1 (supplemented with 1% FVM), 3) T2 (3% FVM), and T3 (5% FVM), and rose for 7 weeks. In results, there were no significant differences among treatments in weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and carcass yield. However, giblets were significantly increased in FVM treatments compared with control group (p<0.05). The number of Salmonella in caecum was significantly decreased in FVM treatments compared with control group (p<0.05). The number of E. coli was decreased in T2 but increased in T1 and T3 compared with control group. The emission of fecal NH3 gas was significantly decreased in accordance with increasing the feeding level of FVM (p<0.05). In conclusion, our data indicated that the supplementation of high level of FVM could inhibit the Salmonella in caecum and reduce the emission of fecal NH3 gas. Therefore, FVM at 5% level could be added in the diet of broiler chicks.

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