Performance Assessment of Broiler Chickens Given Mushroom Extract Alone or in Combination with Probiotics

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of combined Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) extract with probiotics (PrimaLac) on the growth and health of broiler chickens. In trial 1, 540 d-of-hatch chicks were randomly assigned to 6 treatment groups, replicated 3 times, with 15 males and 15 females per pen for 3 wk. Dietary probiotics and mushroom treatments were as follows: 1) control feed + ad libitum tap water; 2) control feed + skip-a-day mushroom water; 3) control feed + ad libitum mushroom water; 4) probiotic feed + ad libitum tap water; 5) probiotic feed + skip-a-day mushroom water; 6) probiotic feed + ad libitum mushroom water. Body weight gain, feed consumption and efficiency, mortality, bursa, liver, and spleen relative weights of chicks were taken. In trial 2, the performance of broilers 3 to 7 wk withdrawn from the mushroom extract was evaluated along with the comparative level of fecal biofidobacteria in the control and mushroom extract treatment (trt). Mortality, weight gain, feed consumption and efficiency, carcass yield, fat pads, bursa weights and fecal bifidobacteria were measured in trial 2. In trial 1, significant differences (P < 0.05) in female weight gain (trt 4-0.62 vs. trt 1-0.54 kg) and male spleen weights were observed. In trial 2, significant differences were observed in male weight gain (trt 2-2.40 vs. trt 4-1.12 kg), male and female fat pads, male bursa weights (trt 3-0.15 vs. trt 6-0.39), female carcass yield percentage (trt 1-77.8 vs. trt 4-66.4), and feed consumption and efficiency. Body weights were severely depressed in the male broilers receiving the probiotics feed in treatments 4, 5, and 6, but not in the female broilers. These results indicate that performance differences in gender occur with additives during different grow-out periods, and mushroom extract promotes bifidobacteria growth in broiler chickens after 4 wk of withdrawal. It appears that probiotics and mushroom extract offered no combination potential for weight gain, which was compromised in this study, but possible health-enhanced attributes.

Effect of Sugar Cane Extract, Commercial Probiotic and their Mixture on Growth Performance and Intestinal Histology in Broiler Chickens

“…Also, in results described by Rowghani et al (2007), a combination of probiotic and commercial feed additives had the most positive effect on performance in broilers. These results contrast with the result that broilers fed on either probiotics or mushroom extract were more likely to gain weight than those fed a mixture of them (Willis et al, 2007). Such conflicting results might depend on the type of substances mixed with probiotics.…”

“…Probiotics are a live microbial feed additive that beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal bacterial balance (Fuller, 1989). Chickens fed dietary probiotics showed improved body weight gain (Torres-Rodriguez et al, 2005), reduced mortality (Vicente et al, 2007) and enhanced feed conversion, ultimately resulting in an increase of broiler production (Willis et al, 2007). Also, in this study, the SPB group showed a 2% higher body weight gain than the control.…”

Effect ofBacillus SubtilisSpore (GalliPro®) Nutrients Equivalency Value on Broiler Chicken Performance

“…Also, study of Toghyani et al (2011) indicated that carcass yield and relative organ weights were not influenced by dietary probiotic and prebiotic. In contrast, the study of Willis et al (2007) showed that fat pad relative weights percentage for males and females was affected by treatments and it was lower in birds fed probiotic diet with mushroom extract water in comparison with control diet. Some other factors such as bird species, sex, age, environmental condition, and quantity of added probiotic could affect the effects of probiotics supplementation.…”

“…Mortality rate was 4% in all treatments and was not affected by dietary treatments (P>0.05). Similarly, Harrington et al (2014), Kehlet et al (2014), and Willis et al (2007) reported that mortality was not affected by the broiler probiotic diet or mushroom extract water additive.…”

Effect of Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium butyricum and Lactobacillus acidophilus endospores on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat quality, relative organ weight, microbial shedding and excreta noxious gas emission in broilers

“…Chen et al (2013) suggested measuring immune organ weight as a method for evaluating immune status in chickens. Willis et al (2007) also suggested that the bursa was the primary lymphoid organ in broiler chickens and concluded that probiotics could increase the relative weight of bursa to BW. The colour of broiler chicken meat is important because consumers regard it as a sign of a fresh and high quality product.…”