Diets with Ganoderma lucidum Mushroom Powder and Zinc-Bacitracin on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Lymphoid Organ Weights and Intestinal Characteristics in Broilers

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of diets with Ganoderma lucidum mushroom powder and zinc-bacitracin on growth performance, carcass traits, lymphoid organ weights, and intestinal characteristics in broilers, a total of 600 one-day-old unsexed broilers from Cobb 500 MV × Cobb 500 FF genotype was analyzed for 28 days, following a completely randomized design with three dietary treatments, five replicates and 40 birds per replicate. The dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (BD) without additives (T0) and the dietary inclusion of 2.5 g/kg of Ganoderma lucidum (T1) and 350 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin antibiotic (T2). The experimental groups did not change (p>0.05) the performance of the broilers. However, G. lucidum powder increased (p≤0.05) the carcass and breast yields (p≤0.05) and decreased the abdominal fat and liver yields (p≤0.05), although with no notable differences with the antibiotic group for the latter organ (liver) (p>0.05). Both additives (G. lucidum and antibiotic) increased breast meat moisture, protein, and redness; however, these treatments reduced L* (lightness), and the zincbacitracin reduced breast yellowness (p≤0.05). Likewise, this medicinal mushroom (G. lucidum) increased the relative weight of bursa of Fabricius and the morphometry of the small intestine (p≤0.05), although with no changes for other immune and digestive organs or for the content of cecal lactic acid bacteria (p>0.05). The dietary inclusion with 2.5 g/kg of Ganoderma lucidum powder is recommended to improve breast yield, protein, and colorimetry without affecting performance and cecal traits of fast-growing broilers.

Dietary supplementation with mushroom powder (Agaricus bisporus) on performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and bone biomechanical properties of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

“…This may have occurred in this study, since although there were no significant differences in the survival rate, the control group showed a numerically lower value than the rest of the groups that had received MP in the diet. This also confirms that, even at high doses, the inclusion of PM in the quail diet is a safe option which is consistent with those described by Martinez et al ( 2022 ).…”

“…Regarding FCR and feed intake, controversies exist among available studies. As reported in the current research, previous authors (Toghyani et al, 2012 ; Guimarães et al, 2014 ; Martinez et al, 2022 ) did not find differences in feed intake and FCR in the entire experiment between experimental groups which had received mushrooms in the diet. On the other hand, Asadi-Dizaji et al ( 2014 ) described an improvement in the value of FCR when MP was added to the diet at a 2% level, which is similar to those reported by Guimarães et al ( 2014 ) and Kavyani et al ( 2012 ).…”

“…Vargas-Sánchez et al ( 2018 ) reported that the addition of 10 and 20 g/kg MP to the growing quails’ diet decreased L* and increased the a* values of the meat samples on the 15th day of storage. Similarly, Martinez et al ( 2022 ) observed that 2.5 g/kg of MP decreased the L* and increased the a* values of the breast meat of broilers. On the other hand, Altop et al ( 2022 ) found that the L* value increased, while it decreased in breast meats of broilers fed with diets containing 20 g/kg mushroom.…”

“…Nevertheless, the differences observed in performance parameters between previous studies concerning the optimal dose of mushroom may be due to the species and the part of the mushroom involved, which determines its composition, as well as the experimental bird and its productive stage (Mahfuz et al, 2019 ). In addition, Kavyani et al ( 2012 ) pointed out that beneficial effects on performance parameters of MP would be more pronounced under stress conditions (such as infection) or zootechnical conditions are not adequate (Martinez et al, 2022 ) being responsible for the differences between the studies consulted.…”

“…The current results agree with the previous reports which described the addition of mushrooms to the diet did not affect the carcass yield, leg, and breast ratio in avian species (Asadi-Dizaji et al, 2014 ; Vargas-Sánchez et al, 2018 ) and broilers (Daneshmand et al, 2011 ; Toghyani et al, 2012 ; Kavyani et al, 2012 ; Guimarães et al, 2014 ; Kidane et al, 2017 ; Hassan et al, 2020 ; Altop et al, 2022 ). Contratry, Martinez et al ( 2022 ), found that 2.5 g/kg MP improved both carcass yield and relative breast weight whereas thigh meat was unaffected. These authors attributed the results to an improvement in intestinal health and nutrient absorption (especially in amino acids), which led to enhanced muscle synthesis.…”