Influence of fermentation concentrate of Hericium caput-medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. on performance, antioxidant status, and meat quality in broilers

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology 2014-12, Vol.198, p.166-175
• Main Authors: Shang, H.M., Song, H., Jiang, Y.Y., Ding, G.D., Xing, Y.L., Niu, S.L., Wu, B., Wang, L.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidant status; Broilers; Growth performance; Hericium caput-medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers; Meat quality
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.09.011

•Hericium caput-medusae (Bull.:Fr) Pers. ferment (HFC) was added to broilers’ diet.•HFC improved the average daily gain.•HFC increased SOD, CAT and GSH-Px values, and decreased MDA value.•HFC decreased meat drip loss and improved meat color.•Dietary HFC enhanced oxidative status and meat quality of broilers. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation with the fermentation concentrate of Hericium caput-medusae (Bull.:Fr.) Pers. (HFC) on growth performance, antioxidant status, and meat quality of broilers. A total of 600 female Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into five dietary treatments (20 broilers per pen with 6 pens per treatment): CON (basal diet), ANT (basal diet supplemented with 5mg flavomycin/kg diet) and HFC (basal diet supplemented with 6, 12 and18g HFC/kg diets). The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. Performance parameters were recorded on days 21 and 42, and the other response criteria on day 42. The average daily feed intake was not affected by HFC inclusion during the entire experimental period. Incorporation of dried HFC in chicken diet improved the daily gain compared with the control and ANT treatments, and the average daily gain increased (P