English

Abstract

In this research, three edible mushroom species including Pleurotus (P.) ostreatus, P. sajor-caju and Lentinus (L.) edodes were processed for hot water, methanolic and polysaccharide extracts. These extracts were administered to commercial broiler birds. Production performance was determined as weight gains and feed conversion ratios (FCR) in healthy birds on weekly basis. Further, groups were subjected to oral Eimeria infection and weight gains were monitored from days 4 to 12 post inoculation. Study revealed significantly higher (P < 0.05) weight gains in experimental groups given different mushroom extracts during 4th, 5th and 6th weeks of experiment in comparison to control. Feed conversion ratios observed in the control groups were significantly higher (P < 0.05) as compared to experimental groups especially methanolic extracts of all three mushroom species during 5th and 6th weeks of the experiment. After Eimeria inoculation, weight gains of the experimental groups given different mushroom extracts were significantly higher (P < 0.05) on 10th, 11th and 12th day. Results concluded that aqueous, methanolic and polysaccharide extracts of P. ostreatus, P. sajor-caju and L. edodes had potential to improve the production in healthy birds and may also enhance the weights in commercial broiler birds suffering from Eimeria infection. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers