Abstract
Simple SummaryThe extensive use of antibiotics in the poultry industry to increase production performance has led to human health hazards. The use of natural herbs as antibiotic substitutes has been reported in the poultry feed industry. Therefore, the objective of this review was to determine the effect of different levels of mushrooms and their extract in diet on laying performance and health status. On the basis of previous findings, dietary supplementation using mushrooms as a natural feed supplement sustained laying performance and improved immunity in laying hens.Application of different medicinal mushrooms intended to enhance production performance and health status has created an importance demand in poultry production. One goal of using medicinal mushrooms is to get rid of antibiotics in poultry feed without affecting the optimum performance. Increasing concerns about this issue have led to more attention on antibiotic substitutes and a significant demand for them for organic egg production. Thus, supplementation with medicinal mushrooms is a new concept for research in layer production, however, there is still a great deal of confusion about inclusion levels and the mode of action of medicinal mushrooms on production performance and health status in laying hens. Taking this into account, this review outlines the experimental uses of medicinal fungi on the growth performance, laying performance, egg quality, and health status of layer birds based on previous findings to date. Finally, we highlight that supplementation with medicinal fungi can play a role on the immunity, health, and production performance in laying hens.
Highlights
Mushrooms have been used for highly valued food and pharmaceutical purposes because of their role as a tonic and their benefit to health [1]
This review is focused on the importance of the medicinal mushrooms as an alternative for antibiotics that can improve the performance and the immunity in laying hens
On the basis of some previous studies, we have identified some common medicinal mushrooms that can be used as a source of active substances for optimum performance and health status in layer chickens
Summary
Mushrooms have been used for highly valued food and pharmaceutical purposes because of their role as a tonic and their benefit to health [1]. Researchers have become interested in the role of medicinal mushrooms in poultry production systems. Poultry researchers are committed to using unconventional natural feed supplement as a substitute for antibiotics that have been proven as possible ways to enhance the health and to improve the production in poultry. It is known that mushrooms are medicinally importance for chickens health, the inclusion level of mushrooms in poultry diets is still under consideration. Findings from past reports have highlighted that their inclusion may enhance production performance and health in laying hens [13] Taking this into consideration, this review is focused on the importance of the medicinal mushrooms as an alternative for antibiotics that can improve the performance and the immunity in laying hens
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