Improvement in growth performance of broiler chicken on dietary supplementation of mushroom powder (Agaricus bisporus) and probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on broiler performance. Day-old broiler chicks (n=360) of strain (Cobb 400) were divided randomly into eight groups. Each represented a treatment (45 birds/ treatment) with triplicate in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were designed as, T1: control, T2: 0.4% mushroom powder, T3: 0.8% mushroom powder, T4: 1.2% mushroom powder, T5: 0.1% probiotics, T6: 0.2% probiotics, T7: 0.3% probiotics and T8: 0.8% mushroom powder + 0.2% probiotics levels. The results showed that the average body weight was significantly higher in (T4) group compare to control diet. The highest gain in the body weight was observed in the probiotics supplemented group (T5) and the lowest mean body weight gain was recorded in (T7) group. The lowest feed consumption was noticed in the control group (T1) which was appreciably (P