Effects of Enzyme-Microbe Co-Fermented <i>Ganoderma lucidum</i> Spent Substrate on Growth Performance, Apparent Nutrient Digestibility, Organ Indices, and Gut Microbiota in Yellow-Feathered Broilers.

Abstract

The effects of dietary supplementation of enzyme-microbe co-fermented Ganoderma lucidum spent substrate (EFGLS) on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, organ indices, and cecal microbiota in yellow-feathered broilers are investigated. Healthy broilers (450 individuals of 22 days age) of similar body weight were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (five replicates/treatment, 30 birds/replicate). A control group received a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet; treatments received diets containing 1.5% or 3.0% EFGLS. Over six weeks, treatment-group broilers exhibited significantly greater average daily gain and a lower feed-to-gain ratio compared with the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.001); differences in apparent nutrient digestibility in EFGLS-supplemented groups were not significant. A thymus index was significantly higher in the 1.5% than 3.0% EFGLS group (<i>p</i> < 0.05); Pielou's evenness, Shannon, and Simpson indices of cecal microbiota were significantly higher in the 3.0% EFGLS group than control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05); and a dominance index was significantly higher in the control group than in treatment groups. Under study conditions, dietary supplementation with EFGLS improved growth performance in broilers, associated with favorable changes in apparent nutrient digestibility, immune organ development, and cecal microbial community structure. Accordingly, we recommend a dietary supplementation level of 1.5% EFGLS.