Dietary inclusion of mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) stem waste on growth performance and immune responses in growing layer hens: Mushroom stem waste in growing layer diets

Background: Medicinal mushrooms contain biologically active substances that can be used as an immune-modulating agent in poultry. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Flammulina velutipes mushroom waste (FVW) on performance, immune response and serum immunity in growing layer hens.; Results: No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed with respect to average daily feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio among the experimental groups during the entire study period (1-70 days). Antibody titers against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis were higher (P < 0.05) in the FVW fed groups than in the control and antibiotic groups. On day 28, serum immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG were higher (P < 0.05) in the 6% FVW group than in the control and antibiotic fed groups. On day 70, serum IgA was higher (P < 0.05) in FVW fed groups than in the control group; IgG was higher (P < 0.05) in the FVW groups than in the control and antibiotic groups. However, IgM was higher (P < 0.05) in both the 4% and 6% FVW groups than in the control and antibiotic groups for both experimental periods. Serum cytokine interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in both the 4% and 6% FVW grousp than in the control and antibiotic groups; IL-4 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the FVW groups than in the control group; and IL-6 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the 6% FVW group than in the control and antibiotic groups.; Conclusion: FVW at the 6% level can be used as a potential phytogenic feed stuff in growing layer hen rations with respect to improving the immune response without affecting normal weight gain. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.