Effects of Ganoderma lucidum fermentative products supplementation on growth performances, carcass characteristics and immune response in Native Chickens

This study was to investigate the effects of Ganoderma lucidum fermented products (GLFP) on the growth performances, carcass characteristics, and immune response of Native chickens. This article focuses on the morphology of the duodenal villus by the Ganoderma lucidum fermented products (GLFP). A total of three hundred and twelve day-old Native chickens were randomly grouped with equal sex in four groups for three replicates as following treatments: (1) basal diet (control); (2) addition of 500 ppm GLFP; (3) addition of 1,000 ppm GLFP; (4) addition of 125 ppm oxytetracycline (OTC). Feed and water are supplied ad libitum.

Table 1 shows the effects of dietary supplementation of GLFP on the morphology of duodenal villus in 4th, 8th, and 16th week-old chickens. The crypt depth was significantly higher in the group containing 500 ppm GLFP (P < 0.05). The ratio of duodenal villi height/crypt depth was significantly higher in the treatment group containing 1,000 ppm GLFP (P < 0.05). With the development of age to 8 weeks old, the height of duodenal villi in the control group was significantly lower than that in the GLFP and OTC groups (P < 0.05). Intestinal crypt depth was lower in the 1,000 ppm GLFP group (P < 0.05). The ratio of villi height/crypt depth in 16-week-old native chickens was significantly lowest in the OTC group (P < 0.05).

Table 1. The effects of Ganoderma lucidum fermentative product (GLFP) in diets on the morphological growth of jejunal villi in native chicken both at 4-16 weeks of age

In conclusion, the birds fed with the GLFP diet had significantly (P ＜ 0.05) higher or increasing tendency of villous height and crypt ratio at 4, 8, and 16 weeks of age, respectively. The Native chickens could be improved by the supplementation of Ganoderma lucidum fermentative products, especially at 1,000 ppm was supplemented.