Effects of fermentation products of Cordyceps militaris on growth performance and bone mineralization of broiler chicks

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of fermentation products of Cordyceps militaris (FPCM) on growth performance and tibia mineralization of broiler chicks. A total of 240 one-day-old female Ross 308 broilers were allotted into four treatments with six cages of 10 chicks each. Four diets were the control diet supplemented with 0, 1, 2 and 4 g/kg of FPCM, respectively. Compared with the control, supplementation of 1 g/kg FPCM improved body weight gain of broilers from 22 to 42 days of age and from 1 to 42 days of age (P < 0.05); 4 g/kg of FPCM enhanced the feed intake of 22- to 42-day-old and 1- to 42-day-old chicks (P < 0.05). Addition of 2 g/kg FPCM increased tibia calcium (Ca) content of broilers at 21 and 42 days (P < 0.01). FPCM did not affect serum biochemical parameters (P > 0.05). These data indicate that FPCM had positive effects on growth performance of broiler chicks and the optimal dietary FPCM level was 1 g/kg in chicks from 1 to 42 days of age.