Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) Fruiting Body Waste Powder on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization and Feed Cost Economics of Broiler Chicken

Abstract

A feeding trial was carried out in Instructional Poultry Farm (IPF), Nagla, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, during May, 2025 to June, 2025 (42 days), to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) fruiting body waste powder on growth performance, nutrient utilization and feed cost economics of broiler chicken. In the feeding trial, a total of 120-day-old broiler chicks (cobb 430) were randomly distributed in a Completely Randomized Design into four treatment groups, with 30 chicks per treatment and three replicates of ten chicks each. T1 group served as control in which standard diet without any supplementation was fed, while T2, T3 and T4 treatment groups were supplemented with 1%, 2% and 3% mushroom fruiting body powder, respectively. Body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and performance index were recorded weekly. Metabolism trial was conducted to assess nutrient utilization. Feed cost economics were also calculated. Dietary supplementation of mushroom fruiting body waste powder significantly (P < .05) influenced growth performance, nutrient utilization and economics of broiler chickens. Birds fed 2.0% mushroom fruiting body waste powder exhibited significantly higher body weight gain, improved feed conversion ratio, and the highest performance index compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). Dry matter and crude protein digestibility were also significantly improved (P < 0.05) in mushroom fruiting body waste supplemented groups. Overall, T3 and T4 emerged as the most economical treatment, as it recorded the lowest cost per kilogram body weight gain along with significantly higher net profit. Dietary supplementation of mushroom fruiting body waste powder at 2.0% inclusion level improved growth performance, nutrient utilization, and economics of Broiler chicks, suggesting its potential as a safe and sustainable phytogenic feed additive in broiler production.