The study was composed of six levels of mushroom waste powder (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 grams MWP per kg of basal feed) supplemented to the basal feed of broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in three replications to determine the effects of mushroom waste powder levels on body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency, average daily gain in weight, and meat quality of broiler chickens. Average daily gain (ADG) in weight and body weight (BW) negatively affected by MWP at the early age of broiler chickens, then slightly improved over time of feeding, but does not vary between treatments (P>0.05). Feeding broiler chickens up to 20 grams MWP significantly increased feed consumption (FC), however, a 25 grams MWP significantly decreased (P=0.01) feed consumption during 18 days period of feeding. Feed consumption efficiency (FCE) slightly improved over time but does not varies (P>0.05) with the control. Broiler meat quality varies significantly with the level of MWP in terms of texture (p=0.0017), tenderness, (p= 0.0001), taste p=0.049) and general acceptability (p=0.0018). However, within these parameters, meat quality of broilers fed with MWP at all levels generally does not vary from the control, except for T2 in terms of taste and tenderness where it is significantly lower compared to the control treatment. MWP does not compromise, in fact, slightly improved the meat quality of broiler chickens. A slight improvement of average daily gain in weight (ADG), body weight (BW), feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and meat quality; and a decrease in feed consumption (FC) with increasing levels of MWP is an indication that MWP is a potential feed additive in chickens. Another study to layer chickens and age of administration maybe done to investigate further the potential of MWP.

Feed Conversion Ratio, Average daily gain, Hedonic scale, Mushroom Waste Powder and Pleurotus