International Journal of Poultry Science 10 (1): 1-3, 2011 ISSN 1682-8356 © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2011 Corresponding Author: W.L. Willis, Department of Animal Sciences, Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, USA 1 Effect of Phase Feeding Supplemental Fungus Myceliated Grain on Oocyst Excretion and Performance of Broiler Chickens W.L. Willis , O.S. Isikhuemhen , S. Hurley and E.I. Ohimain 1 2 1 2 Department of Animal Sciences, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, 1 2 Greensboro, North Carolina 27411, USA Abstract: An experiment was conducted to investigate Fungus Myceliated Grain (FMG) feed inclusion strategies for broilers and the effects of this feed on natural Eimeria oocyst excretion and bird performance. Two hundred ninety-four straight-run day-of-hatch broiler chicks were obtained from a local commercial hatchery and randomly distributed in seven treatment groups with three replications of 14 chicks as follows: 1) Control-No FMG; 2) 5% FMG-starter feed; 3) 5% FMG-grower feed; 4) 5% FMG-starter, grower, finisher feed; 5) 10% FMG-starter feed; 6) 10% FMG-grower feed and 7) 10% FMG starter, grower, finisher feed. Fecal oocyst count, mortality, live body and bursa weight were determined at the end of the 7 wk trial. Results showed that broilers in treatments 1 and 2 produced the highest counts of Eimeria, which was significantly higher than that of treatment 6 (p<0.05) with the lowest count of Eimeria. Mortality was not significantly influenced by treatments. There were significant differences in the live and bursa weights, but not in the relative bursa percent. The results suggest the best response in terms of anticoccidial protection occurs with the 10% inclusion in the growers feed and for body weight at the 5% inclusion level in the starter feed. Key words: Broilers, fungus myceliated grain, Eimeria INTRODUCTION Feed supplements with natural medicinal products have been widely used as growth and health promoters in farm animals in China for years (Li, 1998). The mushroom is a macrofungus with a distinctive fruiting body large enough to be seen with the naked eye and with over 2,000 species that possess medicinal properties (Chang and Miles, 2004). Many substances with immunomodulating effects have been found in mushrooms. Most medicinal mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides, glycoproteins and other valued substances. There is little doubt that mushroom-based products can serve as good dietary supplements. It is still up in the air exactly how these products work, but with the heightened interest around the world, the answers are forthcoming soon. Many achievements in medicinal mushroom research have occurred recently, with positive findings in the health care arena for both humans and animals. For example, Selegean et al. (2009) utilized the polysaccharide containing extracellular fractions from the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostrentus at different levels to help poultry vaccines stimulate the immune system against the infectious bursal disease virus during the critical first two weeks post hatching. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chickens are generally given drugs in their feed to Birds and experimental design: A total of 294 day-of- prevent the intestinal disease known as coccidiosis, hatch Ross x Ross straight-run broiler chicks were which occurs worldwide and is caused by protozoan obtained from a local commercial hatchery and fed parasites of the Genus Eimeria. It is considered to be Fungus Myceliated Grain (FMG). The chicks were one of the most economically important poultry diseases. These protozoa develop resistance to standard drugs while invading the cells of the chickens' intestines, thereby making it hard for the chicks to absorb feed, with negative consequences for weight gain. Each year, poultry producers in the United States raise more than 7 billion broiler chickens. Many of these broilers develop avian coccidiosis, which costs these poultry producers between $450 million annually (Allen and Fetterer, 2002) and $1.5 billion (Yun et al., 2002). As a consequence of drug resistance, new advancements such as live oocyst vaccinations and inovo-coccivac have been developed and are being utilized in the poultry industry. During the past several years, researchers who have been investigating various natural products have found many that have potential for use as dietary supplements for coccidiosis control. Therefore, it is important to continue seeking natural alternatives and ways to utilize them for health enhancement in chickens and other animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of phase feeding Fungus Myceliated Grain (FMG) at two different levels on fecal oocyst excretion and performance in broiler chickens.