Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate effects of supplementation of culture media from solid-state fermented <i>Isaria cicadae</i> (<i>I. cicadae</i>) on performance, serum biochemical parameters, serum immune indexes, antioxidant capacity and meat quality of broiler chickens.Methods: A total of 648 Arbor Acres male broiler chickens(1 d; average body weight, 42.93± 0.47 g) were randomly assigned to 6 treatments, each with six replicates and 18 broiler chickens per replicate. Broiler chickens were fed phase I (d 1 to 21) and phase II (d 22 to 42) diets. The phase I diets were corn and soybean-meal based diets supplemented with 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, or 10% culture media from solid-state fermented <i>I. cicadae</i> respectively. The phase II diets were corn and soybean-meal based diets supplemented with 0%, 1.33%, 2.67%, 4.00%, 5.32%, or 6.67% culture media from solid-state fermented <i>I. cicadae</i> respectively.Results: In phase I, the broiler chickens with the supplementation of culture media had increased body weight gain and feed intake (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) with increasing inclusion of culture media. The levels of serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased linearly (p<0.05). In phase II, levels of serum T-AOC and interleukin-1β increased linearly (p<0.05), and GSH increased (p<0.05). In the kidney, GSH and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) concentrations increased (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) and SOD concentration increased linearly (p<0.05). Compared to the control, shear force and drip loss of breast muscle decreased (linear and quadratic, p<0.05). Drip loss of leg muscle decreased linearly and quadratically (p<0.05).Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of culture media from solid-state fermented <i>I.cicadae</i> which was enriched in both wheat and residual bioactive components of <i>I. cicadae</i> enhanced the growth performance of broiler chickens. It also improved body anti-oxidative status and contributed to improve broiler meat quality.
Effects of graded levels of dietary squalene supplementation on the growth performance, plasma biochemical parameters, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality in broiler chickens